More than 90 per cent of the world’s goods are transported via big, gas-guzzling, bad-for-the-environment cargo ships.
But researchers at Wallenius Marine shipping company think they have a way around that; by harnessing the same power used by the first ever seafarers; wind.
The OceanBird is a new type of cargo vessel that will run entirely on wind power, and yet be able to transport huge amounts of cargo – up to 7,000 car’s worth – across the Atlantic. According to the firm, it would be able to do the 3,500 mile trip in just 12 days.
The ship uses retractable wing sales that stand 80-metres tall, and controlled entirely by artificial intelligence – that way it will make the most efficient use of wind power on the ocean. It will travel at a top speed of 10 knots.
The idea came after researchers used LiDAR scanning technology (the same that features in Apple’s new iPad Pro coincidentally) to monitor and track wind flow above ships. By plugging that data into an algorithm, it can now teach a ship to harness wind automatically.
The team has already run through computer simulations and scale model testing. They hope that the same type of design could be used for other fossil fuel-using ships, including cruises.
The final design of the OceanBird isn’t due until next year. After that, it will take three years to build before finally setting sail in 2024.
For more information, check out the Wallenius Marine website.
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