From: Tom Hynes
Location: Grand Ledge
email: hynestatcomcastdotnet
Remote Name: 24.11.191.71
Date: 01.31.08
Time: 07:40:31 PM
I think multiple belt unloading systems could easily be upscaled for use in large ocean going ships. However I think ecomomics comes into play. Self unloaders have many advantages but they also reduce cargo capacity. The reduction is generally equal to the weight of the unloading equipment. In addition, tunnel unloading systems shift the cargos center of gravity upward and can affect ship stability and require a deeper hull. Carrying a couple hundred tons (thats a rough guess on my part) of unloading machinery around with you may make sense when you are unloading the cargo holds every few days,but when you have multiple week-long voyages on the ocean, I think it's much harder to justify the cost of buying, installing and hauling all that unloading equipment around. Consider over the road trucking: you rarely see any long distance trucks that can self unload, but more and more delivery trucks have lift gates, forklifts, hoists or pumps carried on the truck.
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