Ecoship rides on wind ,waves and sunlight
SCANDINAVIAN shipping firm Wallenius Wilhelmsen (WW) has unveiled its vision
for shipping in 2025: a zero emission roll-on-roll carrier .The futuristic freighter Orcelle is planned to harness wind, wave and solar power as well as having a hull design that eliminates the need for ballast water tanks, discharging of which is seen as one of the major threats to the world’s oceans. The Orcelle, named after an endangered species of dolpin ,has three fixed sails made of lightweight composites .As well as harnessing wind they incorporate solar photovoltaic cells to generate
electricity .A series of 12 fins on the hull contain energy converters to generate electricity from wave power. These double as
propulsion units to assist the main source of motive power: two variable-speed electric “pods” .The rest of the ship’s electricity needs will be met by hydrogen fuel cells .The Orcelle’s cargo deck is the size of 14 football pitches and can hold 10,000 cars. This is around 50% more than today’s car carriers but ,due to extensive use of aluminium and plastics, the Orcelle weights about the same .WW Claims Orcelle’s innovative pentamaran hull, featuring a long, slender main hull with four supporting sponsons ,along with the pod-type electric propulsion systems rather than the traditional propeller and rubber, eliminates the need for ballast tanks,
The Institution of Engineers (India) has come out with the above innovative article regarding futuristic generation of electricity on Sailing vessels through wind and Solar cells. The electricity so generated will augment the power generated again by an advanced method of Hydrogen cells.
These advanced methods one day can be implemented as a routine for Super luxury liners and can bring down the costs of power generation equipments on board. This may even bring down the cost of travel per passnger. A loud thinking is that such ships in not so distant future even supply power to land based pockets through remote sensing. You cannot rule out the advancements in science and its utility for comforts of mankind.