Re:Maersk installed 100-foot-tall rotating sails on one of i...
by wenc on Friday August 31, 2018 @01:30PM
(#17887364)
I wonder: do sails alone generate enough power to move today's massive container ships? Or would the ships need to be smaller?
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Re:Maersk installed 100-foot-tall rotating sails on one of i...
by dscpls on Friday August 31, 2018 @01:46PM
(#17887499)
There's no question sails can move today's cargo volume. But the shape of the ships doesn't lend itself to sail power. I think these sails are specific to supporting other power. And the shape of today's ships is very much towards fitting more cargo. I think you'd need at least slightly bigger ships that are efficient for sail power alone, and able to carry similar cargo volume or mass.
Re:Maersk installed 100-foot-tall rotating sails on one of i...
by dzhiurgis on Friday August 31, 2018 @04:50PM
(#17888552)
I think such rotating sails could be almost called 'solid state' - basically zero hassle compared to a traditional canvas where there is always person on lookout, trim before wind picked up, make sure rigging is maintained, etc. That said these probably produce way less power.