Repurposing A Cargo Ship In A Post-Apocalyptic World












4














How would one go about repurposing a small cargo ship, no more than 50,000 tons, to run on an alternative fuel source/propulsion other than oil? And what alternative source would work best for propelling a ship that size while meeting the following requirements?




  • The ship must be convertible to alternative fuel/propulsion with fairly basic technology: steel, welding, and simple machinery

  • Fuel source/propulsion mustn't rely on heavy infrastructure or complex methods of extraction, no nuclear power or what have you

  • Should be easily repairable with basic technology


The world the freighter would exist in is a not quite post-apocalyptic earth in which very complex or infrastructure-heavy technologies (like the internet or oil industry) are no longer capable of being manufactured, but for the most part, civilizations are still around. Simple technologies that can be locally manufactured still exist and there are bright spots where the technology is much more advanced.






post-apocalypse energy shipbuilding fuels







share|improve this question




















  • 2




    The only dependable alternative is coal, but you still need quite an infrastructure to retrofit the ship and provide the needed coal.
    – Alexander
    7 hours ago










  • SE's model is one-specific-question/one-best-answer. You're technically asking two: how to modify the ship and what fuel to use. I'd suggest breaking this apart and asking the fuel question first. If that doesn't automatically answer the second, then it would be appropriate to ask the second.
    – JBH
    3 hours ago
















4














How would one go about repurposing a small cargo ship, no more than 50,000 tons, to run on an alternative fuel source/propulsion other than oil? And what alternative source would work best for propelling a ship that size while meeting the following requirements?




  • The ship must be convertible to alternative fuel/propulsion with fairly basic technology: steel, welding, and simple machinery

  • Fuel source/propulsion mustn't rely on heavy infrastructure or complex methods of extraction, no nuclear power or what have you

  • Should be easily repairable with basic technology


The world the freighter would exist in is a not quite post-apocalyptic earth in which very complex or infrastructure-heavy technologies (like the internet or oil industry) are no longer capable of being manufactured, but for the most part, civilizations are still around. Simple technologies that can be locally manufactured still exist and there are bright spots where the technology is much more advanced.






post-apocalypse energy shipbuilding fuels







share|improve this question




















  • 2




    The only dependable alternative is coal, but you still need quite an infrastructure to retrofit the ship and provide the needed coal.
    – Alexander
    7 hours ago










  • SE's model is one-specific-question/one-best-answer. You're technically asking two: how to modify the ship and what fuel to use. I'd suggest breaking this apart and asking the fuel question first. If that doesn't automatically answer the second, then it would be appropriate to ask the second.
    – JBH
    3 hours ago














4












4








4







How would one go about repurposing a small cargo ship, no more than 50,000 tons, to run on an alternative fuel source/propulsion other than oil? And what alternative source would work best for propelling a ship that size while meeting the following requirements?




  • The ship must be convertible to alternative fuel/propulsion with fairly basic technology: steel, welding, and simple machinery

  • Fuel source/propulsion mustn't rely on heavy infrastructure or complex methods of extraction, no nuclear power or what have you

  • Should be easily repairable with basic technology


The world the freighter would exist in is a not quite post-apocalyptic earth in which very complex or infrastructure-heavy technologies (like the internet or oil industry) are no longer capable of being manufactured, but for the most part, civilizations are still around. Simple technologies that can be locally manufactured still exist and there are bright spots where the technology is much more advanced.






post-apocalypse energy shipbuilding fuels







share|improve this question















How would one go about repurposing a small cargo ship, no more than 50,000 tons, to run on an alternative fuel source/propulsion other than oil? And what alternative source would work best for propelling a ship that size while meeting the following requirements?




  • The ship must be convertible to alternative fuel/propulsion with fairly basic technology: steel, welding, and simple machinery

  • Fuel source/propulsion mustn't rely on heavy infrastructure or complex methods of extraction, no nuclear power or what have you

  • Should be easily repairable with basic technology


The world the freighter would exist in is a not quite post-apocalyptic earth in which very complex or infrastructure-heavy technologies (like the internet or oil industry) are no longer capable of being manufactured, but for the most part, civilizations are still around. Simple technologies that can be locally manufactured still exist and there are bright spots where the technology is much more advanced.






post-apocalypse energy shipbuilding fuels




post-apocalypse energy shipbuilding fuels






share|improve this question















share|improve this question













share|improve this question




share|improve this question








edited 4 hours ago









Gryphon

3,05822354




3,05822354










asked 7 hours ago









The ImperialThe Imperial

1,452314




1,452314








  • 2




    The only dependable alternative is coal, but you still need quite an infrastructure to retrofit the ship and provide the needed coal.
    – Alexander
    7 hours ago










  • SE's model is one-specific-question/one-best-answer. You're technically asking two: how to modify the ship and what fuel to use. I'd suggest breaking this apart and asking the fuel question first. If that doesn't automatically answer the second, then it would be appropriate to ask the second.
    – JBH
    3 hours ago














  • 2




    The only dependable alternative is coal, but you still need quite an infrastructure to retrofit the ship and provide the needed coal.
    – Alexander
    7 hours ago










  • SE's model is one-specific-question/one-best-answer. You're technically asking two: how to modify the ship and what fuel to use. I'd suggest breaking this apart and asking the fuel question first. If that doesn't automatically answer the second, then it would be appropriate to ask the second.
    – JBH
    3 hours ago








2




2




The only dependable alternative is coal, but you still need quite an infrastructure to retrofit the ship and provide the needed coal.
– Alexander
7 hours ago




The only dependable alternative is coal, but you still need quite an infrastructure to retrofit the ship and provide the needed coal.
– Alexander
7 hours ago












SE's model is one-specific-question/one-best-answer. You're technically asking two: how to modify the ship and what fuel to use. I'd suggest breaking this apart and asking the fuel question first. If that doesn't automatically answer the second, then it would be appropriate to ask the second.
– JBH
3 hours ago




SE's model is one-specific-question/one-best-answer. You're technically asking two: how to modify the ship and what fuel to use. I'd suggest breaking this apart and asking the fuel question first. If that doesn't automatically answer the second, then it would be appropriate to ask the second.
– JBH
3 hours ago










3 Answers
3






active

oldest

votes


















6














One option is to install masts and use wind, the Thomas W. Lawson was a ship 7 masted steel schooner that could carry 58,000 barrels of paraffin oil. Your cargo ship is bigger, but could probably just have more masts. It could make for a very interesting looking artist rendering.






share|improve this answer








New contributor




Zpollock is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.














  • 1




    Way too big for sailing. Thomas W. Lawson didn't survive its first oceangoing attempt.
    – Alexander
    7 hours ago






  • 1




    Well, at least according to Wikipedia, that ship was lost long before the storm that broker her up. Arguably, lost as early as before she ever left port! (Poor management by the captain in hiring less than capable sailors to manage a rather unique vessel.) Otherwise, she'd sailed along the Atlantic and in the Gulf for several years.
    – elemtilas
    4 hours ago






  • 1




    (cont.) There were also design issues with that ship, apparently, making it very difficult to operate.
    – elemtilas
    4 hours ago



















2














Whale oil.



If civilizations have fallen the whales might be doing alright. Round them up and render the oil in the old school way.



Or if that seems too mean, the first steam ships used to run on coal. Digging that up is not especially high tech and you could switch up your ship to use a coal-fired boiler.






share|improve this answer





























    0














    Swap out the engines for electric motors, wire solar panels / windmills to batteries. Should be doable by an electrician and a mechanic, I just don't know what kind of capacity it will be needed.






    share|improve this answer





















    • Solar can't provide enough power. I picked a 28,000 ton ship at random. If you treat its 187m x 25m size as a rectangle (extending the deck of the ship as needed) and cover it with solar panels, solar panels can generate around 935KW of power at peak sun. Sounds like a lot, but the ship's engines generate 19,000KW of power, so the solar panels can provide less than 5% of the energy needed to move the ship (and only while in peak sun).
      – Johnny
      36 mins ago













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    3 Answers
    3






    active

    oldest

    votes








    3 Answers
    3






    active

    oldest

    votes









    active

    oldest

    votes






    active

    oldest

    votes









    6














    One option is to install masts and use wind, the Thomas W. Lawson was a ship 7 masted steel schooner that could carry 58,000 barrels of paraffin oil. Your cargo ship is bigger, but could probably just have more masts. It could make for a very interesting looking artist rendering.






    share|improve this answer








    New contributor




    Zpollock is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
    Check out our Code of Conduct.














    • 1




      Way too big for sailing. Thomas W. Lawson didn't survive its first oceangoing attempt.
      – Alexander
      7 hours ago






    • 1




      Well, at least according to Wikipedia, that ship was lost long before the storm that broker her up. Arguably, lost as early as before she ever left port! (Poor management by the captain in hiring less than capable sailors to manage a rather unique vessel.) Otherwise, she'd sailed along the Atlantic and in the Gulf for several years.
      – elemtilas
      4 hours ago






    • 1




      (cont.) There were also design issues with that ship, apparently, making it very difficult to operate.
      – elemtilas
      4 hours ago
















    6














    One option is to install masts and use wind, the Thomas W. Lawson was a ship 7 masted steel schooner that could carry 58,000 barrels of paraffin oil. Your cargo ship is bigger, but could probably just have more masts. It could make for a very interesting looking artist rendering.






    share|improve this answer








    New contributor




    Zpollock is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
    Check out our Code of Conduct.














    • 1




      Way too big for sailing. Thomas W. Lawson didn't survive its first oceangoing attempt.
      – Alexander
      7 hours ago






    • 1




      Well, at least according to Wikipedia, that ship was lost long before the storm that broker her up. Arguably, lost as early as before she ever left port! (Poor management by the captain in hiring less than capable sailors to manage a rather unique vessel.) Otherwise, she'd sailed along the Atlantic and in the Gulf for several years.
      – elemtilas
      4 hours ago






    • 1




      (cont.) There were also design issues with that ship, apparently, making it very difficult to operate.
      – elemtilas
      4 hours ago














    6












    6








    6






    One option is to install masts and use wind, the Thomas W. Lawson was a ship 7 masted steel schooner that could carry 58,000 barrels of paraffin oil. Your cargo ship is bigger, but could probably just have more masts. It could make for a very interesting looking artist rendering.






    share|improve this answer








    New contributor




    Zpollock is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
    Check out our Code of Conduct.









    One option is to install masts and use wind, the Thomas W. Lawson was a ship 7 masted steel schooner that could carry 58,000 barrels of paraffin oil. Your cargo ship is bigger, but could probably just have more masts. It could make for a very interesting looking artist rendering.







    share|improve this answer








    New contributor




    Zpollock is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
    Check out our Code of Conduct.









    share|improve this answer



    share|improve this answer






    New contributor




    Zpollock is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
    Check out our Code of Conduct.









    answered 7 hours ago









    ZpollockZpollock

    713




    713




    New contributor




    Zpollock is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
    Check out our Code of Conduct.





    New contributor





    Zpollock is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
    Check out our Code of Conduct.






    Zpollock is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
    Check out our Code of Conduct.








    • 1




      Way too big for sailing. Thomas W. Lawson didn't survive its first oceangoing attempt.
      – Alexander
      7 hours ago






    • 1




      Well, at least according to Wikipedia, that ship was lost long before the storm that broker her up. Arguably, lost as early as before she ever left port! (Poor management by the captain in hiring less than capable sailors to manage a rather unique vessel.) Otherwise, she'd sailed along the Atlantic and in the Gulf for several years.
      – elemtilas
      4 hours ago






    • 1




      (cont.) There were also design issues with that ship, apparently, making it very difficult to operate.
      – elemtilas
      4 hours ago














    • 1




      Way too big for sailing. Thomas W. Lawson didn't survive its first oceangoing attempt.
      – Alexander
      7 hours ago






    • 1




      Well, at least according to Wikipedia, that ship was lost long before the storm that broker her up. Arguably, lost as early as before she ever left port! (Poor management by the captain in hiring less than capable sailors to manage a rather unique vessel.) Otherwise, she'd sailed along the Atlantic and in the Gulf for several years.
      – elemtilas
      4 hours ago






    • 1




      (cont.) There were also design issues with that ship, apparently, making it very difficult to operate.
      – elemtilas
      4 hours ago








    1




    1




    Way too big for sailing. Thomas W. Lawson didn't survive its first oceangoing attempt.
    – Alexander
    7 hours ago




    Way too big for sailing. Thomas W. Lawson didn't survive its first oceangoing attempt.
    – Alexander
    7 hours ago




    1




    1




    Well, at least according to Wikipedia, that ship was lost long before the storm that broker her up. Arguably, lost as early as before she ever left port! (Poor management by the captain in hiring less than capable sailors to manage a rather unique vessel.) Otherwise, she'd sailed along the Atlantic and in the Gulf for several years.
    – elemtilas
    4 hours ago




    Well, at least according to Wikipedia, that ship was lost long before the storm that broker her up. Arguably, lost as early as before she ever left port! (Poor management by the captain in hiring less than capable sailors to manage a rather unique vessel.) Otherwise, she'd sailed along the Atlantic and in the Gulf for several years.
    – elemtilas
    4 hours ago




    1




    1




    (cont.) There were also design issues with that ship, apparently, making it very difficult to operate.
    – elemtilas
    4 hours ago




    (cont.) There were also design issues with that ship, apparently, making it very difficult to operate.
    – elemtilas
    4 hours ago











    2














    Whale oil.



    If civilizations have fallen the whales might be doing alright. Round them up and render the oil in the old school way.



    Or if that seems too mean, the first steam ships used to run on coal. Digging that up is not especially high tech and you could switch up your ship to use a coal-fired boiler.






    share|improve this answer


























      2














      Whale oil.



      If civilizations have fallen the whales might be doing alright. Round them up and render the oil in the old school way.



      Or if that seems too mean, the first steam ships used to run on coal. Digging that up is not especially high tech and you could switch up your ship to use a coal-fired boiler.






      share|improve this answer
























        2












        2








        2






        Whale oil.



        If civilizations have fallen the whales might be doing alright. Round them up and render the oil in the old school way.



        Or if that seems too mean, the first steam ships used to run on coal. Digging that up is not especially high tech and you could switch up your ship to use a coal-fired boiler.






        share|improve this answer












        Whale oil.



        If civilizations have fallen the whales might be doing alright. Round them up and render the oil in the old school way.



        Or if that seems too mean, the first steam ships used to run on coal. Digging that up is not especially high tech and you could switch up your ship to use a coal-fired boiler.







        share|improve this answer












        share|improve this answer



        share|improve this answer










        answered 5 hours ago









        WillkWillk

        103k25197433




        103k25197433























            0














            Swap out the engines for electric motors, wire solar panels / windmills to batteries. Should be doable by an electrician and a mechanic, I just don't know what kind of capacity it will be needed.






            share|improve this answer





















            • Solar can't provide enough power. I picked a 28,000 ton ship at random. If you treat its 187m x 25m size as a rectangle (extending the deck of the ship as needed) and cover it with solar panels, solar panels can generate around 935KW of power at peak sun. Sounds like a lot, but the ship's engines generate 19,000KW of power, so the solar panels can provide less than 5% of the energy needed to move the ship (and only while in peak sun).
              – Johnny
              36 mins ago


















            0














            Swap out the engines for electric motors, wire solar panels / windmills to batteries. Should be doable by an electrician and a mechanic, I just don't know what kind of capacity it will be needed.






            share|improve this answer





















            • Solar can't provide enough power. I picked a 28,000 ton ship at random. If you treat its 187m x 25m size as a rectangle (extending the deck of the ship as needed) and cover it with solar panels, solar panels can generate around 935KW of power at peak sun. Sounds like a lot, but the ship's engines generate 19,000KW of power, so the solar panels can provide less than 5% of the energy needed to move the ship (and only while in peak sun).
              – Johnny
              36 mins ago
















            0












            0








            0






            Swap out the engines for electric motors, wire solar panels / windmills to batteries. Should be doable by an electrician and a mechanic, I just don't know what kind of capacity it will be needed.






            share|improve this answer












            Swap out the engines for electric motors, wire solar panels / windmills to batteries. Should be doable by an electrician and a mechanic, I just don't know what kind of capacity it will be needed.







            share|improve this answer












            share|improve this answer



            share|improve this answer










            answered 4 hours ago









            ventsyvventsyv

            3,290417




            3,290417












            • Solar can't provide enough power. I picked a 28,000 ton ship at random. If you treat its 187m x 25m size as a rectangle (extending the deck of the ship as needed) and cover it with solar panels, solar panels can generate around 935KW of power at peak sun. Sounds like a lot, but the ship's engines generate 19,000KW of power, so the solar panels can provide less than 5% of the energy needed to move the ship (and only while in peak sun).
              – Johnny
              36 mins ago




















            • Solar can't provide enough power. I picked a 28,000 ton ship at random. If you treat its 187m x 25m size as a rectangle (extending the deck of the ship as needed) and cover it with solar panels, solar panels can generate around 935KW of power at peak sun. Sounds like a lot, but the ship's engines generate 19,000KW of power, so the solar panels can provide less than 5% of the energy needed to move the ship (and only while in peak sun).
              – Johnny
              36 mins ago


















            Solar can't provide enough power. I picked a 28,000 ton ship at random. If you treat its 187m x 25m size as a rectangle (extending the deck of the ship as needed) and cover it with solar panels, solar panels can generate around 935KW of power at peak sun. Sounds like a lot, but the ship's engines generate 19,000KW of power, so the solar panels can provide less than 5% of the energy needed to move the ship (and only while in peak sun).
            – Johnny
            36 mins ago






            Solar can't provide enough power. I picked a 28,000 ton ship at random. If you treat its 187m x 25m size as a rectangle (extending the deck of the ship as needed) and cover it with solar panels, solar panels can generate around 935KW of power at peak sun. Sounds like a lot, but the ship's engines generate 19,000KW of power, so the solar panels can provide less than 5% of the energy needed to move the ship (and only while in peak sun).
            – Johnny
            36 mins ago




















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