SOME homegrown technology will take centre stage at the World Expo in Shangai later this year.
A solar-powered vessel using technology designed by former Ulladulla GP Robert Dane's company Solar Sailor will be used as a 186-passenger VIP boat during the four-month event.
The World Expo, which runs from May 1 to October 31, is expected to attract 70 million visitors.
The 'SunTech Guoshong' is being built by the SunTech Corporation and is expected to attract international interest in Solar Sailor's environmentally friendly technology.
It will feature the largest solar sail built to date.
What makes the SunTech Guoshong even more special is that a vital component has been constructed right here in Ulladulla.
The 1.5 ton mechanism used to control the vessel's unique solar sail was constructed by Graeme 'Butch' Johnston at Ulladulla Engineering over a period of two months.
A SunTech Corporation representative Harry Chen visited Ulladulla last week to sign off on the mechanism before it is shipped to Shanghai, where the rest of the vessel - including the solar sail - is nearing completion.
Ulladulla Engineering constructed the mechanism for the first Solar Sailor vessel and Dr Dane said the quality of the local workmanship was equal to that anywhere else in the world.
The construction contract for the vessel was only signed in August last year and Mr Johnston admits to working "flat out" since mid-November in a bid to have the mechanism completed on time.
It's shaping up to be a big year for Solar Sailor with a total of six boats - including the SunTech Guoshong and a vessel already operating on Sydney Harbour - to be showcasing the company's unique technology before the end of the year.
Plans are also being finalised for a total of four solar-powered ferries to be used in Hong Kong and there is a good chance the mechanism for the fourth boat will also be built here in Ulladulla.
Given the vessels will be used 14 hours a day, seven days a week, Dr Dane said reliability of all components would be "incredibly important".
The vessels - purchased by the Hong Kong Jockey Club as part of a $45 million drive to make the city more environmentally friendly - are expected to be in use on Hong Kong Harbour by the end of November.
Three of the vessels will be fitted with solar panels while a fourth will make use of the unique solar sail.
Dr Dane told the Times last week that investigations were also continuing into use of the technology in private yachts and in unmanned military vessels in the United States.
ABOUT SOLAR SAILOR:
Solar Sailor Holdings Limited founded by former Ulladulla GP Robert Dane in 1999 after he conceived and patented the 'solar sail', a device that harnesses both sun and wind power.
In 2000 the company launched a commercial tourism solar sailor ferry on Sydney Harbour, which went on to win the 2001 Engineering Design Award of the Year.
It continues to operate commercially as a charter boat by Captain Cook Cruises.
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