Cargill signs agreement with SkySails

Cargill, the ocean transportation service, has signed a deal with SkySails GmbH & Co. KG to apply its wind propulsion technology to the shipping industry. Skysails technology uses a kite to generate enough propulsion to reduce fuel consumption by up to 35 per cent.

Cargill will also assist SkySails in the development of its technology and has already identified a ship owner to partner the project.

The kite itself is connected to the ship by rope and controlled by a computerised automatic pod. It operates at a height of 100-420m and flies in a figure of eight. The system is fully automated and requires minimal crew intervention.

G J van den Akker, head of Cargill’s ocean transportation division, said:

“For some time, we have been searching for a project that can help drive environmental best practice within the shipping industry and see this as a meaningful first step. In a world of finite resources, environmental stewardship makes good business sense. In addition to lowering greenhouse gas emissions, the SkySails technology aims to significantly reduce fuel consumption and costs. We are very impressed with the technology and see its installation on one of our chartered ships as the first part of an ongoing, long-term partnership.”  
 
“We are delighted that Cargill is the first company to embrace our technology on a vessel this large as part of its commitment to help reduce greenhouse gas emissions in the shipping industry”, said Stephan Wrage, managing director of SkySails. “We are excited that our technology will shortly be used on a handysize vessel for the first time and see great potential to incorporate it on larger ships in the future.”

The project should be fully operational by 2012.

WM

Related Links

SkySails Profile | SkySails Website

Cargill Website

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