NSW Maritime warns on ethanol blends in marine engines

On the back of the NSW Government announcing mandatory use of  ethanol blended fuel (previous post) NSW Maritime has released a statement advising all boat owners to check with a local dealer about the suitability of ethanol blend fuels for their marine petrol engines. NSW Maritime cites the follow risks: Ethanol can affect some fibreglass [...]

Reading: Fuel for thought

While digging around the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO) web site I discovered Fuel for thought, a publication by the Future Fuels Forum 2007. This June 2008 publication informs us how the Future Fuels Forum thinks transport fuels will pan out in our future with modelling from now to 2050.  It is an [...]

KTM gets conceptual

KTM in partnership with the FH JOANNEUM Gesellschaft have developed a number of concept vehicles ranging from a four wheel off-roader to a hydrofoil boat. My favourite is the oddly named sr 85 deuce, a light weight electric car that makes an Ariel Atom look positively obese. You can view all six concepts here.

SkySails to get bigger and better

Now that the MV Beluga SkySails has completed her maiden voyage of 11,952 nautical miles SkySails are talking of kite double the size of the existing 160 square metre item. They are also planning on fitting kites with a sail surface of up to 600 square metres will be used on two larger Beluga P-Series carriers.

The Cleanest Ship Project shows shipping emissions can be drastically reduced

The Cleanest Ship Project is proving that the application of higher specification fuel and exhaust treatment solutions can drastically reduce shipping emissions. While this sounds like common sense the Cleanest Ship Project is the first time I’ve heard of it being put into practice.

MV Beluga Skysails completes her maiden voyage

The MV Beluga Skysails has completed her maiden voyage from Germany to Venezuala. She recorded fuel savings of between 10 and 15 percent during parts of her voyage across the Atlantic.

New Zealand seeks input on sustainable transport paper

The New Zealand has published a discussion paper on sustainable transport. In the paper they outline a number of targets for improving the sustainability of New Zealand transport and are now seeking responses. Read the full article for a summary of the proposed targets.

Earthrace announces second attempt at the round-the-world record

Pete Bethune, NZ skipper of Earthrace, has officially announced a second biodiesel powered attempt at breaking the round-the-world speed record set by British boat ‘Cable and Wireless Adventurer’ in 1998. The record stands at 75 days, a time Earthrace failed to better earlier this year due to mechanical and structural failures and a unhealthy dose of bad luck.

First Skysails cargo ship officially launched

The MV Beluga Skysails was officially launched in Hamburg, Germany on Saturday night. MV Beluga Skysails is the first cargo vessel in the world to be fitted with the innovative Skysails auxiliary propulsion system.

Cargo ships propelled by giant kites

German company SkySails are developing wind propulsion systems for modern shipping. These systems are large kites similar to those you see powering kite surfers.