Greenheart: Fair Trade Without Fossil Fuels
by Sami Grover, Carrboro, NC, USA on 03.24.07
When we covered the shipping vs airfreight debate here (also covered here), Chris Kozak got in touch about what looks like an absolutely intriguing project that he’s involved in called Greenheart. According to the initiative’s website, the idea is as follows:
“Create a self-funding enterprise that uses environmentally clean and sustainable sail and solar power to provide free delivery of development aid and relief supplies to needy countries around the world. Promote fair trade, renewable energy and international cooperation. Develop a tool to help impoverished coastal communities improve their standards of living, while preserving their traditions and protecting the environment.”
All this will be done in a unique solar and wind powered vessel designed to be completely independent of fossil fuels, and incorporating a one-container cargo hold, an integral home office with satellite communications, and all the latest benefits of modern sailing ship design. The vessel will be on a continuous mission visiting both developed and developing countries and integrating ‘trade, promotion, aid and education’. According to Chris’ original comment, the project is rapidly gathering momentum and they are now looking for help in terms of volunteers and donations.
We certainly wish them well in what looks like a groundbreaking project, and we thank them for raising the possibility that development through trade does not necessarily need to involve guzzling fossil fuels in the process.
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This seems like a very good idea. Even tho the economics might be tough at first, it will catch on.
I hate to say it, but I imagine that every time they try to tie up the crane's time to unload will be met with much opposition. Container ships are used since they can be unloaded at unreal speed, and the time it takes for this thing to pull up and dock and then pull away represents wasted time unless the crane happens to be idle.
The idea is a good one, but I would think that for the small quantity the boat holds, several small pallets or containers and on on board crane would be a better option, and then it would be able to serve small docks without cranes available.
Just my $0.02
Sail power will return. Sail power in the west wasn't really extinguished until World War I. German raiders and submarines sunk working sailboats carrying fish, coal and timber on coastal runs.
In the mideast, many migrant workers stil travel to and from from South Asia and the Persian Gulf in arab dhows. (at least according to the discovery channel.)
I don’t know the shipping industry that well, but do you think there might be some small ports that are no longer an option for the large container ships? I’m sure the increase in size of commercial transport vessels has left some small ports with idle crates that would appreciate this type of business. I could easily be wrong though.
One container? It's a brilliant idea but the economy of scale on this thing will be so bad it's just plain wishfully brilliant.... you can get 100x the aid to anywhere on traditional vessels in 1/3 the time....
Sayso,
This ship was not designed to replace large scale "aid" -- which can and should be delivered by traditional container ships.
It was designed for primarily coastal water, small/shallow port, under served, communities which no longer have regular delivery runs.
These communities no longer are on regular delivery routes because the larger container ships can not enter their ports and/or because there is not enough profit in the large ships visiting these generally small communities, or even a sparsely populated region that is dominated by these types of communities.
To replace large cargo ships, probably not. But I'm sure the smaller ports would be more than happy for the added commerce.
Great idea! Just need to find the niche for it to fill.
This is a great idea.
Now match these ships up with people who want to go on a sailing cruise and charge them for their meals.