Marine engineers at Lade AS in Norway have designed a freighter with a hull shaped to harness the power of the wind, letting the ship save 60% on fuel costs while emitting 80% fewer emissions.
The initial design was planned as a freighter that can carry 7,000 cars or trucks, about the same as a current freighter. Lades says the design could also be used for passenger and container ships. Images of the design, however, reveal the ship may not be equipped to use modern container technology for loading and unloading cargo. And some maritime observers say the ship does not look like it would fare well in high winds or high seas. Others speculate that the tall ship might need to take on ballast to lower its profile and remain stable in rough waters.
Lades expects to use the patented hull design on an initial ship in about three to four years. In the meantime, the design will undergo testing on computers, in wind tunnels, and in wave tanks.