Can the Great Green Fleet sail in time?
October 15th, 2009 | Liberty Science and technology Ships | Posted by Phil Ewing
Navy Secretary Ray Mabus wants more ships with "hybrid" propulsion systems like the Makin Island's for his "Great Green Fleet" by 2016 // MC2 Jon Husman/ Navy
Scoop Deck was disappointed Wednesday to learn that, although Navy Secretary Ray Mabus wants the Navy to field an all-sustainably powered carrier strike group by 2016, plans do not call for the ships to be painted green. Perhaps it’s just as well, because the “Great Green Fleet” must overcome any number of other challenges before it can put to sea in seven years.
Mabus’ goal is for a strike group that comprises ships and aircraft fueled by no foreign oil — the subs and carrier would be nuclear; the ships would have hybrid powerplants or use alternative fuel; and all the aircraft would use alternative fuel. Today, the Navy has no ships that use marine bio-diesel, just one “hybrid” ship and no aircraft that fly with bio-JP5.
Engineers have taken some early steps: The Navy will test a hybrid Arleigh Burke propulsion system in a laboratory next year, and engineers hope than an bio-fuel-powered F/A-18 “Green Hornet” also will fly next year.
What do you think: Can the Navy build the “green fleet” in time?
Comments
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Chaps Says:
October 15th, 2009 at 10:13 pmThe CNO says “diversity” is his highest priority. SecNav wants to spend gobs of money on a “green” fleet. Man. It’s a good thing we don’t have wars to fight.
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philbob Says:
October 16th, 2009 at 12:27 amall signs point to…No
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boulder fire Says:
October 30th, 2010 at 8:38 pmThe CNO says “diversity” is his highest priority. SecNav wants to spend gobs of money on a “green” fleet. Man. It’s a good thing we don’t have wars to fight.