The University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria (ULPGC) plays a leading role in the European AIRSHIP project, designed to assess the viability of ground-effect vehicles on inter-island maritime routes . This effort seeks to promote decarbonisation and sustainability in maritime transport , significantly reducing polluting emissions.
Ground effect vehicles , also known as flying boats, take advantage of the lift offered by the “ground effect” to move with greater energy efficiency and less resistance. This technological advance, inspired by unmanned drones , promises to outperform traditional ships in speed and represent a lower cost compared to air transport.
Simulations and preliminary results of flying boats
The AIRSHIP team, coordinated by the Polytechnic University of Madrid and with the participation of several European universities, has carried out simulations of the operation of these vehicles on predetermined routes. Key factors such as costs per kilometre, potential income and profitability of the routes were analysed. The preliminary results identified three essential elements for viability: the number of daily journeys, the annual operating days and the price of the service.
Watch how the AIRSHIP vehicle was tested. Source: AIRSHIP
AIRSHIP is financially supported by the Horizon Europe programme and brings together academic institutions and research centres from Spain, Luxembourg, Finland and Estonia. Although current analyses are still in the early stages, the project marks a crucial step towards the implementation of more sustainable and autonomous maritime transport systems .
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Source: University of Las Palmas Gran Canaria
Photos: AIRSHIP Project
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