The Norwegian three-masted sailing ship Statsraad Lehmkuhl launched in 1914 and still sails the seven seas. Her job is to train Royal Norwegian Naval Cadets in the art of seamanship, and working in teams. She has a Rolls-Royce diesel engine for sailing in and out of harbor. However, with all 22 sails unfurled she can achieve 17 knots of speed (21 mph), and what a glorious sight she is.
The Statsraad Lehmkuhl Is a Small Community
Up to 150 cadets sleep in hammocks below decks at night, ready to spring into action at the watch’s call. Elsewhere there are cabins for permanent crew, and occasional additional training staff.
Diesel generators run in the background to power technology added over 104 years. Hence, although Statsraad Lehmkuhl cruises on renewable energy, she could be even better if she had batteries. These are going in as we speak, but the ingenious Norwegians have another trick up their sleeve.
They Want to Use Her Propeller as a Generator
When the Statsraad Lehmkuhl is under sail far out in the ocean, her propeller spins idly beneath her stern. Engineers are converting this rotation into electricity by attaching a generator.
They hope there will be sufficient power in the batteries to meet all the requirements of modern technology. However, this will depend on the force of the wind, and the speed with which the tall ship breasts the waves. Someday she may even slip out of her homeport Bergen, without residents stirring to the familiar beat of the diesel.
One of the engineers on the project remarked about the shipboard battery revolution currently underway. “We can safely say that a fresh wind is blowing through the maritime sector at the moment,” he said. “Projects are underway to test battery solutions in practically every kind of ship – now even sailing ships like Statsraad Lehmkuhl.”
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Preview Image: Stern of Statsraad Lehmkuhl
