A Canadian coffee company uses sailboats and 20-day trips to save the environment

Weather of Arabia - The emissions obsession is taking hold over some coffee merchants around the world, as they have reached the point of using traditional sailboats, without considering the potential risks of relying on this means to transport large quantities of goods.

In this context, Canadian coffee roasting company Café William announced details of the first sailboat used to ship its imported coffee beans to North America, according to what was recorded by the Energy Research Unit.

The company explained that its goal in using traditional sailboats is to reduce the carbon footprint, by adopting sustainable and environmentally friendly means of transportation, instead of relying on maritime transportation via ships that rely on fossil fuels.

The first Canadian flight to transport coffee

On December 18, 2023, the first coffee shipping voyage via sailboat set off from the port of Santa Marta in Colombia, heading to North America.

The sailboat carried about 72,000 kilograms of coffee beans over 20 days, covering the distance from Colombia to Canada, according to the specialized platform Offshore Energy.

Canadian company Café William notes that its choice to use sailboats is part of its plan to reduce emissions and promote sustainable practices in its supply chain.

The company also aims for its sailboat experience to be a good model that inspires other companies in the sector to emulate it, which can contribute to supporting and enhancing emissions reduction efforts in the coffee industry globally.

Reducing one ton of carbon per container

Estimating the avoided emissions, the Canadian company estimates emissions at about one ton of carbon dioxide per container in coffee shipping operations using sailboats, according to the Energy Research Unit.

The company plans to increase the number of sailboats used to transport imported coffee beans to its café chain in Canada by 100% in the long term.

In 2021, the company announced its first investment in building a zero-emission sailing ship, with the aim of transporting coffee beans from South America to its roasting plant in the city of Sherbouk in the Canadian province of Quebec. The vessel, which transported the first zero-emission coffee shipment, is called Ceiba, a traditional three-masted sailboat built in Costa Rica.

Boat design

The boat's design includes an electric auxiliary motor alongside the sails to achieve maximum levels of reliability and efficiency. This design allows the electric motors to operate using a combination of green hydrogen fuel cells and batteries charged by variable motion propellers used in marine propulsion.

Studies show that using sailboats to ship goods carries high risks, especially in rough waters where strong storms or strong winds can divert them or even swamp them in rare cases. In addition, trips may be significantly delayed if the winds are weak, due to the movement of boats associated with it, which is why the Canadian company equips the boat with an auxiliary electric motor to deal with these conditions.

However, the risk of fire accidents in electrical vessels at sea remains high, and marine workers must take care to avoid electrical wires and connections throughout the vessel.

Source: attaqa