Cargo Ship With Gigantic Wings To Reduce Emission by 90%

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  • A group of Swedish researchers and boat builders designed Oceanbird, a new type of cargo ship that’s powered by giant wings instead of a traditional engine.
  • The ship will cut down on emissions by up to 90% compared to other cargo ships, according to Wallenius Marine, the manufacturer behind the concept.
  • The huge fins will be able to swivel to catch the wind, and can retract to go under bridges.
  • Oceanbird was conceived as a car carrier that can fit 7,000 vehicles, but Wallenius Marine said the technology can be adapted to other types of vessels, like cruise ships.

This cargo-ship concept is powered by gigantic wings and wants to reduce emissions by 90% — check out ‘Oceanbird’, writes Tim Levin, for Business Insider.

Global greenhouse-gas emissions

  • Cargo ships carry around 90% of global trade – roughly 11 billion tons of goods each year – and contribute mightily to global greenhouse-gas emissions.
  • But one Swedish company is looking to make shipping a bit more sustainable with a new breed of emission-free vessels.

Wallenius Marine and SSPA

Shipbuilder Wallenius Marine teamed up with Stockholm’s Royal Institute of Technology maritime consultancy SSPA, and the Swedish Transportation Administration to design a new type of cargo ship that’s far more ecologically friendly than the diesel-powered vessels on the seas today.

Outcome of the partnership

The result of that partnership is Oceanbird, a cargo-ship concept that’s pulled along by gigantic wing-like sails.

Wallenius claims Oceanbird will be able to carry 7,000 cars and be 90% more efficient than other ocean-going vessels.

The trade-off, however, is that Oceanbird will take around 12 days to cross the Atlantic, whereas traditional ships currently make the journey in about eight.

Power from five 262-foot wings

Oceanbird gets its power from five 262-foot wings, which are made from metal and composite.  They’re twice the height of the sails on the biggest sailing ships today, Wallenius says.

The present design

In the current design, the ship will be 656 feet long and 131 feet wide.  That would make it the largest sailing vessel when completed, according to Wallenius.

Sails spin 360 degrees

The sails spin 360 degrees to catch the wind and can retract by 75% for stormy condition or to pass under a bridge.

Emergency engines 

Plus, Oceanbird will have engines for emergencies and for easier maneuvering in ports.

Oceanbird is designed to carry 7,000 cars but Wallenius plans to apply the same technology to other types of ships, like cruise ships.

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Source: Business Insider