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Electromagnetic Ship Docking System Debuts

Posted by chrisd on from the can't-dock-with-canoes-though dept.

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."

2 of 164 comments (clear)

  1. BAD PUN ALERT by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    Electromagnetic ship docking systems are very attractive.

  2. A solution looking for a problem by NumberGod · · Score: 5, Interesting

    You've never going to save 40 minutes.

    This is just a solution looking for a problem, and I'll predict that it'll never ever be used.

    I live at a port in New Zealand (just outside Christchurch actually) and often watch the ships docking. My father used to tie them up. If I look to my left, I can see about a half-dozen ships out my window.

    The majority of the 40 minutes that the article quotes, that it takes to berth the ship, is the tugs turning, and pushing the ship to the wharf. That's the thing with ships, they have a big propeller at the back, which pushes them forwards, and they can't move from side to side. They do have a rudder, but it's not designed for more than a few degrees of turning, you can't use it to dock. (I'll stay away from bow thrusters for now)

    Basically the process goes like this...

    A Pilot (who works for the port, and is an expert in the local navigation/conditions of the port) is taken to the ship on a small launch, and meets it several miles from the harbour.

    The Pilot then commands the vessel, until it's tied up at the wharf. (s)he co-ordinates the ship, tugs, and wharf staff who, at the end of the operation drop the ropes over the bollards.

    Securing the ship with the ropes takes about 5 minutes on a slow day, getting the ship alongside the wharf takes about 35 minutes. The thing with ropes is, that...

    1) They're proven. They've been using them for thousands of years.
    2) It's a standard system, used all over the world.
    3) It's simple, never underestimate this.
    4) it copes well with varing weather and tides.
    5) You still need ropes to tie between the tugs and the ship.

    Now, as I said before, you've going to save about 5 minutes per berthing? Your damage costs are going to far outweigh the costs of any savings.

    And, what happens when the power goes out?

    The ship floats away, probably onto rocks.
    Backup Generators? Yeah sure, a diesel generator is going to hold a ship with 4-8000 shipping containers alongside a wharf, is bad weather, and an especially high tide, with no outages.

    I'm sorry, but there's no way this would ever work.