The EcoCruiser would be a derivative of the Solar Wingsail Cruiser, differing primarily in that it employs a larger vessel scale and a predominate use of active propulsion in the form of a sophisticated electric drive system and power plant using renewable energy packaged as a fuel such as liquid hydrogen, biofuels like methanol, hydrides, or redox solutions. Depending on type of energy packaging medium, power plants may use either fuel cells or turbogenerators with these possibly being traded-off as the marine settlement evolves its energy production capability. Intended as a ‘fast ship’ with a 40mph cruising speed, the EcoCruiser would rely on marine settlements, remote OTEC power stations, and coastal solar/wind power facilities operated by the communities of TMP as its primary source of fuel and so, while being speedy, its range and routes would be strictly limited by the distribution of these. In many cases –especially early in its deployment– it may be limited to point-to-point shuttle transit within half its maximum range rather than the more circuitous transit routes typical of conventional commercial marine shipping.
The design of the EcoCruiser would be essentially the same as the Solar Wingsail Cruiser, using the same type of SWATH hull, space frame deck structure, and modular cabin structures. However, it would give up the large wingsail units and employ a more streamlined layout of deck structures and shapes in order to improve its fuel efficiency at its higher cruising speeds. There would be much more emphasis on container handling with the EcoCruiser, though it may employ a new version of the ISO container based on an aluminum frame and fiberglass walls in order to reduce mass. The EcoCruiser would easily handle containers thanks to its adaptable deck structure and RoRo access but may never support the vast numbers of containers of very large conventional container vessels, though the population of typical marine colonies would be far less and warrant a much smaller volume but higher frequency rate of container traffic. Like the Wingsail Cruiser the EcoCruiser would also be well suited to the role of passenger vessel and most vessels in the Aquarian fleet would be configured with a mix of cargo and passenger accommodations that could be adjusted in volume according to varying trends in demand for each traffic type –initially favoring mixed use and later more dedicated vessels.
Peer Topics[]
- Solar Ferry
- Solar Wingsail Cruiser
- Relay Archipelago
- Wingship
- EcoJet
- Aquarian Airship
- Aquarian Personal Rapid Transit System
- Aquarian Personal Packet Transit and SuperStore
- Aquarian SE Downstation
- Circum-Equatorial Transit Network