This is also being tried. The first such ship set sail recently.
Comment on China’s Nuclear-Powered Containership: A Fluke Or The Future Of Shipping?
CrimeDad@lemmy.crimedad.work 10 months ago
I like nuclear power, but I wonder if it might be better to replace the internal combustion engines of cargo ships with gigantic sails instead of nuclear reactors. It might increase the duration of a route, but then it might be possible to compensate by running more, smaller ships.
Voroxpete@sh.itjust.works 10 months ago
CrimeDad@lemmy.crimedad.work 10 months ago
I’ve only heard of big kites being used to help reduce fuel consumption on cargo ships. If you have a link to an example of a cargo ship that uses the wind as its primary power source, please share it.
Voroxpete@sh.itjust.works 10 months ago
trendydigests.com/…/wind-powered-cargo-ship-sets-…
Keep in mind that “primary” power source isn’t going to happen. You’re not moving modern cargo loads on wind power alone. But it can provide supplementary power, reducing fuel usage.
CrimeDad@lemmy.crimedad.work 10 months ago
Is there a hard theoretical limit to the capacity of a primarily wind powered ship?
Corkyskog@sh.itjust.works 10 months ago
The first sailing transport ship set sail recently…? Can we define “recent” lol
PlutoniumAcid@lemmy.world 10 months ago
Yeah, um. The first modern …
Ilovethebomb@lemm.ee 10 months ago
This comment is just classic Lemmy. Do you think customers would accept their cargo just turning up whenever, depending on what the wind is doing? Why do you think we went away from sail in the first place?
Not to mention the air draft of such a vessel, or the fact that sails interfere with loading cargo.
pc486@reddthat.com 10 months ago
There are sailed powered logistics ships! Here’s a grain ship that just launched. There are also companies that produce inflatable or deployable sails to reduce fuel consumption in favorable winds.
Ultimately there will be a need for chemical energy or similarly dense energy to move a ship. The wind doesn’t always blow, and when it does it won’t always be in the direction you want. Nuclear is certainly an interesting option.
Evil_incarnate@lemm.ee 10 months ago
They can just add sails to augment the current engines. I read somewhere years ago that it was tested and found to reduce fuel consumption by a lot.
Ilovethebomb@lemm.ee 10 months ago
In that case, why isn’t it more common?
Evil_incarnate@lemm.ee 10 months ago
www.google.com/amp/s/…/technology-66543643.amp
I guess they’ve been working on it.
wantd2B1ofthestrokes@discuss.tchncs.de 10 months ago
Another possible innovation would be people onboard to row
EmergMemeHologram@startrek.website 10 months ago
Advertise it as a new fitness program that includes seeing the world for free.
Agent641@lemmy.world 10 months ago
Just drain the seas and drive them around on big tank tracks
damnthefilibuster@lemmy.world 10 months ago
Yeah but where to put all that water? On the moon?
Gradually_Adjusting@lemmy.world 10 months ago
If we can make the world hot enough it’ll just become clouds
Agent641@lemmy.world 10 months ago
Just flush it down a big toilet
tsonfeir@lemm.ee 10 months ago
Nuclear powered trains with railroads across the ocean.
psud@lemmy.world 10 months ago
A tethered ring would be cheaper, and also possible
cooopsspace@infosec.pub 10 months ago
Hey I’ve seen that movie, it was fictional. Let’s not make it real.
pastermil@sh.itjust.works 10 months ago
With the labor shortage these days, we’ll definitely have people coming forward!
Ilovethebomb@lemm.ee 10 months ago
Have them down below on exercise bikes like little hamsters.