The Future Fleet
Greenheart-type ships will be able to perform many of the same tasks that ships of comparable size perform today, but their low cost-operations, extraordinary long range, wide access features (draught & clearance), beach landing capabilities, and cargo handling innovations will give them competitive advantages in a number of new applications and niches as well. It is important to note, however, that a three TEU container ship like S/V Greenheart can not compete with the massive, several thousand TEU container carriers sailing between deep water ports around the world today. In fact, although S/V Greenheart is expected to be able to carry as many as three 20-foot containers at a time, we do not anticipate much container cargo in the majority of applications. The container standard was chosen as a hold size in order to accommodate standardized cargos, and allow marginalized communities to integrate into the global trading network.
We believe that Greenheart-type ships will gradually replace many of the similarly-sized fossil-fuel-powered vessels presently sailing coastal routes. In addition, there are several applications in which Greenheart vessels will have clear advantages over conventional ships. We also anticipate that the unique collection of features will allow Greenheart ships to create new market niches and ply new routes without competition.
One such application is in the service of remote and undercapitalized communities in the world's least-developed countries (LDC's). The ability to move cargo in and out of undeveloped ports, the extremely low operating costs, and the unlimited range of Greenheart vessels, will give LDC operators a clean, leapfrog technology that permits them to bring products directly to high-value markets at less than market costs. The high-profit, clean technology of the ships will add promotional, and market value to such operations. In this type of application, the on-board 10kW solar power plant can provide significant additional benefits to the operator's community when the ship is in port.
Another commercial application for Greenheart ships will be existing, and as yet unexploited ecotourism operations. Perfectly silent propulsion is an appreciable competitive advantage when bird and wildlife viewing is a valued aspect of a business. Couple this with zero-emissions, renewable energy sources, and an unassailably environment-friendly quality, and Greenheart ships as eco-tourism platforms seem manifestly feasible in both developed and developing countries. Clients of any such enterprises will recognize and prefer a ship that does not degrade the pristine environment that it is revealing to them.
There are many other potential applications in marginal economic conditions where the costs of fuel and maintenance associated with conventional small ships preclude profitable operations today. These include artisanal fishing further offshore (Greenheart's sailing rig facilitates fishing while underway, and solar cooling could permit longer trips with perishable cargos), packets servicing riverine networks (especially shallow systems rich in sunlight resources), and cargo/passenger service to remote islands and coastlines.
There is an immediate need for thousands of this type of ship to relieve environmental pressures and provide development opportunities around the world. We anticipate that as the technologies improve, a ten TEU sail/PV hybrid ship will soon be possible and are presently exploring such designs.
