Ad Astra Rocket Company and Sailcargo Inc to build Hydrogen-Powered sailboat prototype said an article on Observador.
Green hydrogen system
The Costa Rican company Sailcargo Inc announced a strategic alliance with the Ad Astra Rocket Company, founded by the retired scientist and astronaut, Franklin Chang Díaz.
Efforts will be aimed at implementing progress to build a green hydrogen system capable of mobilizing cargo ships. Said prototype would be used to adapt to a line of boats, named Ceiba, which is more environmentally friendly.
“(The) model is based on a 45-meter-long sailboat, built entirely from wood. These vessels will be propelled mainly by a set of 14 sails distributed over 3 masts and with the capacity to transport 250 tons of payload ”, explained businessman John Porras, leader of Sailcargo Inc.
In construction
The first boat is already under construction, in the company’s shipyards, located in Punta Morales de Puntarenas. That will be electric. It is being built with reclaimed wood and will be the reference to develop the auxiliary system with hydrogen cells in the following ships.
“All ships on the line will have an electric auxiliary motor that will give them more autonomy in ports and in unfavorable wind conditions, and future ships will use hydrogen cells to power the electric motor”.
“The first Ceiba ship, however, is built with an integrated system of batteries that are regenerated from the sailboat’s variable pitch propellers,” added the spokesperson. The first Ceiba ship is expected to sail the waters of the Pacific over the next year.
The navigation route will be from Costa Rica to Hawaii and later arrival in Canada, Porras explained.
The businessman added that, within the expansion process of his company, the construction of two new ships is also contemplated, zero emissions. Also, the opening of two new routes: the Caribbean Line and the Transatlantic Line.
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Source: Observador
