Are sail-assisted tankers feasible

Journal Article · Fri Feb 01 04:00:00 EST 1980 · Ocean Ind.; (United States)

OSTI ID:6300595

Nippon Kokan k.k., a research leader into sail-assisted ocean-going ships, predicts it will have the world's first sail-assisted tanker in operation within a few years. Feasibility studies, including wind tunnel tests, onshore experiments, and sea trails with the 77 ton ''Daioh'' winches for automatic sail handing, showed that fair winds up to 32 mph from a 90 heading would enable a 20,000 dwt ship to maintain a 15 knot speed without engines; that ship size effect on the sail power gain per sail area is small; that the simulated average power gain on a North Pacific route would be 770 hp/hour which would translate into 830 tons/year fuel savings; that the cost disadvantages of the repayment of the initial investment, freight reduction due to dead-weight tonnage lost, running and maintenance costs, and reduction in freight capability come to 36,100,000 yen/year; and that other disadvantages would be limited sail use in the slight winds prevalent in Japan's shipping lanes crossing the equator, and entry problems under bridges for ships with sails 180 feet above the water line. Diagrams and tables.

• OSTI ID: 6300595
• Journal Information: Ocean Ind.; (United States), Journal Name: Ocean Ind.; (United States) Vol. 2:2; ISSN OCIDA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

42 ENGINEERING
420205* -- Engineering-- Transport & Storage Facilities-- (1980-)
ASIA
DESIGN
ENERGY SOURCES
FEASIBILITY STUDIES
FORECASTING
JAPAN
OPERATION
PERFORMANCE TESTING
POWER
RENEWABLE ENERGY SOURCES
SHIPS
TANKER SHIPS
TECHNOLOGY UTILIZATION
TESTING
WIND POWER