Slow Boat to China: how Maersk cut fuel costs and emissions by 30%

[wtmusic]

(currently, the world's shipping produces as much emissions as the sixth biggest-polluting country)



"It took more than a month for the container ship Ebba Maersk to steam from Germany to Guangdong, China, where it unloaded cargo on a recent Friday — a week longer than it did two years ago.

But for the owner, the Danish shipping giant Maersk, that counts as progress.

In a global culture dominated by speed, from overnight package delivery to bullet trains to fast-cash withdrawals, the company has seized on a sales pitch that may startle some hard-driving corporate customers: Slow is better."

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/02/17/business/energy-environment/17speed.html

[hunter]

1. We could do this with railroad systems too.

Fast tracks for passengers and quick delivery, slow 10-15 mph tracks for bulk materials and such. (And maybe a hop-on/hop-off service for hobos... )

[Merchant Marine]

2. Maersk has rafted all of their "B" class fast container vessels

Because they consume too much fuel.

[Strelnikov_]

3. rafted? n/t

[Merchant Marine]

4. The ships are anchored and tied together, making a big raft.

The industry equivalent of the US "Mothball fleets".

Except in this case one crew stays aboard to look after the ships.

[Strelnikov_]

5. Thanks

I assume that is what has happened off Singapore.

[hunter]

6. Those rafted ships could be a vacation or conference destination.

Like a "quit smoking in one week" or other themed ocean cruise, except it doesn't go anywhere.

[Merchant Marine]

7. They've actually been using them as film studios

The engine rooms and container holds make great backdrops for industrial scenes.

Edit: Almost forgot my link! http://www.buteman.co.uk/news/From-cargo-giant-to-TV.6122666.jp

[hunter]

8. That sounds like fun work for everyone.

I'd take a job like that without hesitation.



All that, and hot tea too.