Croatia’s Brodosplit shipyard and its parent company, the DIV Group, have started working on a zero-emission ship that will be able to run on rechargeable batteries. The vessel, which will be the first of its kind, will feature sails that are made from sustainable materials.
Over the past two years, the company and its partners have been working on the project, which was supported by the EU. The goal of the project was to develop a sustainable sailing vessel that would use renewable energy sources and alternative propulsion technologies in order to release zero emissions.
They designed the electric sailing vessel to meet environmental sustainability goals while reducing its greenhouse gas emissions. Able to house 24 passengers, the vessel will measure a total length of 208 feet and include a beam of 33 feet.
The vessel’s superstructure and hull will be made out of steel, while its masts and sails will be made from aluminum. When the ship is not in use, it will be powered by two electric motors. Since the vessel is required by law to have two diesel generators, they only plan on using them in emergencies. They estimate that the ship will only require 60 kilowatts of electricity when it reaches a speed of six knots.
The design team noted that the ship’s relatively unobtrusive design makes it stand out from the crowd. One of the unique features of the vessel is that it will be able to continuously recharge its batteries from different sources while it’s in operation. This is because the systems that will power the ship will be able to convert kinetic energy into electrical energy.
When the vessel is docked, it will be powered by two vertical wind turbines that will be located at the stern and bow. These systems will allow the ship to generate electricity when it’s in port.
The water turbines will be powered by a system that’s made using variable pitch propellers and special blade geometry. The power generated by the wind turbines will then be used to recharge the batteries. In addition to this, the ship’s management and information systems will also be equipped with meteorological data. These systems will allow the authorities to monitor the vessel’s operations and wind conditions.
According to Brodosplit, the ship’s design will allow it to operate efficiently and effectively. It’s expected that the vessel, which is currently under construction, will be able to sail along the coasts of Croatia, Italy, Greece, Montenegro, Albania, and the Caribbean during the tourist season.