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| writing:nautical_solarpunk [2026/05/10 17:14] – [Examples:] JacobCoffinWrites | writing:nautical_solarpunk [2026/06/09 15:14] (current) – [Other Wind-Based Propulsion Technologies:] JacobCoffinWrites |
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| **[[https://www.neoline.eu/en/the-neoline-solution/#neoliner|Neoliner]]** – cosmetically similar to Windcoop (I think, anyways), this is a roll-on roll-off cargo ship with heavily automated sails which can fold down to go under bridges. This has also not launched yet. | **[[https://www.neoline.eu/en/the-neoline-solution/#neoliner|Neoliner]]** – cosmetically similar to Windcoop (I think, anyways), this is a roll-on roll-off cargo ship with heavily automated sails which can fold down to go under bridges. This has also not launched yet. |
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| **[[https://interestingengineering.com/innovation/inflatable-wing-sail-technology-merchant-ship|The MN Pélican]]**, a container ship retrofitted with a inflatable wing sail prototype in 2022. | |
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| **[[https://interestingengineering.com/photo-story/worlds-largest-sailing-cargo-ship-anemos|The Anemos]]**, an 81-meter ‘Phoenix’ class ship (I can’t find an equivalent historical type) with a thousand-ton capacity and some automation on the sails. It’s currently transporting cognac, champagne, coffee, and other high-value cargoes. | **[[https://interestingengineering.com/photo-story/worlds-largest-sailing-cargo-ship-anemos|The Anemos]]**, an 81-meter ‘Phoenix’ class ship (I can’t find an equivalent historical type) with a thousand-ton capacity and some automation on the sails. It’s currently transporting cognac, champagne, coffee, and other high-value cargoes. |
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| Current kite rigs can be sailed within 50 degrees of the wind, meaning they tack to go upwind, like a ship with sails. Kites can be adjusted manually or by an automated system. | Current kite rigs can be sailed within 50 degrees of the wind, meaning they tack to go upwind, like a ship with sails. Kites can be adjusted manually or by an automated system. |
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| | ===Inflatable wing sails=== |
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| | These are a format for automated, retractable, inflatable wing sails. The company which designs them claims they're suitable for recreational and commercial vessels, such as ro-ro vessels, bulk carriers, LNG carriers, and tankers. They retract for easy passage under bridges and into ports. [[https://interestingengineering.com/innovation/inflatable-wing-sail-technology-merchant-ship|The container ship MN Pélican]] was retrofitted with a prototype version which the designers claim can reduce fuel consumption by up to 20%. |
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| === Battery ships? === | === Battery ships? === |
| For river boats, there’s a very cool project trying to convert the fleet of diesel motor canoes used in the Ecuadorian Amazon to solar/battery driven electric systems: https://www.nytimes.com/2025/06/23/world/americas/electric-boats-ecuadorian-amazon.html (sorry I don’t have a guest link). | For river boats, there’s a very cool project trying to convert the fleet of diesel motor canoes used in the Ecuadorian Amazon to solar/battery driven electric systems: https://www.nytimes.com/2025/06/23/world/americas/electric-boats-ecuadorian-amazon.html (sorry I don’t have a guest link). |
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| The [[https://www.reddit.com/r/EngineeringPorn/comments/1pcawqb/blue_marlin_becomes_worlds_first_solarpowered/|Blue Marlin]] is a partially solar powered inland cargo vessel which is covered in solar panels which help with directly powering propulsion. However it appears to be relying mainly on diesel generators. I'm not sure if it qualifies as a battery ship but that seems to be the closest category at the moment. | The [[https://www.reddit.com/r/EngineeringPorn/comments/1pcawqb/blue_marlin_becomes_worlds_first_solarpowered/|Blue Marlin]] is a partially solar powered inland cargo vessel which is covered in solar panels which help with directly powering propulsion. However it appears to be relying mainly on diesel generators. |
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| | The [[https://intermodalnews.eu/2021/09/15/electric-barges-new-trend-in-intermodal-transport/|Alphenaar battery-powered barge]] is an battery electric barge which was converted from diesel. It uses two so-called ‘ZES packs’, (Zero Emission Services) which are 20-foot standard containers filled with batteries. As described above, these massive batteries are charged on shore and swapped onto the vessel in much the same way as any other shipping container. The Alphenaar sails a distance of around 60 kilometres only by power from batteries and has a capacity of 104 TEU. |
| ==== Other Solarpunk Ship Stuff: ==== | ==== Other Solarpunk Ship Stuff: ==== |
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