SAILCARGO INC. at ZESTAs “SHIP ZERO - Charging to ‘True Zero” event in Glasgow
Press Release - July 2021
For Immediate Release
Costa Rica - July 10, 2021
The emerging zero emission shipping company SAILCARGO INC will discuss its use of green hydrogen fuel cells at ZESTAs “SHIP ZERO - Charging to ‘True Zero” event in Glasgow, November 1-3, 2021 during COP 26. The unprecedented company is building traditional sailing ships combined with electric engines. It’s vision is to prove the value of clean shipping by promoting access to sustainable supply chains.
“SHIP ZERO” is a three day workshop designed as an opportunity for the international shipping sector to chart a course to true zero emissions for trans-oceanic shipping. This event is being hosted by Zero Emission Ship Technology Association (ZESTA) parallel to COP26.
SAILCARGO is building its first wooden tall ship which will use traditional sails to transport 250 tons of cargo between Central and North America. As the first in a line of ships, “Ceiba” will use an auxiliary electric engine in low winds and ports to maximize reliability and efficiency. These electric engines will be able to use a combination of green hydrogen fuel cells with batteries regenerated by variable pitch propellers.
For SAILCARGO CEO Danielle Doggett, presenting during COP26 sets an important precedent that small, fast moving ventures can be leaders in a very slow industry. “The time for minor adjustments and partial measures is past. This crisis demands action in developing and implementing new technologies, new supply chains and new structures of global trade. We are building the future with the momentum of impact investors behind us.” said Ms. Doggett
As for the “SHIP ZERO” workshop she said, “In order to prove the value of clean shipping it is crucial that we have cross-industry collaboration so as to quickly depart from the old dependency on oil. SHIP ZERO is a great catalyst for development opportunities in zero emission shipping technologies and we must take advantage of that.”
At the “SHIP ZERO” event Ms. Doggett will discuss green hydrogen fuel cells and how they will be used in SAILCARGO’s line of sailing ships. As for why it is important to present during COP26 Ms. Doggett said “COP26 can be extremely important step in the right direction as the UN IPCC warns we have only 9 years to prevent severe climate change. Hopefully COP26 will be more productive than past conferences. Emitting 3% of global emissions, it is imperative that the shipping industry is held responsible for decarbonizing quickly and strategically.”.
The research and development of green hydrogen fuel cells is a joint partnership between SAILCARGO INC and Costa Rican company Ad Astra Servicios Energéticos y Ambientales (AASEA) led by Costa Rican engineer and astronaut Dr. Franklin Chang Díaz. The two companies have initiated the "Hydrogen for the Sea" campaign. The goal of this is to further promote the development and implementation of hydrogen fuel cells in the maritime industry.
Dr. Chang Díaz has said before that collaborations like this demonstrate the potential of the projects that are being developed in Costa Rica. "The best way to change the paradigm and educate the population is through demonstrable and real projects that can give visible results as we are doing." said Dr. Chang Díaz.
Together Ad Astra and SAILCARGO INC are using this newbuild as a reference for modeling the use of green hydrogen fuel cell systems in the forthcoming ships. The first Ceiba lina ship will be a working example of how to design hydrogen systems in future wooden sailing ships. Ad Astra’s research will include finding the optimum volume of hydrogen and corresponding fuel cell which can fit inside the predetermined ship structure. The first Ceiba ship is aimed to be in the water in 2022.
Ad Astra Rocket Company (AARC) is a leading spaceflight technology company dedicated to the development of advanced plasma rocket propulsion. The renewable energy division is led by Ad Astra Servicios Energéticos y Ambientales (AASEA) in Liberia, Costa Rica. AASEA is working on developing further renewable energy infrastructure in Costa Rica and its surrounding region by offering solar and wind power energy storage and waste to energy conversion solutions.
Ad Astra has experience in developing zero emission transportation systems including a green hydrogen fuel cell city bus in Costa Rica. This was in partnership with the Costa Rican government as part of the country’s strategy to reduce its dependence on imported fossil fuels. Additionally Ad Astra will use its hydrogen infrastructure experience to aid in building smaller production plants around Costa Rica, potentially at SAILCARGO INCs shipyard. Due to Costa Rica’s national electricity generation being from 99% renewable energy, green hydrogen production is easier than in other countries.
SAILCARGO INC.
Press contact
Pierre Terranova (ES)
pierre@sailcargo.org
Tel. (506) 6215 1580
Jeremy Starn (EN)
media@sailcargo.org
Tel. (506) 8344-1300
