B9 Shipping and the Greenheart Project are both working to develop new high-tech sailing coasters.  B9 has in mind a 3,000 DWT three masted bulk carrier with automated square sails whereas the Greenheart Project envisions a much smaller fore and aft rigged general cargo ship.   They both look intriguing. Whether or not they would be economically viable is still unclear. By the standards of today, a 3,000 DWT bulk carrier is quite small. Nevertheless, it is roughly the same size as the great windjammers of the late 19th and early 20th centuries.  A B9 Shipping promotional video, after the jump.

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Thanks to Alaric Bond for passing the article along.