The MS Beluga SkySails (German to English translation), the world’s first cargo vessel with the SkySails towing kite system, is being used for commercial transport for the first time. It will carry cargo from Bremen to Venezuela on behalf of DHL Global Forwarding, the ocean and air freight carrier of the Deutsche Post World Net Group.

The vessel features a new wind propulsion system with a towing kite measuring up to 320 metres, that provides additional thrust for the ship at sea, a sustainable solution for reducing fuel consumption, costs and emissions. Depending on wind conditions, fuel costs can be lowered between ten and 35 percent. A small, 87-metre-long freighter would thus save an average of 280,000 Euros in fuel costs per year.

Now is it just me or is this the Duh moment of the century, of course using wind power would cut down on shipping costs, hello remember all them little wooden boats powered by wind and cloth that used to cruise all over. I am just glad someone has worked out a way to retrofit these huge vessels to use wind power.