Air Cushion Systems News

CWind, offshore wind crew transfer specialist, on Tuesday announced the delivery of what it described as "the world’s first hybrid-powered Surface Effect Ship (SES)," the CWind Pioneer crew transfer vessel.CWind said that the crew transfer vessel, with 24 passenger capacity, was developed in response to an industry-wide push to develop and deploy innovative technologies that reduce CO2 emissions, while cost-effectively servicing windfarms located further offshore. "The CWind Pioneer…

Effect Ships International AS, Sandefjord, Norway has just launched their first Air Supported Vessel (ASV) monohull with pod propulsion. The patented ASV technology is the result of more than eight years of R&D, resulting in a full scale 65.6 ft x 17.7 ft test-vessel for demonstration and proof of concept. Up to 80% of the vessel’s operational weight is supported on a cushion of pressurized air. Wetted surface area and friction between hull and water is reduced significantly.

More than 190 participants at the 5th annual Green Ship Technology conference in Rotterdam on March 11-12 explored the latest tide of ‘stick and carrot’ options for making shipping environmentally sustainable. Eco-friendly solutions aired at the forum ranged from legislative compulsion to commercially beneficial inducements. On the one hand, there were stark warnings that politicians are preparing to impose mandatory emissions rules if there is no firm outcome to meetings of the International Maritime Organization marine environment protection committee (MEPC) scheduled between now and mid-2009. But delegates also heard how a voluntary…