Plain Sailing for CO2 Reductions in Shipping

The first cargo ship to harness wind power in more than a century is to sail across the Atlantic.

Travelling from Hamburg to Venezuela, the merchant ship Beluga will be The first commercial cargo ship with additional propulsion by a towing kite system. The kite measuring 160 square metres is predicted to reduce fuel consumption by 20%, and a similar reduction in CO2 emissions. SkySails are available in sizes up to 5000 square metres.

The technology is being pioneered by SkySails, whose aim to reduce fuel consumption of modern shipping by the utilisation of environmentally friendly, free-of-charge wind energy

By using the SkySails-System, a ship‘s fuel costs can be reduced by 10- 35% on annual average, depending on wind conditions. Under optimal wind conditions, fuel consumption can temporarily be reduced by up to 50%. Even on a small, 87 metre cargo ship, savings of up to 280,000 euros can be made annually. According to an up-to-date study from the University of Delaware (USA), the world trade fleet consumes approx. 280 million tons of oil or 2 times more than Germany (approx. 125 million tons). Cargo ships run on extremely sulphurous fuel oil, their emissions damage our environment considerably.

Experts from Lloyd’s Register Quality Assurance (London) estimate that shipping traffic generates 7% of the total worldwide output of sulphur dioxide (SOx), and is thus one of the main causes of climate-damaging gases (see climatic impact). Through the consistent global use of the SkySails technology worldwide, it would be possible to cut over 146 million tons of CO2, which equals approx. 15% of the CO2 emissions of Germany. Read more on shipping and the environment.

This is an excellent concept that has become a reality, not just an energy saving measure, but cost effective with some ships reducing energy use by 35% without effecting timescales on which cargo ships are reliant. The excellent support services offered by SkySail ensure that emergency maintainece support by specialists can be availble at any harbour in the world in 36hrs.