Skysails News

International trade relies on transportation by sea, as about 85 percent of the freight volumes are shipped globally by vessels. But while maritime is widely regarded as the most environmentally benign of any transport system, maritime transport can cause a diverse environmental burden: It includes, beside the potential for damages and leaks, the inflow of waste water and, in particular, the emissions of air pollutants. Furthermore the improper cleaning of oil sludge, as well as the transfer of organisms into foreign ecosystems within ballast water.

Shipping impacts the world in many positive ways by enabling trade around the world, But despite all the positive impacts, you also have negative impacts, especially environmental impacts, CNBC quoted as Mads Stensen, global sustainability manager at Maersk saying. With about 50,000 merchant ships trading across the seas, the shipping industry is responsible "for the carriage of around 90 percent of world trade," according to the International Chamber of Shipping. In 2012, international shipping was responsible for 796 million tonnes of CO2 emissions – around 2.2 percent of global emissions – according to the International Maritime Organization. The  manufacturers are looking at ways to mitigate the environmental impact of big ships- as well as make savings.

Tanker shipper Ardmore Shipping Corporation’s latest newbuild vessel, Ardmore Seawolf, was delivered by SPP Shipbuilding from the Sacheon shipyard in Korea on August 13, 2015. The addition of the 49,999 DWT IMO 3 product and chemical tanker increases the number of Ardmore vessels on the water to 22, joining sister ships, Ardmore Sealion and Ardmore Seafox. Technical management of the Ardmore Seawolf will be provided by Univan Ship Management. Commenting on Ardmore Seawolf’s delivery…

Ardmore Shipping Corporation announced that its latest newbuild tanker vessel, the Ardmore Chinook, was delivered by Japanese shipbuilder Fukuoka Shipbuilding Co. Ltd from its Nagasaki shipyard on July 17, 2015. The Ardmore Chinook is a 25,000 DWT IMO 2 product and chemical tanker. Her addition to the Ardmore fleet increases the number of Ardmore vessels on the water to 21. Technical management of the Ardmore Chinook will be provided by Thome Ship Management Pte Ltd. “We are pleased to welcome the Ardmore Chinook…

Ardmore Shipping Corporation took delivery of the newbuild product and chemical tanker vessel Ardmore Seafox on June 25, 2015, the company announced today. The 49,999 dwt, Eco-design IMO 3 tanker was built at Korea's SPP Shipbuilding Co., Ltd Sacheon Shipyard and is the second in a series of four SPP newbuilds scheduled to be delivered to Ardmore in 2015, following the delivery of sister ship Ardmore Sealion on May 26. The addition of Ardmore Seafox increases the number of Ardmore vessels on the water to 20 with a total tonnage of 819,519 DWT.

Product and chemical tanker specialist Ardmore Shipping has taken delivery of the Ardmore Seaventure from SPP Shipbuilding in Korea and immediately delivered the tanker to Cargill on a 12 month time charter arrangement. The Ardmore Seaventure is a 49,999 deadweight ton (dwt) IMO 3 product and chemical tanker and the second vessel to be delivered to Ardmore Shipping from a series of four orders placed with SPP Shipbuilding, Korea. The Ardmore Seaventure follows SPP's design for this class of vessel and includes a number of additional specifications for improved fuel efficiency…

Ardmore Shipping Celebrates Naming of "Ardmore Seavaliant' and 'Ardmore Seaventure'. Ardmore Seavaliant immediately chartered to Cargill, following naming at SPP Shipbuilding. Chemical and product tanker specialist Ardmore Shipping has named the two newest vessels to join its fleet, the Ardmore Seavaliant and the Ardmore Seaventure. The naming ceremonies for the two newbuild vessels took place at SPP Shipbuilding in South Korea, prior to the Ardmore Seavaliant being immediately delivered to Cargill on a 12-month time charter arrangement.

The San Francisco-based Hornblower Hybrid has been named a finalist in an international awards competition for Environmental Technology of the Year. Sustainable Shipping, an international online news and information resource, hosts the annual competition and will announce the 2009 winners at in London on July 15th, 2009. The Hornblower Hybrid, part of the Alcatraz Cruises fleet, is the first hybrid passenger vessel in the United States. The revolutionary design combines wind, diesel and electricity to power the vessel.

Nor-Shipping organizers, in cooperation with Den Norske Veritas (DNV), announced the nominees for the first Clean Shipping Awards. Winners will be announced at Nor-Shipping 2009’s Opening Conference, scheduled for June 9. Working in cooperation with DNV, Nor-Shipping has established the Clean Shipping Awards, scheduled to be introduced at Nor-Shipping 2009’s Opening Conference. Selected by an independent jury, the Clean Shipping Awards cover three categories: Clean Sea, Clean Air, and Clean Innovation. In total, 60 companies were considered for the awards. The Clean Sea Award will be awarded to one company in recognition of superior efforts to limit discharges from ship to sea. The nominees are: Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd.

The 6th Annual Green Ship Technology (GST) conference will provide insight into the progress of measuring, managing and mitigating shipping’s contribution to climate change. Coming shortly after the intercessional meeting of the IMO’s greenhouse gas working group and ahead of the 59th session of its Marine Environment Protection Committee in July, GST 2009 will hear the views of regulators in discussion and debate with industry organizations and shipping experts. IMO Marine Environment Division director Miguel Palomares and the European Commission’s Mark Major are among those set to take part in this two day conference. Proceedings will be guided by chairman of the IMO MEPC, Andreas Chrysostomou. The conference takes place this year in Hamburg on March 24-25.

For the first time, the U.S. Navy's Military Sealift Command (MSC) has chartered a kite-assisted, fuel-saving cargo ship to carry military equipment. MV Beluga SkySails departed , , Oct. 5 after the first of three European port calls to load U.S. Army and U.S. Air Force cargo before the ship's month-long voyage to the . The 400-foot Beluga SkySails is the world's first cargo ship to use a sky sail – a giant, computer-controlled kite that can rise 100 yards into the air and uses wind power to help propel the ship during long ocean transits.

For the first time, the U.S. Navy's Military Sealift Command has chartered a kite-assisted, fuel-saving cargo ship to carry military equipment.MV Beluga SkySails departed , , Oct. 5 after the first of three European port calls to load U.S. Army and U.S. Air Force cargo before the ship's month-long voyage to the . The 400-ft. Beluga SkySails is the world's first cargo ship to use a sky sail - a giant, computer-controlled kite that can rise 100 yards into the air and uses wind power to help propel the ship during long ocean transits.

A newly built cargo vessel was towed by wind propulsion of the Hamburg-based company SkySails on the North Sea near Bremerhaven, Germany for the first time. The 160m2 SkySails supported the main engine of the 132m long Multi Purpose Heavy Lift Carrier MS Beluga SkySails of the Bremen-based Beluga Shipping with approx. five tons tractive force at low wind. The cargo ship will set off from Bremen to Venezuela and gain first experiences with the new system during the maiden voyage.