
-
US to produce tariff 'number' for countries on April 2: Bessent
-
Osaka survives first-round scare in Miami
-
'Stranded' ISS astronauts less than an hour from splashdown
-
Ghostly lunar sunsets shot by private lander
-
Andreeva blocking out hype as she targets Sunshine Double
-
Gibbs-White tells Tuchel he deserved England call-up
-
Judge orders halt to Musk shutdown of US aid agency
-
US music industry posts 100 million paid streaming users
-
Canada PM Carney announces deal with Australia to boost Arctic radar
-
Netanyahu says Gaza strikes 'only the beginning'
-
Real Madrid take advantage over Arsenal in women's Champions League
-
Kennedy off to a bumpy start as US health secretary
-
Palace's Mateta has no hard feelings despite horror ear injury
-
Hungary passes bill against annual Budapest Pride march
-
Putin, Trump agree halt to Ukraine energy attacks but no ceasefire
-
Nvidia showcases new tech at AI 'Super Bowl'
-
Hollywood urges Trump to protect film, TV from AI
-
Ecuador battles spreading oil slick, residents without water
-
'Improving' pope did not need oxygen mask overnight, says Vatican
-
Mexico City, home to world's biggest bullring, bans killing bulls
-
South American football boss sorry for 'Tarzan without Cheetah' comment
-
Poland, Baltics signal plans to withdraw from landmines treaty
-
Trump, Putin agree halt to Ukraine energy attacks but no ceasefire
-
Israel vows to keep up strikes on Gaza after global condemnation
-
Pope did not need oxygen mask overnight: Vatican
-
French male film stars tell #MeToo inquiry about 'clumsy' remarks
-
German MPs approve fiscal 'bazooka' for defence, infrastructure
-
In high stakes move, Istanbul University revokes degree of top Erdogan rival
-
Imamoglu: Istanbul's powerful mayor and Erdogan's biggest rival
-
Mozambique police fire on protesters, killing two: AFP journalists
-
Trump and Putin hold crucial call on Ukraine ceasefire
-
Leap of faith for Ubisoft with 'Assassin's Creed' set in Japan
-
Eriksen says he will likely leave Man Utd at end of season
-
Supreme Court chief rebukes Trump over call for judge's impeachment
-
Trump admin moves to fire hundreds of government scientists
-
Turkey university cancels Erdogan rival's university degree
-
Homebound: 'Stranded' ISS astronauts now hours from splashdown
-
Djokovic player union launches legal blitz against governing bodies
-
Pain and anger grip N. Macedonia town after fire tragedy
-
Germany's Siemens to cut over 6,000 jobs worldwide
-
World No. 1 Sinner to play in Hamburg after doping ban ends
-
S. Africa court bars fishing to protect endangered African Penguins
-
Trump and Putin begin crucial call on Ukraine ceasefire
-
Hong Kong's bamboo scaffolds on their way out
-
Barcelona midfielder Casado out for two months with knee injury
-
Trump, Putin set for critical Ukraine talks
-
Peace is the watchword for Olympism, says Bach
-
Israel strikes on Gaza spark global condemnation
-
Bessent says nations may avoid US reciprocal tariffs by halting unfair barriers
-
French hunter on trial for killing mother bear 'in self-defence'
RBGPF | 0.52% | 66.78 | $ | |
CMSC | -0.47% | 23.22 | $ | |
SCS | -0.73% | 10.93 | $ | |
RELX | -1.25% | 48.99 | $ | |
RYCEF | 0.57% | 10.51 | $ | |
NGG | -0.52% | 63.81 | $ | |
JRI | -0.15% | 12.98 | $ | |
BCC | -0.66% | 99.34 | $ | |
CMSD | -0.64% | 23.39 | $ | |
RIO | 1.04% | 64.14 | $ | |
BCE | 0.34% | 23.78 | $ | |
VOD | -0.2% | 9.84 | $ | |
BTI | -1.41% | 41.26 | $ | |
AZN | -0.39% | 77.07 | $ | |
GSK | 0.35% | 40.39 | $ | |
BP | 1.34% | 34.22 | $ |

Wind-powered mast to cut emissions sets sail to Canada
A pioneering rigid shipping mast has set off on its first journey, harnessing the wind to propel a cargo ship from England to Canada and using less fuel to help reduce emissions.
After a night of work and a short nap, George Thompson, the founder of GT Wings -- the startup that produced this 20-metre-high mast -- was back on the ship's main deck.
"We haven't had much sleep over the last few days," Thompson told AFP, as he looked out onto the shipyard workers in white helmets and fluorescent vests, still making adjustments a few hours before departure.
"This is very high-tech," said GT Wings product manager Martin Harrop, pointing to the imposing white and red structure on the bow of the cargo ship in Hull, northeastern England.
Like several other wind propulsion systems, this one works like a vertical aeroplane wing. It harnesses the wind that hits its surface to propel the ship.
However, its internal fans set it apart. They accelerate the air passing through it to speed up the ship, Harrop explained.
- America's Cup and Formula 1 -
"There was a gap in the market for a new type of technology," said Thompson, a sailing enthusiast. "One that was able to produce a lot of thrust but from a much smaller, much more compact size."
Since it was set up three years ago, GT Wings has attracted funding from private investors as well as the British government, which has invested £3.7 million ($4.8 million) as part of its maritime decarbonisation programme.
It now has nine employees, including those who have taken part in the America's Cup, a high-level sailing competition, and those from the Formula 1 racing world.
"The aerodynamics and all the science behind the America's Cup really plays a big part in what we're doing," Thompson said, adding the same was true for motor sports and Formula 1.
But building the project within 12 months was a challenge.
It required modifying the ship's structure using an additional nine tonnes of steel, installing over 7.5 kilometres (4 and a half miles) of electric cables and finding space for the AirWing.
"We had a very small footprint on the bow of the ship to install the wing, where it wouldn't impact on the ship's operation," said Simon Merritt from Carisbrooke Shipping, which owns a fleet of vessels including the cargo ship, Vectis Progress.
To overcome the lack of visibility, the company had to fit navigational cameras, a radar system on the bow and navigation lights, Merritt explained, squinting his eyes in the winter sun.
- Fuel savings -
During the first phase of the project, the company managed to use eight percent less fuel.
It now hopes to target up to 10 percent fuel savings on the vessel.
"This ship trades on transatlantic voyages between Europe and Canada, and we hope to harness more wind on these longer voyages with stronger wind conditions," Merritt said.
Depending on the price of fuel, Carisbrooke estimates that it could save nearly $1,000 per day in fuel costs.
The project is one of only around 80 ships globally that use this type of propulsion system, Thompson said.
He hopes that new European legislation -- that requires a reduction of the carbon intensity of ships -- could make technology like the AirWing more appealing.
The International Maritime Organization hopes to achieve carbon neutrality in the maritime sector by 2050 -- and is expected to present measures in April to support this aim.
"The industry was a bit slow to start," said Lise Detrimont, who runs the Wind Ship association, a specialist maritime wind power group.
"But the number of wind-related installations is expected to double every year in coming years."
M.O.Allen--AT