SkySail

By Miss Cellania in Science & Tech on Jan 20, 2008 at 7:10 pm

Ships were powered by the wind for centuries, and those days may be returning! The MS Beluga, a 462ft cargo vessel, will leave Germany on Tuesday for a voyage to Venezuela. During the trip, the crew will deploy a SkySail, a 160 square meter kite which will ride the wind 600 feet up. Its inventor, Stephan Wrage, believes the use of SkySail can cut diesel consumption by 20%, which will save £800 (about $1600) a day. Link -via reddit

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markjamesmurphy
Jan 20th, 2008 at 10:02 pm
It’s another case of life imitating Waterworld.
Christophe
Jan 21st, 2008 at 12:12 am
Ships were powered by slaves for centuries, and those days could be returning!
To you oars! Row! Row! Row!
Christophe
Jan 21st, 2008 at 12:44 am
More seriously : in the 70′s Cousteau invented the Turbosail, which was said to be installed on all cargo’s due to fuel economy. Ir was not.
Well, maybe with a 100 bucks a barrel, the ship companies will have a look at it.
otterly
Jan 21st, 2008 at 2:29 am
I saw something once in Alaska where this fisherman used a sail like that but smaller and not in the sky but in the river, to harness the current. I guess it works very nicely.
James
Jan 21st, 2008 at 2:45 am
Looks interesting. But the sail probably will be expensive too, no?

christophe: yes, there’s a future in the rowing slave market!!
Lasse
Jan 21st, 2008 at 6:10 am
I see some great opportunities for advertising, too.
Terry
Jan 21st, 2008 at 11:10 am
What’s with the FlickR login screen?
Bruno
Jan 21st, 2008 at 7:16 pm
“Fuel consumption of a
fully laden 200-Metre Ship”

African or European?
Cameron
Jan 22nd, 2008 at 10:06 pm
Looks like it acts like a spinnaker. I could fly that chute. =P

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