By making the bow sleek and semi-spherical, the ship achieves a reduction of wind resistance of up to 50% compared to conventional vessels. Based on calculations of an annual navigation rate of 75% under average hydrographic conditions for the North Atlantic Ocean, engineers have calculated the new design achieves a fuel reduction of up to 800 tons annually, which is equivalent to achieving an annual reduction of approximately 2,500 tons of CO2 emissions.
Built by Kyokuyo Shipyard Corporation, Nissan’s ship weighs 21,000 tons and can accommodate 2,000 cars. It will transport vehicles to Northern Europe and Russia from Nissan’s factories in the United Kingdom and Spain.
Nissan is working not only to manufacture zero-emission environmentally-friendly vehicles like the LEAF, but also wants to reduction its CO2 emissions during production, transport and sales procedures. The Nissan Green Program is the company’s mid-term environmental plan, aiming to cut CO2 emissions. Some simpler steps also taken in the progranm include optimizing transportation routes or improving packing rates.
This LEAF of the waters is clearly a good idea, considering reports made in 2009 found that the pollution and subsequent health risks from the global shipping industry are greatly understated. The largest ships can each emit as much as 5,000 tons of sulfur in a year, the same as 50 million small cars, according to PureGreenCars.com.
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