Modern cargo ships slow to the speed of the sailing clippers

Adam1 · Post by **Adam1** » 26 Jul 2010, 10:26

http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2 ... intcmp=122

The world's largest cargo ships are travelling at lower speeds today than sailing clippers such as the Cutty Sark did more than 130 years ago.

A combination of the recession and growing awareness in the shipping industry about climate change emissions encouraged many ship owners to adopt "slow steaming" to save fuel two years ago. This lowered speeds from the standard 25 knots to 20 knots, but many major companies have now taken this a stage further by adopting "super-slow steaming" at speeds of 12 knots (about 14mph).

Travel times between the US and China, or between Australia and Europe, are now comparable to those of the great age of sail in the 19th century. American clippers reached 14 to 17 knots in the 1850s, with the fastest recording speeds of 22 knots or more.

Maersk, the world's largest shipping line, with more than 600 ships, has adapted its giant marine diesel engines to travel at super-slow speeds without suffering damage. This reduces fuel consumption and greenhouse gas emissions by 30%. It is believed that the company has saved more than £65m on fuel since it began its go-slow.

Article continues...

emordnilap · Post by **emordnilap** » 26 Jul 2010, 10:34

£65 million...wow. Just think how much a country could save by adopting sensible road speeds.

Post by **adam2** » 26 Jul 2010, 12:10

emordnilap wrote:£65 million...wow. Just think how much a country could save by adopting sensible road speeds.

Agree, and on the roads safety would be enhanced by reduced speeds.
When the petrol price suddenly increased a year or two ago, road accidents declined. Some of the decline was due to fewer miles travelled but some was due to more cautious driving.
Some even kept to the speed limit !

As regards shipping, I suspect that sailing ships may yet return.
A modern sailing ship would have many advantages over the older types.
PV modules would power electric lights, radio, and auxillary machinery such as winches. Modern diesel engines are much lighter and more compact than those existing decades ago, permitting of manouvering in/near a port without reliance on a tug.

It is not always realised that commercial sailing ships (as distinct from pleasure craft) remained in regular use up to WWII .
An interesting read about such matters is "the last grain race" by Eric Newby. An account of life on board a sailing ship, it was reported that a good sailing ship was faster than a steamship. Although the steamship was capable of greater speed, most owners restricted them to 4 knots on account of the cost of coal.
Sounds familiar !

PS_RalphW · Post by **PS_RalphW** » 26 Jul 2010, 12:13

As usual, the government are using joined up thinking in the face of PO.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-10755509

emordnilap · Post by **emordnilap** » 26 Jul 2010, 12:19

the war on the motorist

Wha?

eatyourveg · Post by **eatyourveg** » 26 Jul 2010, 14:25

emordnilap wrote:
the war on the motorist
Wha?

This - http://www.petrolprices.com/blog/petrol ... html&p=137

emordnilap · Post by **emordnilap** » 26 Jul 2010, 14:57

eatyourveg wrote:
emordnilap wrote:
the war on the motorist
Wha?
This - http://www.petrolprices.com/blog/petrol ... html&p=137

Aah, yes, some award-winning comments on that hideous place, but:

need our cars for survival

must take the biscuit.

RenewableCandy · Post by **RenewableCandy** » 26 Jul 2010, 23:08

Well I can only hope the first person to be totalled by some speeding driver is a banker.

featherstick · Post by **featherstick** » 27 Jul 2010, 07:44

Adam the Moshulu is still around - I saw it in a movie recently.

Here we are:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moshulu

Post by **adam2** » 28 Jul 2010, 09:22

featherstick wrote:Adam the Moshulu is still around - I saw it in a movie recently.

Here we are:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moshulu

Interesting, thanks.