Alexander Varvarenko, founder of Varamar and ceo of ShipNext, in partnership with MBM Consultancy, has unveiled a sustainable shipping strategy dubbed the ’Remora concept’.
The project builds on the lighter aboard ship (LASH) system with a nuclear-powered mothership carrying self-propelled, electric, autonomous, and semi-autonomous barges.
Classified within the Panamax class, the Remora mothership is equipped with a 1,000-tonne gantry crane to load and discharge more than 60 barges at sea. The electric-powered barges, each with a 700-tonne cargo capacity, are equipped with modular battery systems which afford a range of over 300 miles (482 km) per charge, meaning tugs are not necessary when navigating to small ports and inland waterways. The barges would be suitable for bulk, breakbulk, liquid cargo, and containers.
The nuclear-powered mothership would operate in international waters, outside the 12-mile (19.3-km) territorial constraint. The barges can dock at river ports, coastal locations, or serve as floating storage.
A fleet of at least 200 barges would need to be in service before the first nuclear mothership could be built. Around 280-320 barges are required to establish regular liner services between Europe and Asia.
The first barges are due to be deployed within two to three years, with the mothership following once the network is determined.
