Lloyd's Register (LR) has joined the Quadriga sustainable shipping project – an initiative from Hamburg-based Sailing Cargo, which aims to build the world’s biggest sailing cargo ship.
The project outlines a plan to build a 170-metre car carrier, capable of carrying between 1700 and 2000 cars, which will be equipped with four DynaRig masts and will operate on hybrid propulsion with sails and diesel-electric engines, and an optional battery system for peak loads. The vessel will be capable of sailing at 10-12 knots with the aim of reaching 14-16 knots in the next few years through combined expertise.
Uwe Köhler, founder of the Quadriga project, commented: 'We must do the right thing for the future of our industry; the Quadriga project combines traditionally proven systems with cutting edge technology and aims to provide a solution to reduce CO2 emissions.'
Will Wind-assisted Propulsion Be Enough?
Wind-assisted propulsion offers a realistic option for introducing renewable power into shipping. LR’s Low Carbon Pathways 2050 study found that low carbon ships will need to enter the fleet by 2030 in order for shipping to reduce its emissions in line with the Paris Agreement and this means significant changes in the industry are required.
The big question is whether the technology will be available on the scale needed to achieve the level of reduction required. The consensus is that engineering advances alone and the associated efficiency gains will simply not be enough to achieve this. Fuels will have to change and the Quadriga project provides one of the potential viable alternative solutions.
Picture by LR.
