Green News

First solar-powered cargo vessel
launched in Japan

The world will find out if the sun’s power can propel global cargo, as the first-ever cargo ship partially propelled by solar departed a shipyard in Kobe, Japan on Friday.

The solar freighter was developed by Japanese shipping line, NYK, and oil distributor Nippon Oil Corp. and has capacity for 6,400 autos, which will initially be utilized by Toyota Motor Corp. for its overseas commerce

The 660-foot ship was installed with 328 solar panels at a cost of $1.68 million and generates 40 kilowatts, covering only 0.2 percent of the vessel’s propulsion.

NYK has a stated goal of cutting its fuel consumption and carbon dioxide emissions in half by 2010.

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