3 ms·
If you take the people off them, 4000 little self-sailing ships seems actually much better for logistics than one big tub that will clog up Suez if there is one
by ElevenLathe 4y ago
If you take the people off them, 4000 little self-sailing ships seems actually much better for logistics than one big tub that will clog up Suez if there is one pilot screwup. Send your stuff when it rolls off the line, no need to wait until you have 20,000 of them lined up.
- dtgriscom 4y agoIt isn't just caprice that's made ships bigger and bigger and bigger; they're cheaper to operate. The loss of flexibility seems to be well-compensated by the lower cost.
- ElevenLathe 4y agoAre they not cheaper to operate because of economies of scale for staff (fewer sailors per ton-mile of cargo) and fuel (one big hull is less drag through the water than tons of little ones)? I assumed those were the main reasons but maybe there is some bigger one that dwarfs these, perhaps construction costs? Docking fees?