Dutch Innovator Pioneers Solar-Powered Cargo Ship at 87
Amsterdam, Monday, 21 July 2025.
Hilbert Noorman has designed a solar-powered cargo ship reaching 23.4 km/h, marking a significant advancement in sustainable shipping and combating climate change.
Revolutionary Design for Green Shipping
In an ambitious leap towards sustainable shipping, Hilbert Noorman, an 87-year-old inventor from the Netherlands, has introduced a cutting-edge cargo ship powered solely by solar energy. This vessel incorporates a unique screw design situated in a tunnel within the ship, enabling it to achieve a top speed of 23.4 kilometers per hour [1]. Such innovative engineering not only promises to revolutionize the logistics industry but also stands as a beacon in the global efforts to combat climate change.
Saving Energy Through Advanced Propulsion
Noorman’s ship design is particularly remarkable for its energy efficiency. By situating the propeller in a tunnel, the design optimizes the flow of water, making propulsion considerably more efficient than traditional methods. It has been projected that Noorman’s approach could save up to 27 million euros annually in fuel costs for the Dutch shipping fleet alone [1]. This substantial reduction in fuel consumption underscores the potential financial benefits of transitioning toward renewable energy sources in maritime transport.
Current Landscape of Solar-Powered Shipping
The advent of Noorman’s solar-powered vessel aligns with a broader trend in the shipping industry towards cleaner technologies. As part of a wave of innovations, initiatives like these are crucial to reducing the carbon footprint of maritime operations, which are significant contributors to greenhouse gas emissions globally [3][4]. In recent years, investments in renewable energy have surged, with solar power making up a significant proportion of such investments in the Netherlands [3].
Innovations and Future Prospects
The prototype’s successful design and testing could pave the way for a new class of solar-powered ships, drastically cutting emissions and fostering a new era of environmentally-friendly shipping. Noorman’s work stands alongside other groundbreaking projects, such as the Blue Marlin, another solar-powered cargo vessel launched recently in Europe, showcasing the industry’s momentum towards sustainability [4]. These advancements, characterized by novel solar integration techniques, highlight how maritime technologies are evolving to meet the demands of a lower-carbon future [2][5].