Global DHL delivered 71 containers from Germany to Venezuela with the kite-powered MS Beluga Skysails cargo vessel last week, according to ENN. Tapping the wind power across the oceans allowed the ship to travel faster or decrease fuel consumption by 20%.
And the successful voyage is just in time to counter the criticism against the shipping industry for green house gas emissions:
(From ENN)The maiden voyage was completed at a time when ship-related greenhouse gas emissions are under fire from several fronts. Earlier this week, a report commissioned by the U.N. International Maritime Organization surfaced, finding that ship-related emissions, at 3.5 percent …read more

The shipping industry has started to get on board with more sustainable practices, like UPS who trucks no longer turn left to save gas. Now a smart entrepreneur has launched Shipgreen.net, a web-based service that integrates with retailers’ online shopping carts, calculates emissions from shipping and allows consumers to offset the carbon produced.
The program is the result of the research by Dr. Arpad Horvath of UC Berkeley and Dr. Cristiano Facanha of ICF International. Together, the two developed the algorithm that determines the carbon footprint from the manufacture of a product to its delivery at a consumer’s door. …read more