WE ARE SAILING - More than just a classic sing-along
So this is what Fred Pearce - an environmental consultant to New Scientist - revealed in late 2009:
‘Just 16 of the world’s largest ships create as much pollution as all the cars in the world.’
THUNK! (sound of jaw dropping to the floor) Wait... what?! Only 16 ships?
Here I am, focused on electric or hybrid cars. Taking public transport. Cycling 45 minutes to work every day. Doing anything and everything to cut down on car emissions. But at the same time a mere 16 ships are pumping out as much toxins as all the cars on earth combined? Good grief!
On the one hand, these are disheartening figures. Minimizing my own carbon footprint - which is completely overshadowed by the mega-footprints of these vessels - seems so pointless in comparison. Yet on the other hand, I do see opportunity. Make a change in the shipping industry, and you could really make tremendous difference. As I see it, we could try to cut down on emissions of all those 800 million cars in the world. Or focus on just 16 cargo ships. That last figure is at least something I can get my head around...
But of course it isn’t that simple.
It’s all a matter of costs. Due to the competitive market, cargo aims for cheap. Ships ‘burn the cheapest, filthiest, high-sulphur fuel: the thick residues left behind in refineries after the lighter liquids have been taken. The stuff nobody on land is allowed to use.’ The stuff is like tar, the same as asphalt.
Our global economy depends on the shipping industry. Good chance that the breakfast you ate this morning, the bus you took to work, or the computer you’re reading this on, are all to your disposal because of shipping. Take shipping away, or tinker with it’s dependability, and our economy will collapse (further).
Moreover, these cargo ships have to travel great distances. Enormous amounts of fuel are needed. I mean, you can’t simply stick a sail on these ships, now can you?
Well, yes you can. More or less. Or so Jorne Langelaan says, from Fair Transport. It is actually as simple as that.
Fair Transport is developing a new kind of cargo ship: the Ecoliner. Yes, a ship with sails, to make full use of the winds on the open seas. With a hybrid engine for those off moments when an extra kick is needed. And for everyone who is worried that their cargo won’t arrive on time: a sailboat is just as fast as a motorized cargo ship!
Questions? Well, I have tons of ‘em. Lucky for me, I’ll be blogging on the progress of team Ecoliner to keep you posted. Let me know if you want me to delve into any special issues or thoughts. I’m your blog-reporter, use me as your extended... whatever!
Oh, a final fact of note: the Ecoliner is set to sail in a mere two years! Mark 2013 in your calendars as a year of tremendous change. We are sailing!
[This is Martijn Winkler's first blogpost for TEDxAmsterdam. He will be blogging periodically about the progress of FairTransport. Please share the message!]
