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Cargo ship uses giant kite to propel it across the ocean
Moving gigantic cargo ships across oceans is no small feat, requiring a whole lot of energy to keep those propellers turning and the ships heading on the right course. There is one form of energy that's plentiful out at sea, however: wind. Yep, there's always wind blowing at sea, and now some cargo ships are now harnessing that power to move ships.
Yes, the first trans-Atlantic trip by a cargo ship using kites to help propel it just wrapped up successfully. The giant kite helped save 20% of the ships energy, which will the shipping company up to $2,000 a day in fuel costs once an even bigger kite is hooked up on the next trip. It's such a simple, basic idea, it's a wonder it took this long to happen.
Via Treehugger
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By Vashnyra at 6:52 PM ON 03/19/08
Oh, my! Next thing you know they'll install really tall poles on the ships with these crossbeam things and big sheets of canvas... I know! Let's call them "sails"!!
By F at 5:34 PM ON 03/20/08
Several years ago, there were ships fitted with experimental sails made of solid materials, mounted to computer-controlled posts that would swivel in the optimum directions.
While the kite idea may be beneficial, it is not, as Vashnyra points out, all that original.
By Traveler at 8:04 PM ON 03/20/08
Can't wait to hear the whine coming from the envirowhakos the first time a whale is found wraped up in a lost kite!
By UnofficialSkier at 3:55 PM ON 03/23/08
gCaptain had a must look at this technology.... http://gcaptain.com/s/99651/
By DarkMantle at 11:14 PM ON 03/23/08
Next thing you know, a bird will get stuck in the sail, I mean Kite, and die. Then the environmentalist will be against that. Just like how they're against wind farms for killing birds.
http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/2005-01-04-windmills-usat_x.htm