Looking to slash the spiralling cost of fuel consumption, a giant kite could herald winds of change for the shipping industry.The first freighter to be fitted with the hi-tech sail was launched in the noth German port of hamburg.
"It is an important step for the future,"ship owner Niels Stolberg said as the huge yello and white rectangular strip of nylon fluttered above the MS Beluga Skysails.
The paraglider -type sail is tethered to the bow of the 132 meter long vessel, owned by the Germany-based Beluga shipping GmbH.
A computer adjusts the height and the angle of the sail,which was developed over a period of four years by the Hamburg company Skysails.
"At last we can prove to the world that our system is reliable and will help reduce costs and emissions",said Stefan Wrage,the man behind this project.
the Designer spent months testing the new technology on a smaller ship before outfitting the Beluga Skysails,which will embark on its maiden voyage in early January.
ECONOMIC AND SAFE:
Flying at a height of 100-300 metres,the kite will tug the ship,allowing its engines to operate at the low speed thus cutting back on fuel consumption.
Stoleberg said initial fuel savings would be 20 percent,increasing to 30-35 percent after a test phase when the sail is unfolded from its current 160 square metres to its full expanse of 320 square metres.
Howevr not everyone is convincedof the economic viability of the cheme.Experts say it would not work in head winds,storms or at wind speed above 16 knots, or around 30kmph.
Wrage says the kite can withstand gales upto force 8 on the Beaufort scale,which is roughly 34-40 knots.He also dismisses fear it could pose a safety hazard if it collapses and gets caught in the ship's propeller or blocks the view from the bridge.
"The tether is constructed in such a way that it can be sliced through by the propeller,"he says.As the last resort,an explosive charge can be used to release it completely,he said.
Wrage hopes the experienced gained from the Beluga Skysail's maiden voyage will provide information for series production of kites.Bigger ones will sail expanse of around 600 square metres and are due to be rigged on two other freighters currently under construction for Beluga shipping.
The potential for hybrid ships is great in an industry where 30,000 merchant vessels carry 90 per cent of the world's traded goods.If the kite's debut is succesful,then Wrage expects orders to fit them to another four to eight ships by the end of next year.