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Aside from a small pocket of ridiculous, fact-averse people, and those that profit financially, most of the world is now wise to the fact that we need to make some serious changes if we’re going to keep the planet alive.

This realisation has spurred industries across the board to start thinking about swapping out the old ways of doing things for new, greener options.

Canadian company Sailcargois leading the charge with a wooden sailing ship called Ceiba that could cross oceans without the use of any fossil fuels.

The ship, according to Woodworking Network, combines contemporary sustainable technology, like solar panels and a regenerative electric engine, with some old-school carpentry.

Think Noah’s Ark, but for 250 tons of cargo, or 10 shipping containers, which is the estimated load that she will be able to carry.

BBC spoke to Danielle Doggett (below), managing director and co-founder of Sailcargo.

“The thing that sets Ceiba apart is the fact that she’ll have one of the largest marine electric engines of her kind in the world.”

Image: Jocelyn Timperley

The system also has the means to capture energy from underwater propellers as well as solar power, so electricity will be available for the engine when needed. “Really, the only restrictions on how long she can stay at sea is water and food on board for the crew.”

The team is hoping to get her on the water by the end of 2021, and fully operational by 2022.

“I feel like the largest barrier to success is proving that [clean shipping] is valuable,” she says.

Image: Jocelyn Timperley

“I’m really hoping that if we can set a precedent with a for-profit company that can claim the world’s largest and completely emission free [cargo ship], then we can wave these numbers like a flag and say, look, people who are writing the policy, we already did it today.”

The average large container ship is able to travel at between 16 and 22 knots (30 to 41km/h).

Ceiba is expected to be able to reach 16 knots at her fastest, says Doggett, and easily attain 12 knots, although the team has for now estimated a conservative average of four knots for trips until they can test her on the water.

Image: Jocelyn Timperley

Being a world-first, there are other aspects of the design that will only be verifiable when they are tested at sea.

Moving goods by container ship is one of the safest ways to get your cargo from point A to point B without a hitch, so it’s great that the industry is looking into more environmentally sustainable ways of doing things.

As for everything else you need to worry about when you move cargo, those whose businesses use international shipping know that it’s something of an art form.

Berry & Donaldson, one of South Africa’s largest private-owned logistics companies, has been helping our importers and exporters navigate the labyrinth that is international freighting for over half a century.

They’ll take care of everything, leaving you to focus on the important stuff.

[sources:woodworkingnetwork&bbc]