Electromagnetic Ship Docking System Debuts

Makarand writes "A system that uses electromagnets for docking ships is getting ready to be tested at a port in the Netherlands according to this article in the New Scientist. Magnetic docking systems were never used in the past as magnetic fields posed dangers to sensitive cargo like TVs and monitors. Researchers at the Delft University of Technology have developed electromagnets whose magnetic fields do not penetrate far into the ship for this special application. The magnets can be periodically switched off and on rapidly to allow ships to rise and fall with the tide."

Comments

So what does the dockworkers' union think?

[MacAndrew]

Seriously, in the U.S. we just recently had a paralytic dockworkers' strike. I don't think they'd be amused by this labor-saving innovation. Not that I think people should be kicked out of jobs by robots.

Each of their mooring magnets generates a 1-tesla magnetic field. (from NS article)

WOW! That's strong. I used to work with a 1.5-T superconductor magnet, an MRI scanner, and it had a heck of a pull. Enough so that people have been injured or killed when a piece of metal got loose. It took three of us to pull off the base of an IV pole (no one inside at the time). Some of the research magnets are 4-T or more. But these are all superconductors, and act like permanent magnets. The resisitive magnets here must produce tons of heat while gobbling electricity. Surely "auto-dock" wouldn't be too hard to design., with mechanical restraints?

One Problem

[Arc04]

Methods of Securing Ships:

Lots of Ropes:[Initial Cost: £10,000, Ongoing Cost: £0 (near enough)].
Electromagnets:[Initial Costs £50,000, Ongoing Cost: £1000s/month]

I think the problem is obvious here :)

Arc

Good for oil tankers

[jhines]

While the magnetic field would be bad for general cargo, something like oil wouldn't, so this could be used quite easily at an oil terminal.

Re:A solution looking for a problem

[Fastolfe]

No offense to you personally, but I'm seeing a lot of the same comments from a lot of different people.

First of all, this is an experiment.

Second of all, they seem to have convinced a lot of people in positions they probably got by knowing what they're doing that this has the potential to save a lot of time and money. Please concede at least the possibility that this might actually happen or at the very least, your uneducated concerns might have already been addressed by the educated.

Stop for a minute and repeat to yourself: I do not run a major ocean port. I do not run a major ocean port.

Re:Appropriate technology or high-tech boondoggle?

[Mac Degger]

You know, those abbaci worked real well for centuries, too...why oh why did we ever think about replacing them?

Imagine the cost ...

[fygment]

... of an accident. I've been in the Navy for 20 years. Ship's hit hard sometimes, even with tugs, when the current, wind, etc. go against you. Right now it's a bit of wood that gets crunched. What's the cost on those magnets again? And as if water, salt, air and metal weren't bad enough, toss in some high current lines and huge magnetic fields. Seems very complicated, high maintenance, and for no obvious benefit.