News & Publications

“Green” Solutions in Sea Freight

Ecology has been an international preoccupation for several years. Many countries are reinforcing norms and increasing taxes to help fight against pollution. Each year, fuel charges amount to between $6.15 and $12.3 million for each vessel. Therefore, some companies are looking for solutions to save on their fuel consumption. Recent studies show that cargo is currently creating as much pollution as 50 million of cars.

In France, some of the former workers from Airbus Company have created a startup named SeaWing. Inspired by kite-surfing, the creators imagined a large towing kite connected to the vessels’ bow in order to reduce fuel consummation about 20 percent. The captain of the vessel only has to press a button and the kite will automatically be deployed.

The owners are currently working on a prototype of 16 square meters, but when the testing of these prototypes ends - they foresee being able to develop a wing of 1,000 square meters to achieve a fuel save up of 20 percent.

In Norway, which is already a model country regarding green solutions by being the leader of electric cars and working on electric ferries to cross the fjords, the country plans to launch a 100 percent electrical container ship named Yara Birkeland this year that will be tested until 2020. Two Norwegians companies, Yara International (fertilizer producer) and Kongsberg (high-technology systems provider) are working together on this project to ship fertilizers supplied by Yara Company between two ports, Brevik and Larvik. According to Svein Tore Holsether, Yara’s CEO, around 100 truck journeys a day are needed to ship the goods from the factory to both of these ports. With this new cargo, they expect to reduce CO2 and NOx (nitrogen oxide) emissions by 678 tons each year, and they will also reduce noise, dust and road congestion. Per Bjørn Tore Orvik, the project leader, this new cargo will enable the avoidance of around 40,000 truck journeys per year. This cargo could have autonomy of 65 nautical miles/120 km by shipping more than one hundred containers representing between 3,000 & 3,500 tons with a speed of 12/15 knots.

All these efforts are great steps forward for the planet!


About Allyn International

Allyn International is dedicated to providing high quality, customer centric services and solutions for the global marketplace. Allyn's core products include transportation management, logistics sourcing, freight forwarding, supply chain consulting, tax management and global trade compliance. Allyn clients range from small local businesses to Fortune 500 firms. Allyn conducts business in more than 20 languages and has extensive experience in both developed and emerging markets. Highly trained experts are positioned throughout North and South America, Europe and Asia. Allyn’s regional headquarters are strategically located in Fort Myers, Florida, U.S.A., Shanghai, P.R. China and Prague, Czech Republic. For more information, visit www.allynintl.com.


References:

http://www.usinenouvelle.com/editorial/video-le-navire-yara-birkeland-sera-le-premier-porte-conteneur-electrique-et-autonome.N539019

http://www.journaldugeek.com/2017/07/29/le-yara-birkeland-sera-un-des-premiers-cargos-porte-conteneurs-tout-electrique-et-autonome/

https://www.usinenouvelle.com/article/les-bateaux-d-airbus-tractes-par-le-vent.N600768

 

This website uses a variety of cookies, which you consent to if you continue to use this site. You can read our Privacy Policy for details about how these cookies are used. Manage Cookies