Last surviving ship of America's 19th century whaling fleet returns to New Bedford as part of three-month voyage along New England coast
The last wooden whaleship in the world made a triumphant homecoming as it arrived in the port where it was originally launched 173 years ago, as part of its first voyage for more than a century. The Charles W. Morgan, the last surviving ship of America's 19th century whaling fleet, arrived at New Bedford, in Massachusetts, yesterday as part of its historic three month tour of New England ports. The journey, dubbed The 38th Voyage, started on May 17 following a five-year restoration at Mystic Seaport, costing $10.6million. +5 Homecoming: The last wooden whaleship in the world made a triumphant return home when it arrived in New Bedford, Massachusetts, yesterday +5 Historic: The Charles W. Morgan, the last surviving ship of America's 19th century whaling fleet is taking part in a historic three month tour of New England ports The 113-foot vessel was welcomed home yesterday as it arrived in New Bedford, where it first set sail from in July 1841. The 173-year-old ship is now due to remain docked at the New Bedford State Pier until July 6. It will officially open to the public on Saturday. The ship plans further stops at Provincetown, Massachusetts, and Boston, this summer before heading back to Mystic at the end of its voyage. The ship still has 18 per cent of its original wood, including the keel first laid in New Bedford, although it has also been fitted with some more modern appliances, including pumps, generators and lighting. +5 Attraction: The 173-year-old ship is now due to remain docked at the New Bedford State Pier until July 6 +5 Home again: The 113-foot vessel was welcomed home yesterday as it arrived in New Bedford, where it was originally launched in July 1841 +5 Tour: The ship plans further stops at Provincetown, Massachusetts, and Boston, this summer before heading back to Mystic at the end of its voyage The ship, which is not equipped with a motor, is being accompanied by a tug to aid it when it is not under sail. According to SouthCoastToday.com, upon the ship's arrival to New Bedford, Mystic Seaport President Steve White told the crew: 'The significance of the day is not lost on any of us. You were extraordinary.' The Morgan is America's second oldest ship which remains afloat - only the U.S.S. Constitution is older. According to Destination New Bedford, the ship embarked on a total of 37 voyages over an 80-year whaling career between 1841 and 1921.
The crewless drone boats that could replace cargo ships and be operated remotely from anywhere in the world
Rolls Royce has revealed dramatic plans to replace cargo ships with crewless 'drone boats' controlled remotely. The firm is developing a 'virtual deck' in Norway that would allow captains to remotely command ships anywhere in the world. Drone ships would be safer, cheaper and less polluting for the $375 billion shipping industry that carries 90 percent of world trade, Rolls-Royce says. +3 A fleet of drone ships: Drone ships would be safer, cheaper and less polluting for the $375 billion shipping industry that carries 90 percent of world trade, Rolls-Royce says. HOW THEY WOULD WORKCameras would beam 360-degree views from the drone ship back to operators based in a virtual bridge. Rolls Royce is already testing a VR system in Norway for navigating the vessel remotely to steer them to their destinations. The firm eventually hopes it would be able to remove all crew from the ship. Rolls-Royce has already begun the process of designing giant drone ships able to shuttle cargo across the ocean minus a single solitary human being on board. The UK engineering group's Blue Ocean marine innovation department have announced the concept of the robot vessels they believe would be able to carry more cargo, cut costs, be safer and produce less pollution. Cameras would beam 360-degree views from the drone ship back to operators based in a virtual bridge VR system in Norway navigating the vessel remotely to steer them to their destinations. Talks have commenced over any regulatory obstacles and potential perceived hurdles and Rolls Royce are optimistic that the drone ships may be operational in ten years time. A Rolls-Royce Spokesperson says: 'Some steps have already been taken, mainly in the naval area, but we believe a first step will be moving certain functions on a ship ashore. 'For example, remote engine and equipment monitoring and some underwater operations - such as controlling ROVs - in the offshore sector could be the first.' +3 Cameras would beam 360-degree views from the drone ship back to operators based in a virtual bridge VR system in Norway navigating the vessel remotely to steer them to their destinations. The firm has already begun outfitting ships with advanced cameras. 'A growing number of vessels are already equipped with cameras that can see at night and through fog and snow - better than the human eye, and more ships are fitted with systems to transmit large volumes of data. 'So, some questions: given that the technology is in place, is now the time to move some operations ashore? Is it better to have a crew of 20 sailing in a gale in the North Sea, or say five people in a control room on shore? 'The same person could monitor and steer many ships.' The crewless ships would also be cheaper to build an maintain, Rolls Royce says. +3 Project Blueshark, where the US Navy is trialling virtual reality headsets. Here, a soldier is seen operating a virtual ship - with commands that could one day remotely control a real warship. now Rolls Royce has revealed similar plans for cargo ships. 'Many facilities and systems on board are only there to ensure that the crew is kept fed, safe, and comfortable. 'Eliminate or reduce the need for people, and vessels could be radically simplified, reducing construction costs. 'We think it is time to consider a roadmap to unmanned vessels of various types.'
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| The incredible mile-long floating CITY - complete with schools, a hospital, parks and an airport for its 50,000 residents
Floating around the globe, drifting from country to country, never staying in one place long enough to get bored … If you like travelling, life on the Freedom Ship, the world’s first floating city, sounds perfect. There’s only a couple of hitches – it’s not built yet, and it’s going to look an awful lot like a multi-storey carpark when it is. Scroll down for video +8 Designed by the Florida-based Freedom Ship International, the floating city, concept pictured, is set to cost $10 billion and weigh 2.7 million tonnes - making it too large to ever dock. The ship would spend the whole time at sea, circling the globe once every two years, powered by solar and wave energy THE FREEDOM SHIP IN NUMBERSWidth: 750ft Length: 4,500ft Height: 350ft Weight: 2.7 million tones Capacity: 50,000 permanent residents with room for an extra 30,000 daily visitors, 20,000 crew and 10,000 overnight guests. Cost: $10 billion Buildings: Accommodation, schools, hospitals, businesses, parks, promenades, an art gallery, a shopping centre, casino and airport Its designers have released computer-generated photographs of what they hope the mile-long vessel will look like. It would have enough room for 50,000 permanent residents within its 25 storeys and boasts schools, hospitals, art galleries, shops, parks, an aquarium and a casino. It would even have its own airport on the roof, with a runway serving small private and commercial aircraft carrying up to 40 passengers each. Roger M Gooch, director and vice-president of Florida-based firm Freedom Ship International, said: ‘The Freedom Ship will be the largest vessel ever built, and the first ever floating city.’ His company is trying to raise the estimated £6billion needed to turn the dream, which has been several years in the planning, into an ocean-going reality. ‘This will be a very heavily capitalised project and the global economy in the last few years hasn’t been too inviting for unproven progressive projects like ours,’ he added. ‘[But] in the last six months we’ve been getting more interest in the project and we are hopeful we will raise the $1billion (£600million) to begin construction.’ The ship would spend 70 per cent of its time anchored off major cities and the rest sailing between countries. Powered by solar panels and wave energy, the city would navigate from the east coast of the US across the Atlantic to Europe and into the Mediterranean. It would loop back and sail around the Cape of Good Hope at the tip of Africa and across to Australia. Heading into East Asia, it would steer across the Pacific before spending the end of the year on the west coast of North America. It would chase the summer sun into South America. If completed, the city will be 750ft at the beam, 350ft high and 4,500ft in length – four times longer than the Queen Mary II cruise ship which measures 1,132ft. +8 Visitors and residents would be able to leave the ship, either by plane or by boat thanks to a dock at the rear, concept pictured, to visit cities and countries where the ship will also pick up supplies as and when needed +8 The Freedom Ship, concept pictured, is a mile long, 25 storeys high and features schools, hospitals, businesses, parks, promenades, an art gallery, a shopping centre, casino and airport on the roof +8 The planned route, pictured, would take the ship from the east coast of the U.S across the Atlantic into Europe, passing Italy before looping back and sailing around Africa and across to Australia. It would then travel into Asia before spending the end of the year on the west coast of the U.S and South America +8 In addition to 50,000 permanent residents, the Freedom Ship would also have room for an extra 30,000 daily visitors, 20,000 crew and 10,000 overnight guests +8 The airport, on the ship's top deck, pictured, would serve private and small commercial aircraft carrying up to 40 passengers each. It could also be used to fly supplies to the ship. Aircraft could land and takeoff even when the ship is moving +8 This drawing shows a cross section of the ship. If built, the whole vessel would be 750ft wide, 350ft tall and 4,500 ft long. This would make it four times longer than the Queen Mary II cruise ship +8 The vessel, concept pictured, is just an idea at the moment until the Florida-based designers can raise at least $1 billion to start construction. The company said following a hiatus, and a drop in the global economy, it has started receiving interest in the ship again and hopes to raise this funding soon
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