Slow boat to China: Cargo ships are cutting their sailing speeds to reduce costs.Courtesy mikebaird
Slower speeds also reduce pollution. Too bad that is not why the shipping companies are slowing down. The tough economic times has forced many to think of ways to cut costs.
It is believed that Maersk, the world's largest shipping line, with more than 600 ships has saved more than $100 million on fuel since it began its go-slow policy. Instead of the standard 25 knots to 20 knots, some container ships are slowing down to 12 knots (about 14 mph). This is slower than the speed of sailing clippers such as the Cutty Sark more than 130 years ago.
Driving too fast or rapid acceleration wastes money.
You can lower your gas mileage by 33 percent at highway speeds and by 5 percent around town.
You can assume that each 5 mph you drive over 60 mph is like paying an additional $0.24 per gallon for gas. fueleconomy.gov
Saving money and reducing pollution should be a no-brainer but people with too much money often choose to speed. I think slowing down should be mandatory.
Source Modern cargo ships slow to the speed of the sailing clippers The Guardian
This brought to mind blimps, too.
I feel like I've seen quite a few stories in the last couple years about how air transportation via blimp (or rigid and semi-rigid airships, if you're going to be a jerk about it) is going to be coming back in force soon. It's difficult to imagine airships replacing airplanes, but as fuel becomes more expensive, I wonder if we'll start to sacrifice speed for efficiency in air travel. (There are other considerations as well, of course.)
Thanks for that link which explains the advantages/disadvantages of lighter-than-air craft (blimps).
I also recall reading about floating luxury "hotels" cruising for weeks
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