World’s first wind-powered cargo ship sets sail with groundbreaking giant metal ‘wings’
The world’s first wind-powered cargo ship has set sail on its maiden voyage, using its giant metal “wings” to propel itself through the ocean.
The ship, called the Pyxis Ocean, is owned by Mitsubishi Heavy Industries and was chartered by the agricultural commodities company Cargill. It is fitted with two 123-foot-tall (37.5-meter-tall) rigid sails called WindWings, which are designed to harness the wind and reduce the ship’s reliance on fossil fuels.
The WindWings are made of the same material as wind turbines and are designed to rotate as the wind direction changes. They are expected to save up to 30% of the ship’s fuel consumption, which will reduce its carbon emissions by a similar amount.
The Pyxis Ocean set sail from Singapore on August 21 and is headed for the port of Paranagua in Brazil. The journey is expected to take about six weeks.
The successful launch of the Pyxis Ocean is a major milestone for the development of wind-powered shipping. It is hoped that the ship will pave the way for the wider adoption of wind power in the shipping industry, which is responsible for about 2.1% of global carbon emissions.
“The launch of the Pyxis Ocean is a significant moment for the maritime industry,” said Jan Dieleman, president of Cargill’s Ocean transportation business. “It shows that it is possible to build and operate large cargo ships that are powered by wind. This is an important step towards decarbonizing shipping and creating a more sustainable future for the industry.”
The Pyxis Ocean is not the only wind-powered cargo ship in development. Several other companies are working on similar projects, and it is likely that we will see more wind-powered ships on the water in the years to come.
The development of wind-powered shipping is a positive step for the environment. It has the potential to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and improve air quality, while also creating new jobs in the maritime industry.
It is still too early to say whether wind-powered shipping will become the norm, but the successful launch of the Pyxis Ocean is a major step in the right direction.