telegraph.co.uk — A cargo ship pulled by a giant, parachute-shaped kite will leave Germany on Tuesday on a voyage that could herald a new "green" age of commercial sailing on the high seas. The owners of the MS Beluga, a 462ft cargo vessel, will try to prove that modern steel ships can harness wind power and reduce their reliance on diesel engines.
Jan 22, 2008 View in Crawl 4
alestroJan 23, 2008
This was in the top 10 just a few days ago... But still a cool story for those who haven't seen it.
robodonutJan 23, 2008
This is the perfect example of why digg doesn't work.Duplicate of a story that was posted a day or two ago.Both even made front page.
bigwrestlerguyJan 23, 2008
Dugg down for it being a dupe story, and 160 square meter sail is not big enough. Back in the day of sail, there was much more than 200 square meters of sail area on 2 different masts. Also, a 426 foot container ship is fairly small by todays standards
rickthebrickJan 23, 2008
The article you linked to states that the carbon nanotubes can be made to length of several milimeters. It stated that they might get a process to make one to any length desired. A major breakthrough like that would be far more important than the kite. I would think that if they can make one that is say 1000 feet long than they could make one 60,000 miles long and make a space elevator. I think they are using something else.
cavergeekJan 23, 2008
Kite powered ships I buy, but come on, pre-sliced bread? You and your whacky conspiracies.
rkzdaJan 23, 2008
Note even the description states they are trying to prove "that modern steel ships can harness wind power and reduce their reliance on diesel engines." REDUCE their reliance, not cut it out all together, for now. Engines will be turned down, or used in bursts when needed. This is not an engine less cargo boat...
theosterJan 23, 2008
even steel cables have remarkable tensile strength for small cross sectional areas...
madbadgerJan 23, 2008
I hope Charlie Brown isn't piloting that ship.