FollowChina is one of the emerging economies of the world which is now trying to be very eco conscious. In tandem with this perspective, China has recently taken a step forward in the direction of eco-friendly transportation. The growing economy has recently awarded a bid to a UK based ship making company called BMT Nigel Gee Ltd to manufacture an electric vessel as a passenger ship. The ship is meant for estuarial and coastal waters where marine transportation is a feasible means of transportation over land transportation.
The 25 meter long ship, which will run totally on VRB (Vandium Redox Batteries) will be able to ferry 150 passengers at a time. The manufacturing company is still designing the ship as the Chinese government has asked BMT to demonstrate the use of low resistance hull form technology in this means of public transportation to be.
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This time, BMT will not only design the basic naval architecture for the ship, it will also develop the layout and styling of the vessel. The ship is supposed to be developed in a simple yet sophisticated design which will reflect the greener aspect of the ship. The design bestowed by BMT involves a hull form with VRB batteries which will be able to achieve a 10 knot speed, even when loaded fully. It is hoped that the construction of this ferry ship will begin by the middle of this year and will be delivered to the Chinese government by mid 2012.
The biggest technical challenge for the engineers at BMT will be to design vessel in such a way that it strikes a balance between the weight of the batteries and performance of the ship. It is important to fine tune this balance in order to make a practical ferry service as a public transport.
Source: ecofriend
