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Transcript/Script
USAGM SHARE
((PLAYBOOK SLUG: Wind-Powered Cargo Ships (TV, R)
HEADLINE: Wind Propels Shipping Industry Closer to Climate Goals
TEASER: New technologies are bringing wind back as a viable energy source for even the largest ships on the high seas
PUBLISHED AT: 6/13/20222 at 9:30am
BYLINE: Matt Dibble
CONTRIBUTOR:
DATELINE:
VIDEOGRAPHER: Matt Dibble
PRODUCER: Matt Dibble
SCRIPT EDITORS: Michelle Quinn, Reifenrath
VIDEO SOURCE (S): VOA Original, Storyblocks, AFP, Michelin, Microsoft Teams, Maritime Nantaise/Sogestran, Wallenius Marine, CSIC, University of Illinois Urban-Champaign, La Vie au Grand Air, Norsepower
PLATFORMS (mark with X): WEB __ TV X RADIO _X_
TRT: 2:41
VID APPROVED BY:
TYPE: TV/R
EDITOR NOTES: This is not a LogOn. There will be a LogOn version of the script Benoît Baisle Dailliez is interviewed via Microsoft Teams. No courtesy needed))
((INTRO))
[[Wind power is making a comeback on the high seas for even the world's largest vessels. Matt Dibble has the story. ]]
((NARRATOR))
The world depends on cargo ships to deliver most of the goods people use.
((NARRATOR))
But the vessels burn low-grade fuel and send around one billion metric tons of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere each year, according to the International Maritime Organization. They emit more carbon than a country the size of Germany.
((NARRATOR))
With international carbon regulations looming, shipping companies are adopting cleaner fuels, electric batteries and other alternatives.
((NARRATOR)) ((Mandatory courtesy: Michelin))
And some are reconsidering the free energy source that once powered all seafaring vessels: wind.
((Gavin Allwright, International Windship Association)) ((Mandatory courtesy: Skype))
“Pretty much every vessel can take some type of wind propulsion.”
((NARRATOR))
((Credit: International Windship Association))
Gavin Allwright leads an industry group whose members are re-imagining wind-power for the 21st century, thanks to new technology, materials, and design.
[[For radio only: Gavin Allwright, who spoke to VOA via Skype, leads an industry group whose members are reimagining wind power for the 21st century, thanks to new technology, materials and designs.]]
((NARRATOR))
((Courtesy: International Windship Association))
There are kite sails, rigid wingsails, and spinning columns called Flettner rotors.
((Gavin Allwright, International Windship Association)) ((Mandatory courtesy: Skype))
“So the wind hits the rotating cylinder ((Credit: International Windship Association)) and it creates a pressure differential, and that creates thrust going forward.”
((NARRATOR)) ((Credit: Wallenius Marine))
Some new ship designs aim to be fully wind-powered.
((NARRATOR))
((Source: International Windship Association))
The wind technology can also be added to existing ships to reduce a percentage of fuel use.
((NARRATOR)) ((Mandatory courtesy: International Windship Association))
Among the world’s largest vessels, two are already wind-assisted.
((Gavin Allwright, International Windship Association)) ((Mandatory courtesy: Skype))
“They’re burning hundreds of tons of fuel per day.((Mandatory courtesy: CSIC))
If you get 5 to 10% saving on a massive container ship, that is a huge amount.”
((NARRATOR)) ((Mandatory courtesy: Norsepower))
Those savings can increase if a ship follows a course based on wind conditions.
((Gavin Allwright, International Windship Association)) ((Mandatory courtesy: Skype))
“If you adjust your routing, ((Mandatory courtesy: Norsepower))
you may be a little slower to port, but you're catching better wind conditions. So we can see those being optimized up to maybe 30 percent or more.”
((NARRATOR))((Mandatory courtesy: Michelin))
WISAMO, [WEE-sah-mow] which uses inflatable sail wings, is a project of tire-maker Michelin.
[[For radio only: Benoît Baisle Dailliez [said: behn-WAH bell dah-lee-AY] leads the WISAMO project for Michelin.]]
((Benoît Baisle Dailliez, Michelin))
“It's very simple. It's like two buttons: one to say on/off and one to orientate the mast in the wind direction. So basically, there is no impact on the crew.”
((NARRATOR))((Mandatory courtesy: Michelin))
The autonomous system uses sensors to gauge wind conditions and adjust the sails. And because it’s inflatable ...
((Benoît Baisle Dailliez, Michelin)) “When you arrive under a bridge,((Mandatory courtesy: Michelin)) or for all the operations at the port, then it's very easy to retract the wing.”
((NARRATOR)) ((Mandatory courtesy: Michelin))
WISAMO sails have been tested on a yacht …
((NARRATOR)) ((Mandatory courtesy: Maritime Nantaise/Sogestran))
… and the company plans to install them on a cargo ship this year.
((NARRATOR)) ((credit: University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign))
While closely resembling Bibendum, also known as the Michelin Man,
((NARRATOR)) ((Credit: La Vie au Grand Air))
the character who has represented the tire-maker for over a century, …
((NARRATOR))
((Credit: Michelin))
… the sails also point to a future of innovations in mobility.
((Matt Dibble for VOA News))
NewsML Media TopicsArts, Culture, Entertainment and Media
NetworkVOA
Embargo DateJune 13, 2022 10:08 EDT
Brand / Language ServiceVoice of America - English
