Like so many things on r/Futurology, this design looks great on a PowerPoint slide. But retrofitting existing ships allows us to improve fleet efficiency while simultaneously testing sail design and manufacturing processes so we can eventually make a fleet of fully wind powered ships. See Gall’s Law.
From my understanding, they chose coal because it has a relatively uniform density and less propensity to shift around. This is important during the development process because the sail totally changes the handling of the ship and they are trying to understand how to implement these safely. Hence coal. The optics aren’t perfect, but it is best to not let the perfect be the enemy of the good.
It is also worth noting that this ship is a retrofit and is being sailed by MOL, which is one of the largest shipping companies in the world. If the tests go well, we could see these deployed across much of their fleet so the 5-8% savings would be significant.
Shofu Maru is a bulk carrier that has been retrofitted with a sail to capture wind energy. The sail creates thrust for the ship that would otherwise have to be generated by bunker fuel. The sail is retractable so that it can be lowered in unfavorable wind conditions or at port.
Outfitting bulk carriers with sails is an interesting concept because a lot of bulk cargo (eg iron ore, coal, grain, etc) is not particularly time sensitive. This will allow the ship to make a more circuitous route and take advantage of any favorable wind along its voyage.
edweirdmuybridge OP t1_iu4ek6f wrote
Reply to comment by lucifer-ase in World’s 1st bulker powered by wind sails into Port of Newcastle by edweirdmuybridge
Like so many things on r/Futurology, this design looks great on a PowerPoint slide. But retrofitting existing ships allows us to improve fleet efficiency while simultaneously testing sail design and manufacturing processes so we can eventually make a fleet of fully wind powered ships. See Gall’s Law.