After some mostly cloudfree days and summer temperatures the sun just hid behind the first traveling clouds.
Thunderstorms may be rolling in from SE this afternoon as we are right at the border between air currents here today at the southern coast of the #BalticSea.
I'm very excited about #Canopée's hard sails. The vessel will be transporting #Ariane6 to the Kourou launchpad.
The semi-rigid hard sails are expected to provide a 30%-50% fuel reduction depending on the wind direction. This has huge potential to reduce emissions of maritime transport.
Engine powered off, the ship sailed at 9.4 knots at a 50° wind bearing with a 19 knots wind, which is quite impressive.
@fj Personally I do expect #automation and #sails to basically reduce emissions of maritime shipment a lot.
Not because shipping companies care about the envoirment but because even tax free heavy fuel oil isn't free and if they can basically turn off all engines besides maybe a small generator for instrumentation and rudders anywhere but within ports and canals then that's gonna save them money.
"It seems a bit silly, but merchant shipping which long ago ditched its sails for internal combustion is now switching back, but not to any sail you’ve ever seen.
Called WindWings, the large wing sails measure around 100 feet (37 meters) in height and can be added to the deck of commercial vessels.
Pyxis Ocean, chartered by US global food corporation Cargill, is the first vessel to be retrofitted with two WindWings.
Produced by industrialization partner Yara Marine Technologies, they are expected to generate average fuel savings of up to 30% on new vessels, which could be even higher if used in combination with alternative fuels.
Pyxis Ocean is now on the water, conducting her maiden voyage with the WindWings having recently launched in China."
rule the waves