E/S Orcelle Cargo Carrier
Shipping and air travel have been challenging to regulate in terms of new environmental standards. A dramatic step forward is the E/S Orcelle (E/S stands for environmentally sound; orcelle is French for an endangered type of dolphin), a sustainable vessel proposed by the Swedish/Norwegian transportation company Wallenius Wilhelmsen Logistics. The concept is based on zero emissions and the premise that by 2025 ships will be propelled without oil. Designed by No Picnic, the E/S Orcelle would have an optimum cargo capacity of up to 50% more space than today’s modern car carriers and could transport ten thousand cars. This increase is achieved by the vessel’s five-hull shape along with its use of lightweight materials and energy from renewable sources.
The carrier would be made of aluminum and thermoplastic composite materials, which offer greater high-tensile strength, less maintenance, and are more recyclable than the traditionally used carbon steels. The stability provided by the boat’s hull and fin design, combined with the new propulsion systems, eliminates the need for the vessel to take on and release ballast water, which often contains invasive species that cause environmental damage. The E/S Orcelle’s primary energy sources can be obtained at sea—dorsal fin sails contain photovoltaic cells that capture solar energy and self-adjust to harness wind energy; and twelve underwater fins capture wave energy, which can be transformed into hydrogen, electricity, or mechanical energy.
Location: norway, sweden