Cheapest 100 dton freighter possible

[robject]

Fascinating thread; Have not done anything in the Traveler universe in twenty years (or more); Recall discussing the disconect with Marc, is commerce in the Universe scads (Dozens? Hundreds? Thousands?) of little type M subsidized merchants, because even a single (50,000t?) bulk carrier can carry as much as an add on. And this was before we had fully articulated the "Container Revolution." What are the dimensions of a standard shipping container in the Traveller universe (T5?).

Both of those are long-fought-over questions. I don't know about the container size, but I do know that commerce in the Traveller Universe has both large freighters (100,000 tons) and small traders (200 tons) and a number of ships in between.

If I had to guess, I'd say that the Big Freighters are split between barge-carriers and container-shippers. A barge or lighter has a bit of overhead for grappling that might be bad for bulk cargo, but not a problem for high value cargo.

 

[far-trader]

Both of those are long-fought-over questions.

True. Though there are some canon answers and clues.

CT Supplement 7 has them at 4tons gross (3.85tons actual) in the deckplans for the Subsidized Merchant.

CT Book 2 suggests 10ton and 5ton freight containers in the trade tables. Note that 4tons does not divide into either of those. My TU early on went with 10ton and 5ton freight containers, which are close to the Real World (tm) long and short cargo containers.

CT Book 2 also suggested to me early on a 30ton standard bulk shipping model based on the modular cutter design. Something like rail cars in size, carried aboard large freighters and shuttled around by modular cutters or moved on planet by mag-lev trains or inside special tunnels (like pneumatic message tube systems).

 

[aramis]

Without a Ship, PC's can't Travel....

Fascinating thread; Have not done anything in the Traveler universe in twenty years (or more); Recall discussing the disconect with Marc, is commerce in the Universe scads (Dozens? Hundreds? Thousands?) of little type M subsidized merchants, because even a single (50,000t?) bulk carrier can carry as much as an add on. And this was before we had fully articulated the "Container Revolution." What are the dimensions of a standard shipping container in the Traveller universe (T5?).

I don't know about the T5 containers, but CT specified 4Dt, 3x3x6m (2x4 1.5m deck squares). See The Traveller Adventure.

Note that the current Terran standard 1 TEU 20' container is about 2.72 Td, measures 8'x8'5"x20' exterior, occupies 2.4x2.6x6.1m (including connectors) for 38.064m^3, for 2.718857 Td.

 

[rancke]

Without a Ship, PC's can't Travel...

Of course they can. That's what High and Mid and Low Passages are for.


Hans

 

[pendragonman]

Of course they can. That's what High and Mid and Low Passages are for.


Hans

Or hijacking...

 

[far-trader]

Or hijacking...

Or working passage... oh, you already said that :devil:

 

[bookwyrm67]

cargo sizes

T20 has a list of 8 different sizes for the cargo containers, from 1/2 ton sizes up to 8 tons, i believe (don't have the book at hand). usually 3m in height, in square and rectangle lengths and widths. so it is possible to have an extra 1/2 ton cargo for that extra 1/2 ton cargo space for the custom/refitted ships.
also, i did a little fooling around with a stock scout courier, picking up passengers and cargo, with 2 crew. i started with KCr 80, and doing a 3 system run with 2 class B and 1 class C starport, with pops of 5,4, and 8 with tech of 12,10, and 8, in 4 years i got up to 40 million Cr in profits, after all expenses. combination of regular bulk cargo, mail, passengers (mid passage only), and spec cargo. and thats without using broker skill.
maybe i should try a bigger cargo ship and see what happens...

 

[Orr]

... maybe i should try a bigger cargo ship and see what happens...

The results will be the same because most "Traveller" trade systems are broken. As far back as Classic, you could find pairs or groups of worlds whose trade codes would allow you to print all the credits you wanted. The GURPS trade system tried to fix things but many people don't like what was done.

Trade should be role-played and not roll-played because nothing should be automatic.