Aside from utilising bio fuels or hybrid engines, shipping line Hapag Lloyd has come up with an alternative idea, designed to use wind power to assist propulsion, the concept has, you guessed it, sails. The project is a vehicle towards sustainable shipping.
The container ship is designed to hold 4,500 TEU and has 8 sails, with a total of 3,000 square meters of sail surface. The idea is still under development and testing, but it could offer an interesting alternative to electric, hybrid or alternative fuel vessels. The shipping container vessel would be mainly propelled by its engine, and aided in propulsion by the sails, depending on the weather conditions. It is hoped that given the right weather conditions, the sails might be able to propel the entire vessel without the aid of the engines.
The concept of sails on a large vessel is not unique, and has already been piloted thanks to a collaboration of technology companies.
