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One thing that is never addressed by these articles: How do the container cranes work around the sails? This would require big changes to ports. The CGI renderi
by mcculley 4y ago
One thing that is never addressed by these articles: How do the container cranes work around the sails? This would require big changes to ports. The CGI rendering of the ship in the article does not even make clear how the containers are put on and removed.
- nradov 4y agoSails are probably going to be most useful on ships that have relatively clear weather decks such as tankers, bulkers, and car carriers. Obviously it's impractical to install big sails / wings / rotors on a container ship due to cargo handing concerns, but they can use a kite type sail flown from the bow to get a little extra thrust when running downwind.
- ianburrell 4y agoThe proposed sails and rotors seem to be vertical. They could take up a few rows of containers. They could avoid cranes by being shorter than the cranes. Sails would need to stand above the containers to work so maybe they could retract in port. Sails would take up a good chunk of container space. Maybe could do something like slide containers under the arch for sail.
- Ekaros 4y agoAnd on other hand how are the sails attached to the ships. And how much extra weight would these structures add? To get usable power from a sail the forces must be quite substantial.
- Gwypaas 4y agoThe ship in the article is a Ro-Ro car carrier. No cranes required so the optimal vessel to start with.