The future of the shipping industry may be the use of sails

[geetrue]

http://www.takepart.com/article/2012/12/24/solar-sails-aim-catch-fair-winds-and-bountiful-sunlight-power-marine-shipping?cmpid=tp-ad-nrelate

I've been following this for a couple of years and I really believe that this is an answer for our own US Navy for resupply ships in a time of emergency

[Wigabee]

That's really neat. I have always thought that sails would be perfect for those huge supertankers nowadays. Thanks for posting!

[Sailor Steve]

That may very well be the future. I sure hope so. :sunny:

[Jimbuna]

Looks like a great idea :sunny:

[Herr-Berbunch]

It looked horrendous, but I hope the final product works. And looks more aesthetically pleasing.

[captgeo]

Great Idea:yeah:

[AVGWarhawk]

This has also been tried. I think under the right conditions it's helpful.

http://assets.knowledge.allianz.com/img/ms_beluga_skysails_kit_q_52742.jpg

http://www.skysails.info/uploads/tx_skysailsvisual/Foto-1_BBC-SkySails_EN_neu.jpg

[Platapus]

As long as the shipping industry can accept the slower speeds, this may be economically attractive.

It is rather silly criticizing private automobiles when these big boys are burning a quarter billion gallons of fuel per year.

250,000,000. That's a lotta gallons. Even if we can cut that down by 25% that is a significant improvement.

[Tribesman]

two other stories on it.
http://www.economist.com/blogs/schumpeter/2012/08/shipping-industry
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-20792058

[geetrue]

This is more of what I have in mind ... but instead of a private yacht it could built as a submarine tender to resupply the boats after a war breaks out.

No time for returning to port ... no satellites left.

Just trying to think ahead ... stealth mast and fiberglass hull makes her hard to locate.

Don't be afraid ... be ready I always say: http://www.lowtechmagazine.com/2009/04/sailing-ships-large-crew-automated-control.html

http://krisdedecker.typepad.com/.a/6a00e0099229e8883301156f21b229970c-800wi