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I've often wondered if you could build a serious ocean-going autonomous ship around this size, powered by sails. It would be slow, no doubt, but the variable c

by mabbo 5y ago

I've often wondered if you could build a serious ocean-going autonomous ship around this size, powered by sails. It would be slow, no doubt, but the variable cost to transport containers would be incredibly low. No energy used, no crew to pay. All you need after that is to have a small fleet of them, and a dock that can do autonomous loading and unloading.

nradov 5y ago
The Oceanbird sailing car carrier concept design would appear viable from an engineering standpoint. However I doubt it would be economically viable under current conditions. Publishing the design is probably mostly a PR stunt, and perhaps a hedge against a future carbon emissions tax. https://www.forbes.com/sites/nishandegnarain/2020/12/01/a-new-golden-age-of-sailing-is-here-where-is-the-leadership/ https://www.forbes.com/sites/nishandegnarain/2020/12/01/a-ne... Large ocean going ships will never be fully autonomous. Humans are needed to conduct maintenance and repair, which is generally too complex to automate. But automation will reduce the crew needed for standing watch in the engine room and bridge.
- rixed 5y ago
  Maybe it's worth reminding that a ship in the middle of the ocean is often much farther away from any other human beings than the astronauts on the ISS, and that sending a rescue mission from ashore to fix a leaking pipe would take a long time and a great amount of fuel. Therefore it makes sense to have at least a few people onboard for basic servicing. Also maybe worth remembering that once close to the departing or destination harbour, any large cargo ship met with the harbour pilot team who goes onboard and take responsibility for manoeuvering the ship, so no ship would be unmanned the full course of its journey anyway ; only the easier, longer part.
throwawaysea 5y ago
Yes you could build an autonomous ship in theory, although it should probably be modestly crewed in some areas to avoid piracy. The more immediate likely direction is for wind assisted propulsion rather than totally wind powered ships. There are already ships assisted by sails, rotors, and kites (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wind-assisted_propulsion https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wind-assisted_propulsion).
- LeanderK 5y ago
  I think uncrewed ships would be easier for avoiding piracy? I assume to take control they would need some kind of authentication so the ship would steam ahead...It would reduce it to vandalism but there's no financial incentive there
devoutsalsa 5y ago
I was jokingly predicting that they’ll turn individual shipping containers into autonomous vehicles at some point. Why not?!
- et2o 5y ago
  At some ports already after they are offloaded they are transported around the yard on programmed platforms. The platforms deliver them to waiting trucks. It’s not “autonomous” but I think it’s functionally close. And probably better to have vehicles transporting them than budilding this into every shipping unit, I assume.
rixed 5y ago
Interestingly, if it's sail powered it looks like people would actually pay to travel on it (although maybe not to travel from where you'd also want to ship cargo?). So maybe workforce would not be that expensive on those ships. For instance: - the sailcargo project (https://www.sailcargo.inc/ https://www.sailcargo.inc/) main ship has as many guest travellers than sailors (assuming "guests" means paying customers) - the ecoclipper500 project (https://ecoclipper.org/prototype/ https://ecoclipper.org/prototype/) also has room for "guests" - many of the traditional large sailboats are packed with paying guests and unpaid trainees as well
chrisdalke 5y ago
It's already a reality -- See https://www.saildrone.com/technology/vehicles https://www.saildrone.com/technology/vehicles. A few companies building serious fleets for ocean data collection.
- mabbo 5y ago
  Awesome. Now just have it carry a few containers and we're really on our way!

by mabbo 5y ago

nradov 5y ago

The Oceanbird sailing car carrier concept design would appear viable from an engineering standpoint. However I doubt it would be economically viable under current conditions. Publishing the design is probably mostly a PR stunt, and perhaps a hedge against a future carbon emissions tax. https://www.forbes.com/sites/nishandegnarain/2020/12/01/a-new-golden-age-of-sailing-is-here-where-is-the-leadership/ https://www.forbes.com/sites/nishandegnarain/2020/12/01/a-ne... Large ocean going ships will never be fully autonomous. Humans are needed to conduct maintenance and repair, which is generally too complex to automate. But automation will reduce the crew needed for standing watch in the engine room and bridge.

rixed 5y ago
Maybe it's worth reminding that a ship in the middle of the ocean is often much farther away from any other human beings than the astronauts on the ISS, and that sending a rescue mission from ashore to fix a leaking pipe would take a long time and a great amount of fuel. Therefore it makes sense to have at least a few people onboard for basic servicing. Also maybe worth remembering that once close to the departing or destination harbour, any large cargo ship met with the harbour pilot team who goes onboard and take responsibility for manoeuvering the ship, so no ship would be unmanned the full course of its journey anyway ; only the easier, longer part.

throwawaysea 5y ago

Yes you could build an autonomous ship in theory, although it should probably be modestly crewed in some areas to avoid piracy. The more immediate likely direction is for wind assisted propulsion rather than totally wind powered ships. There are already ships assisted by sails, rotors, and kites (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wind-assisted_propulsion https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wind-assisted_propulsion).

LeanderK 5y ago
I think uncrewed ships would be easier for avoiding piracy? I assume to take control they would need some kind of authentication so the ship would steam ahead...It would reduce it to vandalism but there's no financial incentive there

devoutsalsa 5y ago

I was jokingly predicting that they’ll turn individual shipping containers into autonomous vehicles at some point. Why not?!

et2o 5y ago
At some ports already after they are offloaded they are transported around the yard on programmed platforms. The platforms deliver them to waiting trucks. It’s not “autonomous” but I think it’s functionally close. And probably better to have vehicles transporting them than budilding this into every shipping unit, I assume.

rixed 5y ago

Interestingly, if it's sail powered it looks like people would actually pay to travel on it (although maybe not to travel from where you'd also want to ship cargo?). So maybe workforce would not be that expensive on those ships. For instance: - the sailcargo project (https://www.sailcargo.inc/ https://www.sailcargo.inc/) main ship has as many guest travellers than sailors (assuming "guests" means paying customers) - the ecoclipper500 project (https://ecoclipper.org/prototype/ https://ecoclipper.org/prototype/) also has room for "guests" - many of the traditional large sailboats are packed with paying guests and unpaid trainees as well

chrisdalke 5y ago

It's already a reality -- See https://www.saildrone.com/technology/vehicles https://www.saildrone.com/technology/vehicles. A few companies building serious fleets for ocean data collection.

mabbo 5y ago
Awesome. Now just have it carry a few containers and we're really on our way!