Alternative Energy - Skysails… Using Windpower

The highly anticipated maiden voyage of the beluga (skysails)  cargo ship was completed on the 13 March 2008.

The Beluga set sail from Bremhaven in Germany on the 22 January 2008.  The first destination was Venezuela, followed by the United States and then Norway, covering a distance of 11.952 nautical miles.

It was the testing phase for the new wind-powered propulsion system - Skysails. A 160sq. meter computer navigated, towing kite operated from a telescopic mast at the front of the ship, which on favourable conditions can provide more than 20% power relief from the ships main engine.

That's approx. 6000 horsepower!

The Skysails propulsion system is saving between 10% - 35% of fuel economy or  2.5 tonnes per operating day. This translates to approximately £500.00 per day.

The company have plans to produce kites of up to 600sq. meters on the large p-series carriers   providing twice the ammount of energy which would result in approximatelly £1000.00 fuel savings per operating day. Part of these savings will be given directly to the crew as an incentive.

The skysails propulsion system has a dramatic reduction in CO2 emmissions since the energy is naturally harnessed from the wind rather than chemichally produced from the fuel. Since the ship is saving 10% - 35% per operating day there is a coresponding ammount of reduced CO2 emmisions. Which is great!. The shipping industry is turning greener!.

After all it's been said that the founder and managing director of skysails Mr. Stephan Wrage is an "eco-freak".

This is great news and we look forward to hearing news of the 2nd generation (larger) skysails when ready.

Click on the following link to view more interesting images of Skysails in action:  http://www.skysails.info/index.php?id=70&L=1