Tanker Uses Kite to Reduce Fuel Costs

While ships have used wind to power their vessels for centuries, it has long since been abandoned by commercial vessels until recently. A new tanker has been outfitted with a $725,000 computer-guided kite as an innovative auxiliary propulsion system which will offset fuel costs and allow the vessel to run more efficiently. The 160-square meter kite is expected to reduce fuel costs by up to 20 percent ($1,600 per day) and significantly cut the ship's carbon dioxide emissions as well. The 132 meter long MV "Beluga SkySails" is a joint venture between two companies; Beluga Group and Skysails.

Human Fat Used for Earthrace's Alternative Fuel

The Earthrace, the 78 foot alternative fuel powered ocean vessel aimed at breaking the world circumference record is tapping a new source of alternative energy, human fat. After a recent liposuction procedure the ship’s captain, New Zealander Pete Bethune, donated enough of his excess lard to produce 100ml of biofuel. Two other patients also donated their fat filling up the Earthrace's tank with enough fuel to travel about 15km after it is blended with a mix of 100% biodiesel.

Greenboating.net Launches!

Greenboating.blogspot.com is proud to announce the debut of greenboating.net. The site is still under construction but we are excited about the future and believe that this meaningful endeavor will be the first of its kind to make a serious impact on the marine industry. We will continue to bring you the latest news, products, and innovations on eco-friendly boating and marine supplies. Thanks for all your support!

First Carbon Neutral Fishing Tournament

January 10-13 Miami Beach Marina will hold the worlds first fishing tournament which will offset its emissions in an attempt to be carbon neutral. "The Sailfish Tournament," organized by Dan Kipnis and Eric Peeples will mitigate emissions from boats through donations from sponsors Merrill Stevens Yachts and the Ruwitch Foundation donating money to Carbonfund.org. The tournament is being held to raise awareness of the Green Button project which asks boaters to donate a few cents more at marina pumps to help offset emissions. For more information go to the SailfishTournament.com.

First Solar Powered Transatlantic Crossing by Boat

This year Sun21 became the first solar powered boat to complete a transatlantic crossing. The vessel, built and sponsored by the Swiss Transatlantic21 Association, traveled a total of 7000 miles from Seville, Spain to New York City without using a drop of fuel. The vessel averaged 107 nautical miles a day, comparable to a sailboat of similar size. To read more about this historic event or view footage of the crossing go to http://www.transatlantic21.org/.

Congratulations to Four Fish Inn and Marina in Jensen Beach!

The Florida Department of Environmental Protection (DEP), along with the Clean Boating Partnership, today designated Four Fish Inn and Marina as a Florida Clean Marina and Clean Boatyard. Four Fish Inn and Marina is the eighth Clean Marina and fourth Clean Boatyard in Martin County. For more on this story go here

For more information on the FDEP CLean Boating Partnership go to http://www.dep.state.fl.us/cleanmarina/

The Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show Begins Today

The 48th Annual Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show Begins today! There is quite a buzz about all things green at this years show. We here at Green Boating will be reporting from the show on the industries newest innovations, designs and products for all of our readers. So stay tuned for all things green on the blue, from super yachts to dinghies.

Petition for Tighter Standards of Large Ocean Going Vessels Filed with EPA

On October 3 of 2007, a group of environmental advocates filed a petition with the Environmental Protection Agency to set new and stricter pollution standards for large ocean going vessels. The group was comprised of Earthjustice, Oceana, Friends of the Earth, and the Center for Biological Diversity. The group based their petition on the 2007 decision by the Supreme Court which states that the Clean Air Act gives the EPA authority to address global warming.

This petition marks a major step in the regulation of standards of marine vessels. These greener standards could be imposed not just in the U.S. but any country one might choose to visit. It is clear the future of the marine industry is in more efficient and cleaner vessels. We can anticipate that new designs will only reflect this trend. It may not just be fashionable to build a green ship such as Ethereal the 190-foot, $50 million superyacht being built by Bill Joy, the co-founder of Sun Microsystems. In the coming years, regulations may require green boating.

View article on EPA petition here at Oceana
View article on Ethereal

Take Action On Blog Action Day

Green Boating Blog is proud to recognize Blog Action Day. Please take this opportunity to ask yourself what you can do to help in raising awareness of environmental issues. And take action; whether with a blog, or volunteering, a donation, or educating others. Let us all take start to take responsibility for our actions and do something about it. Those of us who are past the recognition stage of awareness of environmental problems need to move toward the action stages of solving these issues despite what the opposition may recognize.

Take Action!

Blog Action Day and Green Boating Debut!

Today is Blog Action Day and the greenboating.blogspot.com debut! Welcome, this site will be dedicated to creating an open dialogue about green boating practices and innovations for the marine industry. I welcome your input and am excited about what the future holds for this meaningful endeavor. I will strive to highlight the latest news and innovations in green boating design, products, and practices. Green Boating is dedicated to identifying and sharing knowledge which will help protect the marine environment. Happy Blog Action Day and stay tuned for upcoming stories and discussions from Green Boating.

Fuel Cell Powered Yacht in the Pipeline

10-11-2007
Green technology company, Voller Energy, has joined forces with yacht designer Ken Freivokh to create a pioneering fuel-cell powered yacht. View Story

Yacht Council Looks at Green Boating Options

In this article the Yacht Council examines innovations in design in the boating industry.
View Article

All Aboard!

Hello everyone, this is my first blog. I have great expectations about this endeavor and I hope many will join what I expect to be a fantastic voyage. I am creating this blog to start a dialogue with those in the boating community that would like to see positive steps taken to strengthen our environmental protection and stewardship of the marine environment, and promote sustainable and environmentally preferable practices, products, and designs.