A new tanker has been outfitted with a $725,000 computer-guided kite as an innovative auxiliary propulsion system which will offset fuel costs and allow the vessel to run more efficiently.
The 132 meter long MV “Beluga SkySails” is a joint venture between two companies; Beluga Group and Skysails. The technology steels the principal from kite surfing, now a hugely successful water sport. The 160-square meter kite is expected to reduce fuel costs by up to 20 percent ($1,600 per day) and significantly cut the ship’s carbon dioxide emissions as well.
Global shipping accounts for double the emissions of Aviation
It’s a little known fact that global shipping accounts for more than double the CO2 emissions and energy consumption of the global aviation industry. A large merchant ship will ferry a monthly cargo of 13,000 containers full of consumer electronics between China, Europe and America and will burn nearly 350 tonnes of fuel a day, emitting more than 300,000 tonnes of CO2 a year - equivalent to a medium-sized coal power station.
Until now, reducing CO2 emissions from the world’s fleet of almost 90,000 large ships has not been a priority for governments or ship owners. Previously, the accepted figure for shipping emissions - drawn from infomation supplied by the industry has been a maximum of 1.8% of global emissions. Emissions are now accepted to be three times higher than this, and many experts will be asking why the industry has escaped the attention of governments and environmental campaigners alike.
A draft UN report seen by the Guardian says that the world’s burgeoning shipping fleet currently emits 1.21bn tonnes a year, constituting nearly 4.5% of world emissions. Whereas the aviation industry has been at the top of the climate change agenda, and is expected to be included in the EU’s trading scheme, emissions from ships carrying cargos of consumer products have gone relatively unnoticed.
Planet thoughts:
The majority of shipping freight is made up of consumer electronics and other products. Though one would think it might be cars, car makers like Toyota and Nissan diverted much their production to Europe and the USA in the 80s and 90s.
Consumer electronics such as iPods, Digital Cameras, Console Gaming, LCD TVs and Computers have taken their place and expanded exponentially thanks to much shorter product life cycles. Kite tankers could improve efficiency and reduce shipping emissions by up to 20%. However, if many of us considered buying pre-owned instead of new, emission could be reduced by 3 or 4 times more.
