A Swedish company’s cargo ship can reduce greenhouse gas emissions by up to 90%. The wind-driven revolution may end the era of fossil fuel-powered cargo ships in maritime transport.

Increasing Trade Equals Increasing Emissions

Maritime transport 90% of worldwide goods, such as electronics, oil, clothing, and food. Maritime transport consumes around 300 million tonnes of fuel a year – an estimated 3% of global carbon dioxide emissions.

Photo credit: Wallerius Marine

The United Nations Conference on Trade and Development expects trade to continue to grow in the coming decades. The International Maritime Organization predicts that as trade grows, carbon dioxide emissions from international shipping could increase by 250 percent by 2050.

At present, the automotive industry is a few steps ahead of freight and commercial aviation.

Wind-powered Cargo Ship

The Swedish company Wallenius Marine, in collaboration with the Royal Institute of Technology and SSPA, a naval technology company, has developed a prototype of a modern wind-powered ship. The Swedish Transport Administration has provided financial support.

Photo credit: Wallerius Marine

The 200 meters long and 40 meters wide cargo vessel will cross the Atlantic in 12 days. The wing sails telescopic construction allows set a height above the waterline from 45 to 105 meters.

Wallenius Marine states on its website: “Thousands of years have passed since we learned to harness the wind so that ocean-going vessels could travel faster and further. The wind helped us discover our planet – now it can help us preserve it. Innovative Swedish technology will make it possible to power the largest ocean-going vessels by wind, reducing emissions by 90 percent.”

The company hopes to receive the first orders in 2021. A wind-powered cargo ship is scheduled to set sail for the first time in 2024.

Source and credit: https://www.oceanbirdwallenius.com/