Posted on 12/02/2024 5:50:31 PM PST by Oldeconomybuyer
SAINT-MALO, France (AP) — Had he continued working aboard fuel-powered cargo ships, Yann Jourdan reckons he’d be earning perhaps four times what he now gets as captain of a sailboat that instead uses the wind’s clean energy to transport goods across the Atlantic.
But the hit to Jourdan’s pay is buying him peace of mind. When his 3-year-old son, Marcel, grows up, the burly French mariner wants to be able to explain what he did to make a dent in the the shipping industry’s huge carbon footprint.
The international merchant fleet of more than 100,000 ships transports more than 80% of global trade. But it’s also responsible for about 3% of global greenhouse gas emissions. Without a quick switch from dirty fuels to cleaner energies, its pollution is forecast to soar.
Mariners pushing for wind power say investors used to view them as something of a joke. But as they pioneer a comeback for sail-powered cargo ships, they’re having the last laugh.
“It’s our job to prove that it’s possible,” Jourdan said aboard the new Grain de Sail II cargo carrier as it sailed off the French port of Saint-Malo one recent autumn day.
“For me, it’s just logical, you know?” he said. “Like the petrol is limited quantity and the wind is not.”
(Excerpt) Read more at apnews.com ...
Following long standing tradition I didn’t read the article. But I would bet this wind powered ship has back up engines just in case the wind isn’t blowing.
He must have forgotten what plants use to create oxygen in our atmosphere.
I bet we could get next day shipping across the pond in a hurricane!
As I understand it, the sails supplement the engines. By the use of wind, the ships can save millions of gallons of fuel on every trip.
It’s probably one of the most promising applications of wind for ships.
Did they bring back all the diseases people used to get spending months crossing the ocean?
What happened to that huge blimp that was supposed to carry cargo?
The article notes the use of “dirty” fuels to power merchant ships. The conversion from using bunker c oil to LNG is well underway. LNG burns much cleaner than bunker fuels. Also other fuels are being developed.
Also notice the size of that ship-not very big. I doubt sails will be used to power cruise ships that carry 5000 passengers or containerships that will soon carry over 25,000 containers.
From the article - “Still, the other 70% from the Neoliner’s new type of giant sails — made with fiberglass panels, not canvas — is expected to slash its fuel-use and be another step forward for wind.”-
= = =
So, a use for those windmill blades!
Can’t he spell
Bass ackwards?
And so, well winded
LOL In the age of sail, merchant ships were successful to the extent their countries accumulated and compiled the experiences of ships relying on the wind. This gave them the most probably successful courses to steer to find helpful winds. Germany was said to be the most successful. They also had the most successful sailing merchant ship; a steel-hulled, five-masted, ship-rigged sailing ship called the Preussen built in 1902. It is estimated the sails generated 60,00 horsepower when they had a good wind.
Those plans are still up in the air. (rim shot) 🥁
...sloop-rigged...?
Well said
That’s the way i understand it and its a solid idea imo- why not??
Excellent observation.
It’s been “promising” for a least 30 years...
Build units onboard to siphon seawater, remove the saline, crack the molecules apart, burn the hydrogen for propulsion and vent the oxygen or store it for later sell to offset some cost.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.