B9 Shipping and the Greenheart Project are both working to develop new high-tech sailing coasters. B9 has in mind a 3,000 DWT three masted bulk carrier with automated square sails whereas the Greenheart Project envisions a much smaller fore and aft rigged general cargo ship. They both look intriguing. Whether or not they would be economically viable is still unclear. By the standards of today, a 3,000 DWT bulk carrier is quite small. Nevertheless, it is roughly the same size as the great windjammers of the late 19th and early 20th centuries. A B9 Shipping promotional video, after the jump.
Will renewable energy fuel a new generation of eco-shipping?
Flagships of the Future
Thanks to Alaric Bond for passing the article along.
i like this . . . optimistic. realistic?
Optimistic? Sure. Realistic? Possibly. Greenheart strikes me as a far too much of a niche concept, but has the obvious advantage of requiring less capital. The B9 bulker might be competitive if carbon taxes and restrictions on bunker fuel come to pass.
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