Future Ships Could Float On Bubbles

MattSparkes writes, "Creating a layer of bubbles underneath a ship's hull could improve fuel efficiency by 20%. When you consider that 90% of the world's goods are transported by sea, the importance of this discovery is obvious. 'Conjured up from thin air at the flick of a switch, this slippery blanket will help transport a fully laden tanker or container ship across the ocean at higher speed, and using far less fuel, than ever before... There is currently no other technique in naval architecture that can promise such savings.'" The article looks in some detail at the engineering problems that will need to be overcome before this technique is practical.

other options

[User 956]

Creating a layer of bubbles underneath a ship's hull could improve fuel efficiency by 20%

But have they tried rainbows and/or fairie dust?

He who lays bubbles?

[frieza79]

Layer of Bubbles? How can Michael Jackson decrease fuel consumption.

Boy Scout Race

[frieza79]

With this knowledge, no one will be able to touch my son's boat at the next Boy Scout's boat race!!!

The technology already exists!

[GoRK]

Why bother reinventing the wheel when they could just glue a bunch of air hockey tables to the outside of a boat?

no other technique???

[DerekTomes]

"...There is currently no other technique in naval architecture that can promise such savings..."

Except sails.

Re:other options

[Marxist Hacker 42]

I was thinking Air Hockey tables. I mean, the tech to do this isn't exactly rocket science, it's more like Disco Science. I think these Japanese Ship Builders probably have an unhealthy obsession with Olivia Newton John...

Re:other options

[pilgrim23]

Lawrence Welk where are you now that we need you?

Re:Don't some military ships use this?

[drinkypoo]

Uh, creating bubbles by cavitation is entirely different, happens for an entirely different reason, and has nothing whatsoever to do with this. YOU WIN TEH PRIZE!

Barking up the wrong tree

[Control Group]

What they ought to do is replace the oceans with frictionless liquid helium. That would be way more effective.

Bathtub bubbles

[kitzilla]

"Junior! What are those bubbles in the bathtub?"

"Just reducing drag, Ma."

You're right!

[Anonymous Coward]

And all those engineers are wrong. I just hope they all read /..

Re:other options

[pixelpusher220]

I seem to remember a special on the Bermuda triangle that suggested some ship disappearances were due to....wait for it....

Rising bubbles from the seafloor!

They even did a test and showed they could sink a normal sized powerboat. With 'air' underneath the boat, it did what all boats do in thin air...it fell down.

Good news: Ship goes really fast on air!
Bad news: It goes 'down'.

Of course I haven't read the article, but it just seemed sorta funny ;-)

Re:But how will it affect buoyancy?

[Da Fokka]

No, shipping companies are expected to invest heavily in ships that sink.

Re:But how will it affect buoyancy?

[suggsjc]

Turns out that pushing a missile though water is hard, but if you put it in a gas bubble it's alot easier.

Ok, then since we've already got the technology in place why not just put all of the cargo normally shipped in missiles/torpedoes?

I bet the cargo would get where it was going than on those slow cargo ships too!

Re:other options

[Andrew Kismet]

I really hope you've coined a term to be picked up by the world there with "Disco Science".

Re:no other technique???

[dubbreak]

..sale systems..

Wow, just got a great idea: They could put Walmarts on large container ships and use the everyday low prices to offset the high price of fuel.

Re:other options

[Jah-Wren Ryel]

Whether you're a sailer or whether you're a freighter,
You're stayin afloat, stayin afloat.
Feel the bubbles breakin and everybody shakin,
And were stayin' afloat, stayin' afloat.
Ah, ha, ha, ha, stayin' afloat, stayin' afloat.
Ah, ha, ha, ha, stayin' afloat.

Well now, I get low and I get high,
And if I can't get either, I'm still dry .
Got the winds of heaven on my shoes.
I'm a bubblin' man and I just can't lose.
You know it's all right. It's ok.
I'll sail to see another day.
We can try to understand
The disco science effect on man.

Boat's goin nowhere. somebody help me.
Somebody help me, yeah.
Boat's goin nowhere. somebody help me.
Somebody help me, yeah. stayin afloat.

Well, you can tell by the way I use my walk,
I'm a sailin' man: no time to talk.
Bubbles loud and waves are warm,
I've been tossed around since I was born.
And now it's all right. It's ok.
And you may look the other way.
We can try to understand
The disco science effect on man.