A cargo ship fitted with giant, rigid British-designed sails has set out on its maiden voyage.

Shipping firm Cargill, which has chartered the vessel, hopes the technology will help the industry chart a course towards a greener future.

The WindWings sails are designed to cut fuel consumption and therefore shipping's carbon footprint.

It is estimated the industry is responsible for about 2.1% of global carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions.

The Pyxis Ocean's maiden journey, from China to Brazil, will provide the first real-world test of the WindWings - and an opportunity to assess whether a return to the traditional way of propelling ships could be the way forward for moving cargo at sea.

Folded down when the ship is in port, the wings are opened out when it is in open water. They stand 123ft (37.5m) tall and are built of the same material as wind turbines, to make them durable.

 

Enabling a vessel to be blown along by the wind, rather than rely solely on its engine, could hopefully eventually reduce a cargo ship's lifetime emissions by 30%.

Jan Dieleman, president of Cargill Ocean Transportation, said the industry was on a "journey to decarbonise". He admitted there was "no silver bullet" - but said this technology demonstrated how fast things were changing.

 

FULL STORY

 

Cool hope it helps bet the crew thinks it’s a big PTA tho lol 

Wow! wind powered ships, who'd a thought it?

Cutty Sark - commissioned in Britain1869.

Not simply CO2 emissions, bunker oil is filthy stuff:

 

https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/earth-and-planetary-sciences/bunker-fuel

9 hours ago, chickenslegs said:

Wow! wind powered ships, who'd a thought it?

Cutty Sark - commissioned in Britain1869.

The sovereign of the seas recorded speeds of 22 knots this class of ship could under favorable conditions make good 250 mile days incredible wooden ships and iron men they wore out a lot of men and killed quite a few as well there are some old films on utube of the last of them working incredible