Computer-Controlled Cargo Sailing Vessels Go Slow, Frugal

An anonymous reader writes "Big container ships are taking it very slow these days, cruising at 10 knots instead of their usual 26 knots, to save fuel. This is actually slower than sailing freighters traveled a hundred years ago. The 1902 German Preussen, the largest sailing ship ever built, traveled between Hamburg (Germany) and Iquique (Chile): the best average speed over a one way trip was 13.7 knots. Sailing boats need a large and costly crew, but they can also be controlled by computers. Automated sail handling was introduced already one century ago. In 2006 it was taken to the extreme by the Maltese Falcon, which can be operated by one man at the touch of a button. We have computer-controlled windmills, why not computer-controlled sailing cargo vessels?"

Comments

Re:Robo-sailor

[MyLongNickName]

Yeah... Let's send robot ships out there to travel to a port and then wonder WTF happened when it doesn't arrive... Did the scurvy pirates get it or did it drift off course or did it sink?

If only they could invent some type of Global Positioning System. I can see it now... you would need a couple dozen or so satellites to ensure coverage over the planet. They would broadcast some type of signal. Then all you would need is some type of devices to read the signal from two or three of these satellites to get a 2D or 3D positioning.

*runs off to patent office*

Re:USV

[Anonymous Coward]

I'm sorry Dave, I can't let you do that.