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Buque de carga impulsado por viento infographic
El gráfico muestra el buque granelero provisto con las "velas" prototipo WindWings.
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Buque de carga impulsado por viento

By Duncan Mil

August 23, 2023 - Un buque de carga impulsado por dos “velas” masivas de acero y vidrio compuesto ha completado su viaje inaugural. Los dispositivos del prototipo pueden reducir el consumo de combustible y la huella de carbono de la nave.

The Pyxis Ocean, an 80,000-ton bulk carrier chartered by commodity giant Cargill Inc., is the first ship retrofitted with two WindWings, each 37.5 metres (123 feet) high.

The cargo ship has just finished her maiden voyage from Shanghai to Singapore in a test of its two rigid “WindWings” -- constructed from the same material as wind turbine blades.

Designer BAR Technologies says the wings can cut the vessel’s fuel use by roughly a fifth.

“Wind is a near marginal cost-free fuel and the opportunity for reducing emissions, alongside significant efficiency gains in vessel operating costs, is substantial,” explained John Cooper, CEO of BAR Technologies.

According to the International Maritime Organisation, the shipping industry spews as much carbon dioxide into the atmosphere yearly as 283 coal-fired power plants.

Cargill hopes to retrofit sails to 10 more vessels in its fleet of 570 ships. Cargill’s bulk carriers move 200 million tonnes of commodities worldwide every year.

“Performance depends on a ship’s route, how many sails are installed and, of course, the wind,” said Jan Dieleman, president of Cargill’s ocean transportation business. He isn’t expecting the Pyxis Ocean, owned by Mitsubishi Corp.’s shipping arm and currently en route to Brazil, to make a return on investment for seven to ten years, if ever.

Sources
PUBLISHED: 23/08/2023; STORY: Graphic News
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