Boats come back to sailing
06/01/2010
The oil crisis confirms the return of merchant ships to sail. While
the Germans into the water the first cargo hybrid fleet of Maritime
Transport Company of Sailing (CTMV) will increase its transport to
Dublin, London and Montreal ... Sustainable transport, but especially
aboriginal clean and efficient, allowing save between 30% and 50% of fuel consumed, the sailboat is now in the heart of various initiatives.
September 4, 2008. In
sea, opposite the port of Sète (Hérault), the little son of winemaker
Frédéric Albert presented the future of transport wine to a sixty
partners and investors, with ADEME, the City of Bordeaux The Languedoc-Roussillon. The CEO of Compagnie de Transport Maritime a la Voile (WTTC) established in early 2008, highlighting its fleet of three-masted. Some
old rigs that most centenarians as Belem, the prestigious training ship
built in 1896 and which one of its captains is also with Frederick
Albert, one of the 4 founding partners of the WTTC. "As
a charter company, we are now working with 3 cargo ships British, 2
Danish ships and 1 Canadian, originally from Sete to North America, and
Bordeaux for the northern European market. Towards Dublin, London ... The Scandinavian countries should follow in Spring 2009. "The
Belem, where the idea of CTMV was born 3 years ago, not used but the
transport operations of prestige," says Frederick Albert. Depending on the destination and capacity of each vessel, we can carry between 30 and 100 pallets. A rate of 600 bottles of wine per pallet, it provides a capacity of 18 000 to 60 000 bottles. "
"WTTC is a clean transportation and sustainable, profitable and beneficial," says the former journalist. We are now about 10% more expensive than conventional shipping by container. In 2009, because of volume, this premium should rise only 5%. We are also slower cruising speed, but some destinations faster time. For example, to move a container from Brest to Dublin, it is now between 12 and 15 days. Our boats do in 5 days. "
Cargos hybrid?
According
to the results of a report published in October 2008, the International
Maritime Organization (IMO) estimates the contribution of the maritime
sector to the production of greenhouse gas emissions to 843 million
tonnes. Or 2.7% of total emissions from human activity. A higher than expected, superior to those for example in air transport, estimated at 2.5%. Beyond
the release of CO2, the specialized agency of the United Nations said
that some 60 000 vessels in circulation and providing 90% of
international trade are also responsible for 10% of emissions of sulfur
dioxide and nitrogen, gaseous pollutants of acid rain. A
meeting of the IMO dedicated to these issues held in Oslo from 23 to 27
June 2008, agreed on the need to establish mechanisms for limiting
emissions, particularly through the design of the ships engine
performance, optimizing fuel consumption. A quota system CO2 is also envisaged.
Without awaiting the decisions of the IMO, the first cargo hybrids are emerging. After
tests being towed by sailing ship flying (called SkySails), a new
"sailing ship" has been launched in Germany August 2, 2008, the
shipyard in Kiel. Dubbed
E-Ship 1, the vessel is 130 meters long and 22 wide, is equipped with 4
"Turbosail" vertical cylindrical rotors 25 meters in height,
manufactured by the German wind turbine manufacturer Enercon. Revived
in the early days of the 1980s by Jacques Cousteau, but invented by a
German engineer, propulsion Turbosail in 1924, with the first Atlantic
crossing in 1926. Coupled
with two diesel engines, 4 cylinder metal E-Ship must enable it on long
journeys to reduce fuel consumption by 30 to 50%. His first commercial release is scheduled for December 2008.
Sail assisted by computer
In
France, the "Grand Largue" society Breton Avel Vor-Technology, labeled
by the competitiveness cluster "Sea Britain", it works in the
development of a system of automated wing, inexpensive and can equip n 'How important trawler. "The
goal, in addition to reducing pollution of the trawlers is to allow a
business in crisis to make significant savings in fuel: diesel is third
in sales of fishing enterprises," recalls Pierre and Yves Gloronnec, manager Avel Vor-Technology and former professor of artificial intelligence at INSA Rennes. In addition to driving the rig, the onboard computer must also calculate routes more suited to the hybrid, sailing and motor. What save 20% fuel, even better if fishermen avoid speeding. Once
the engine installed, the trawler prototype must wait two months before
its release in sea time to equip the 80 m2 of sails set.
A term of 5 years, the WTTC is considering the construction of 7 vessels. Designed
by the firm Ship Studio, Nantes, these future yachts from 50 feet,
steel hulled and capable of loading 150 pallets, cumulative
innovations. "Even
if we engage in the specification Ecocert to travel 75% of the time for
sailing, says the CEO of the WTTC, the engines are indispensable for
reasons of security or entering port. But ours are mixed, accepting 30% of biofuel to reduce emissions further. "Beginning of construction in January 2009. The first two boats will be delivered a year later.
Maxence Layet
Posted on: 22/09/2008
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