Hi all.
I read something the other night about a proposed design of cargo ship called the Multipacket. It consisted of a stern section containing the engine, all the ships controls, crew accommodation etc., that was detachable from the main hull of the ship.
The idea being that the ship could dock and the stern would be detached and connected to an already waiting hull section. This way it would be able to set out almost immediately back to sea without waiting for its initial cargo to be unloaded and reloaded with its next. The main hull it had brought in would then be unloaded in a more casual manner than usual.
The purpose of all this was to cut costs – The most costly part of the ship could spend more time actually at sea, the ports could operate more efficiently, (apparently), better crew efficiency etc. It was also proposed that the main hull sections could be of different size and type depending on the type of cargo to be carried, containers, bulk, fuel etc. Thus the ‘ship’ would not be limited to carrying one type of cargo.
A casual search of the internet turned up only one reference to this proposed design in a document dated 1967. I assume the design was never built or used.
I did think it might make an interesting model though. Perhaps a stern section and a couple of different hulls, radio controlled, and operated showing the changeover from one hull to another
Any thoughts or further information about this design already known by anyone?
Regards Macey
