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Ok the fact that this tech is being used to shovel piles of new cars around is not that solarpunk, but the technology itself certainly is.

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[-] supersquirrel@lemmy.ca 3 points 1 week ago* (last edited 1 week ago)

You don't have to imagine it, three already exist and no these aren't yachts, they are cargo vessels for tea and wine!

The introduction of this new fleet of sailing cargo ships is in line with TOWT’s aim of creating lower-emission alternatives to conventional container vessels powered by internal combustion engines. The ships and their equipment will also comply with regulations that cover cargo vessels sailing on international routes and with gross tonnages greater than 500 UMS. The advanced sail technology was inspired by that used by vessels built for ocean racing.

https://www.bairdmaritime.com/shipping/dry-cargo/frances-newtowt-takes-delivery-of-third-sailing-cargo-ship-in-series

The TOWT vessels each have a length of 81 metres (270 feet), a beam of 15 metres (49 feet), a height of 63 metres (210 feet), and a cargo hold for transporting palletised goods totalling 1,100 tonnes. The sails will provide all of the propulsive power needed by each vessel with a sail rigging of 2,200 square metres (24,000 square feet) spread over two masts, while navigation will be aided by an autonomous routing system that utilises artificial intelligence and meteorological data. Using the sails alone, the vessels can already achieve a top speed of 10 knots.

https://www.bairdmaritime.com/shipping/dry-cargo/vessel-review-anemos-artemis-french-transport-company-introduces-sailing-cargo-ships-on-transatlantic-routes

A rare glimpse of an exciting future-past synchronicity, almost every other tall ship on this list is not actually used for shipping.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_large_sailing_vessels

this post was submitted on 08 Sep 2026
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Solarpunk technology

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Technology for a Solar-Punk future.

Airships and hydroponic farms...

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