Why aren't there any sail cargo boat?

[PandaBear]

With the high fuel cost, I am wondering why don't the transportation industry go back to sail based cargo transit? With computer and GPS it is so much easier to design and build a sail boat that can cross the atlantic ocean via wind power for non-time essential cargo like ore and coal.

Sure it takes a few more days and may take some detour, if designed right it can be done without human involvement (other than an operator monitoring it via satelite.

 

[eljefino]

That cargo is so heavy you'd need an enormous sail to pull it, and sails don't scale up that size well. Think of the mast: it would have to be artificial not a tree trunk, and the rigging would be heavy and complex. Not to mention you'd need/want a keel on the bottom of the hull to keep it upright, which won't fit in most harbors/canals.

You want to save energy, get land cargo off rubber tires/asphalt and onto low friction metal-on-metal. Bring back trains!

 

[Al]

I think the problem is sail to weight ratio would be out of control. Just a guess though.

 

[T-Keith]

There is a guy who developed a giant kite that would help cut cargo ships' fuel costs and speed shipping times. For a large ship it would use a kit the size of a football field. They would have to use it open water, and you would still need engines, but it would help.

There is also a cruise ship with sails that opperates in the caribean. It still has a motor though.

 

[Shannow]

There's been a lot of work on sail cargo ships (I can recall documentaries 20 years ago), and I'm sure that there will be a comeback in the form of "sail assisted" shipping.

Will still need an engine to provide a load from part to full power.

eljefino, amen to that. (Even moreso since I recently witnessed a laden LPG tanker overtake another truck, over unbroken lines, into the path of oncoming traffic...all of whom yielded by getting off the road)

 

[mechtech]

Small loads are carried, and VERY large crews are needed.

 

[MarkC]

The Cousteau Society has this one, don't know if the idea can be used on a large scale.

http://66.218.71.231/language/trans...ps/alcyone.php&lp=fr_en&.intl=us&fr=ush1-mail

 

[TheTanSedan]

The traditional problem: unpredictable winds, thus unpredictable loading and delivery; ship must be manufactured differently, and sail equipment takes space and weight; crew competence.

There are some "add-on" modules I've seen.