Bow windshield
Watching the Solent to see if the sea was as rough as we had been led to expect (it wasn’t) we saw the CMA CGM Montmartre leaving Southampton on her one-month voyage to Port Klang in Malaysia.
She is an extremely large vessel, but was making way on her own, without the assistance of tugs, so presumably was relying on large, effective bow thrusters to make the sharp turn into the main channel.
We noticed her large green bow windshield, or wind deflector. Such devices have been fitted on container ships since 2015. They have proved to improve a ship’s aerodynamic profile, reducing resistance, fuel consumption, and carbon emissions.
At present, bow windshields can only be seen on container ships, but it is expected that environmental considerations will see them becoming more widely employed. They can be retrofitted on existing ships in dry dock.
Sounds like they are a very useful addition to any ship
ReplyDeleteQuite so!
DeleteAnything that reduces emissions is a worthwhile addition.
ReplyDeleteAgreed!
DeleteHow amazing to see a photo with so many containers. When I see trains, rarely here, I know how large the containers are.
ReplyDeleteThey are huge, but they look like matchboxes on a container ship.
DeleteDoes this ship have two names? I'm interested to see the one pictured displays Palais Royal on its side. Interesting about the green thingy on the front. Somebody's thinking.
ReplyDeleteAh,I now see it's not your pic. All is clear now.
DeleteI wondered who would spot that! No photograph available of Montmartre.
DeleteFunny that. I mean they have been making cars, planes, and trains more aerodynamic for decades and never thought about ships until now?
ReplyDeleteIt's only recently that ships are trying to conserve energy and reduce emissions.
DeleteWhat were you doing at Southampton? Catching a boat train to the continent? Ah, the shield deflects the wind from the cargo containers. Good idea.
ReplyDeleteWe were watching from our window on the world!
DeleteI am surprised that it has not yet been painted with a Hello Kitty face!
ReplyDeleteYes! One of the cruise ships has lips painted on the bow. Classy, eh?
DeleteIncreasing the aerodynamics sounds like a good idea.
ReplyDeleteContainer ships are not the most elegant vessels, so anything that improves their progress through the water is to be welcomed.
ReplyDeleteI'll be on the lookout next time we are entering Piraeus harbour. It's a huge port
ReplyDeleteThat's a helpful innovation
ReplyDeleteGood idea
ReplyDeleteWhat a good idea 💡
ReplyDelete