[Paleopsych] Fuel-saving of 50% possible with modern WindShips.

[Steve Hovland]

http://www.marinetalk.com/articles_HTML/PEL0321853TU.html

Fuel-saving of 50% possible with modern WindShips. A new efficient rig 
design, combined with an especially developed underwater hull, promises to 
cut the fuel consumption by half on selected ocean routes. This is the 
message from a newly held seminar in Copenhagen where Knud E. Hansen, Naval 
Architects and Marine Engineers presented their study "Modern WindShips, 
Phase 2". 		

In 1995 the Danish Ministry of Environment and Energy granted funding for 
Knud E. Hansen A/S to investigate the feasibility of adding sail assisted 
power to propel commercial ships. In the Phase 1, which was finished in 
November 1996, a broad background of various projects from the last 30 
years, involving sailing and sail assisted ships, were investigated. The 
study envisaged a new type of sailing vessel named "Modern WindShip" with a 
length of about 200 m and a dead weight of 50.000 tonnes. The proposed 
WindShip was compared to conventional ships, and it was concluded that in 
spite of significant fuel savings an increased overall transportation cost 
of approx. 10% resulted. 	 	

The Phase 2 resulted in a new innovative rig design, with complete 
mechanical layout and a new underwater hull, specifically designed for the 
dual propulsion using both wind and diesel power. An economical feasibility 
study confirmed that the 10% higher freight rate was necessary for the 
WindShip. This stems from the fact that the construction and running costs 
are slightly higher for the WindShip at the present stage. There are 
reasons to believe that further technical simplification and optimisation 
will reduce the price gap between conventional and wind assisted ships. 		

On routes with reasonable weather wind conditions, like in the Atlantic 
Ocean, fuel savings of about 27% can be obtained. On routes where the 
superior internal volume capacity of the WindShip can be properly utilised, 
fuel savings of 50% are possible. This corresponds to an annual fuel saving 
of approximately4800 tonnes, having large beneficial effects on the 
environment by reducing harmful emissions of CO2, SOx and NOx.