CARBON FREE SAILING CARGO SHIPS

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B9 SHIPPING ANNOUNCES
CARBON FREE SAILING CARGO SHIPS
3000dwt cargo sailing ships with biogas engines as ancillary power supply
B9 Shipping has developed a straightforward design for an economically viable 3000dwt motor-sailing cargo ship which combines sail power with biogas fuelled engines to deliver a fossil fuel free transport solution for the carbon constrained future.

B9 Ships are powered by a conventional soft sails augmented by Rolls Royce biogas fuelled engines. The biogas is supplied by B9 Organic Energy, a sister company in The B9 Energy Group’s portfolio. Biogas is a vehicle fuel is derived from the anaerobic digestion of food waste.

B9 Ships are designed to adhere to ‘simple to build, simple to operate’ principles to facilitate rapid integration of carbon free ships into the world fleet. A particularly valuable attribute is B9 Ships’ ability to service small island developing states as part of the global thrust to support developing nations adapt and mitigate against climate change.

Hitherto the shipping industry has evaded calls for the sector to reduce its GHG emissions but the matter is very much on the agenda at the upcoming Climate Change Conference in Copenhagen this December. International action will be taken to curb shipping emissions and a ‘cap and levy’ or a ‘cap and trade’ scheme is likely to be introduced. Failing that the EU will insist shipping becomes part of its Emissions Trading Scheme. Coupled with the unstable, at best, price of bunker fuel the shipping industry is facing an uncertain future.

B9 Ships, having no reliance on fossil fuels, will offer predictable, competitive freight rates and, by working with The Met Office smart routing systems, will work to predictable schedules. The Rolls Royce engine offers B9 Ships ‘belt and braces’ reliability in the event of a drop in wind when the ship will motor using carbon neutral fuel to ensure delivery in all conditions. B9 Ships are predicted to be under sail power up to 70% of journey time.

David Surplus, MD B9 Shipping said: “ We aim to build, own and operate fossil fuel free coasters, initially, to service European waters. In so doing we will help regenerate depressed ship building regions of the UK providing sustainable green jobs. We plan to crew our B9 Ships adopting the same social and ethical employment terms we do across all of our businesses so we will be creating great jobs. I see this project as re-establishing the UK as a leader in shipping and a pioneer in developing innovative and effective green maritime technologies.”

NOTES

B9 Shipping is part of the long established environmental entrepreneur group, B9 Energy who have a successful pedigree of developing energy projects from renewable sources. B9 O&M is the largest independent operator of wind farms in the UK and Irish markets, with contracts for 650 wind turbines on 45 sites, and is currently developing several offshore projects utilising wind and tidal technology. B9 Energy has been running a fleet of electric vans from their N. Ireland based zero emission HQ since 1999.

FOR MORE INFORMATION OR TO ARRANGE INTERIEWS PLEASE CONTACT DIANE GILPIN at [email protected] or telephone 01380 812657 or 07768 312 176

Posted on October 8, 2009 · in Press Releases

Tagged as: Carbon Neutral • GHG Emissions • shipping emission