Technology is catching up with ships as well. Mitsubishi Heavy Industries said that it worked on a super fuel efficient bubble technology that can be used to sail ships with less then 25 percent of carbon emissions. Mitsubishi Heavy Industries calls this the Air Lubrication System is the first in the world to be applied to a newly built ship, resulting “in a substantial reduction in the ship’s resistance.”
An array of powerful air pumps on the ship’s underbelly blows streams of small bubbles around the ships hull. This creates a pocket of air between the hull and the water, so that a good portion of the hull is not touching the water. The blanket of bubbles greatly reduces friction, allowing the ship to move faster and more efficiently through the water. Mitsubishi predicts that their air lubrication system can reduce CO2 emissions by 25 percent compared to conventional cargo ships.
Archer Daniels Midland has already put in an order in for three dry bulk carriers to be equipped with the MALS system. The bubble boats, to be completed by 2014, will be 131 feet wide and 777 feet long and be built by Oshima Shipbuilding.
This is cool stuff! If only they made sea travel cheaper.
efficient ship system.
Technology has catched up with ships already a long time ago.