have a look at skysails.info

I'm guessing that most shippers like things running on a relatively constant schedule. Tacking back and forth across an ocean is going to take longer than just putting it in gear and pouring the coals to it. Obviously, though, if shipping costs could be cut and the goods delivered in a time frame agreeable to each party the sail would be the way to go.

Thanx Daren

Happy to know that people are already working on it. It is where I feel a Climate change channel is neccessary. It would be an interesting mixture of clean sceince and clean planet.

It might be a nightmare to maintain the sails on a ship the likes of modern passanger liners or cargo haulers, compared to maintaining the mechanical systems they do have.

Skysails.info has shown a good solution. Kites!! have a look you too classicat.

Sorry!

Classicsat. Right?

Sails or kites, the point is use of wind energy in shipping transport.So, I'm happy.

Nice idea. An unmanned barge with with an omnidirectional wind to torque converter (windmill like) could be set free on the ocean following a planned route for the seasonal currents and winds. Similar to Jacque Cousteaus wind to propellor mechanism. A PLC with a GPS and compass could keep the barge on course. One barge after the next would be released and many hundreds could be on the same course at the same time. GPS would allow separation and course control. When a barge came within 5 miles of a harbor, a tug boat would push it into dockage for unloading and reloading for the trip back. The new course back would take advantage of dominant winds and currents for the trip back, which may be hundreds of miles longer than a direct route, but allows for the low power generated by the wind/propellor combination. Types of cargo might be ore, scrap metals, and other cargo that would not be easily stolen. A single armed vessel could protect and maintain a hundred or more barges. The maintenance vessel could use a similar propulsion system, so largely there would not be any fuel costs.

Thanx.

The barge mechanism which you suggested is a revolutionary idea and I think it is very much possible with the existing computer, GPS and remote controling technologies.

Not in my lifetime, but you can be sure wind powered ships will return when energy costs are high enough. The shippers will just have to adjust to the wind patterns, increased lead times, etc.

For the same reason, some predictions have been made that both the airline industry and the long-haul trucking business will be lost to the railroads for reasons of fuel efficiency.

There's a motor-sail-yacht called the "Maltese Falcon" that is essentially a modern clipper ship. Sails deploy mechanically--no crew and rigging.

I think it's the largest sail-yacht in the world.

http://www.charterworld.com/index.html?sub=yacht-charter&charter=sailing-yacht-maltese-falcon-1096