Solar Sailor success in international markets

2:11 AM Wed 4 Mar 2009 GMT

'Solar Sailor flies the flag for Green Boating.' .

Australian Solar Sailor, with Dr Robert Dane at its helm and former PM, Bob Hawke its Chairman, is celebrating some recent wins.

Solar Sailor-powered vessels are already in service in Sydney Harbour, while North American launches are in the making in New York (Circle Line) and San Francisco (Alcatraz). Last month, the company also announced the sale of four ferry boats to Hong Kong as well as the design of another for the 2010 World Expo in Shanghai and ongoing discussions about building a clean-tech tanker prototype for Chinese shipping company COSCO. Tokyo, Amsterdam, London, Stockholm, Rio and others have expressed their interest and are reportedly nutting out details now.

Dane developed a 'solar wing' for ferries and yachts, which harnesses both sun and wind energy. Like a large sail, the solar wing can be manipulated into different rotating positions, as well as folding flat in high winds. Vessels can reach speeds of 10 to 13 knots, the same maximum speed as conventional ferries. Even on a cloudy day, enough energy is generated to charge a vessel's main batteries and keep the boat running.