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Ned Potter is the science correspondent for ABC's "World News with Charles Gibson." He has reported on such topics as space exploration, the human genome and climate change.
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The Kite Runner
January 22, 2008 5:50 PM
The days of the great sailing ships may be over. Or maybe not.
Witness the MS Beluga SkySails, a new cargo ship plying the route from Bremerhaven, Germany to Guanta, Venezuela. It's equipped with a computer-controlled kite--1,722 square feet, which the company says could pull it along and reduce its fuel consumption by 20 percent.
With oil near $90 a barrel (it was down a bit today, which buoyed the stock markets), the inventors are quoted as saying the kite could save $1,600 a day in fuel costs.
It's also touted as reducing emissions from the ship's engines: "We aim to prove it pays to protect the environment," inventor Stephan Wrage tells Gulfnews.com. "Showing that ecology and economics are not contradictions motivates us all."
There's more HERE from SkySails, the maker of the kite, and a company video HERE, if you're interested in retrofitting your own cargo ship to use one.
January 22, 2008 | Permalink | User Comments (8)
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I like the concept of the ship . i think it is inspired from the design of yatch .
Posted by: Joomla Components | Jan 22, 2008 9:26:57 PM
I've seen those before. I think it was last year on the History channel. Neat concept, if it works, I'll have to install one on my F-350. $1,600 dolars a day, $1,599 in my pocket every day. Thats an investment Ned!!
Posted by: Lawrence | Jan 22, 2008 10:35:26 PM
My first observation is that a very small "kite" (chute) seems to have extraordinary powers...
Sailing ships exist today that have multiple tall masts and electronically controlled/shaped sails. They have potential. They have (relative to this example) huge sail areas.
I wonder if the claims for this particular device are a bit much. If you consider the overall tonnage of the ship and the physics of "lift" or pull from the area of the kite, the 20% figure doesn't "figure."
Posted by: Carl in DC | Jan 23, 2008 4:39:53 AM
From the picture it would appear it is more for lifting the ship rather than propeling the ship. I can see if you got the ship to be less in the water then drag would be reduced but the sail seems a bit small to have much effect on the weight of something like that....more is probably needed.
Posted by: Tom Annandale virginia | Jan 23, 2008 7:48:43 AM
An interesting concept. Jaques Cousteau sailed around in a ship that had a computer-controlled "sail" some years ago. Even now, yachts are being fitted with computer-controlled sails and autopilots. It's a relatively new idea and one whose time has certainly come. There really are many ways to back off from oil-based power sources.
Posted by: Andy | Jan 23, 2008 8:04:35 AM
A kite is far more efficient than a sail because of its use of "apparent wind". A sail is stationary so it can only use the actual speed of the wind. Therefore it doesnt take a large kite to generate significant power. This is the future of efficient sailing.
Posted by: Jason | Jan 23, 2008 9:20:47 AM
A neat idea but I fear one that is not entirely practical.
What is the maximum wind speed and sea state this kite can work in? How is the ships stability and handling affected by the apparent lift force on the bow of the vessel?
Posted by: Andy Clark | Jan 23, 2008 9:27:26 AM
A great, energy-saving innovation. I'm sure Ben Franklin would be very envious!
Posted by: chuck | Jan 23, 2008 9:29:05 AM
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