Bahrainis in Netherlands solar boat contest
Manama, July 3, 2014
A team from Bahrain University is competing in a major challenge in the Netherlands, which has been dubbed the world cup of solar powered boats.
It is among 24 teams going head to head at the Dong Energy Solar Challenge 2014, which will end on Saturday (July 5), said a report in the Gulf Daily News (GDN), our sister publication.
The five-member team from the College of Engineering managed to rank sixth on the first day and came in eighth on the second day, but did not finish the three other races that followed.
"I am expecting good results from the team," said university applied physics professor Dr Waheeb Al Naser, who is the team's general supervisor.
"The past three days held lots of surprises.
"The first day we were ranked sixth and the second day we ranked eighth and third day the boat had technical problems due to algae, seaweed and other marine objects.
"I hope the engine can perform at its usual speed of 22kmph."
Dr Al Naser said the students did not have time to build a boat ahead of the competition so the university purchased a Polish vessel that came in third place during the 2012 challenge.
Moreover, the students modified and tweaked the boat to give it a competitive edge.
"The boat was initially purchased from Chree Yacht in Poland, which won the third place in 2012 Dong Solar Challenge but has been modified in many aspects," he added.
"They weren't able to build a new one because of time restrictions.
"We planned to improve the aerodynamic of the boat using less weight and stronger material."
Dr Al Naser said the team aimed to demonstrate Bahrain's commitment to green technology.
"Our goal is not to get an advanced place," he explained.
"Our improvements did not tackle the shaft which needs to be changed, that is why we are expecting to be in a modest place, due to this reason and due to first time of participation.
"This participation was a voice to the world that Bahrain and the Gulf Co-operation Council are taking the green industry and global warming issue as well as clean technology very seriously." - TradeArabia News Service
