Hyperloop Transportation Technologies (HTT), the company leading the charge to realise the concept of transporting people and cargo safely, efficiently and very quickly through vacuum tubes, is set to bring its own brand of disruptive thinking to Nor-Shipping 2017.
The firm, which encompasses more than 50 teams working together across 38 countries, is sending a delegation led by co-founder and chairman Bibop Gresta, who will speak at the maritime event week’s opening conference on May 30. HTT will also exhibit in Nor-Shipping’s new disruptive sustainability hall (Hall A) in Lillestrøm and host the international networking event in the delegates’ lounge on the opening evening. Focus areas for HTT will include port efficiency and hinterland connectivity.
“This is a real coup for us, and our delegates,” commented Nor-Shipping director Birgit Liodden. “The hyperloop concept was introduced to the world by Elon Musk, and HTT, which uses incredibly fast, safe and environmentally friendly passive magnetic levitation technology, has emerged at the vanguard of the race to realize its potential.
“The system, which can transport suspended capsules containing either passengers or cargo at speeds of over 1000 km/h over long distances, is a true disruptor. It can revolutionise the way we travel, and the fundamental nature of our industry. For example, ports could use hyperloop to transport containers to and from inland depots, drastically reducing congestion, surface traffic, emissions and handling time.
“Remember, sometimes the best shipping ideas come from outside the industry – such as shipping containers themselves, invented by haulage pioneer Malcolm McLean – and we need to seek out the best thinkers and enablers to support our future development. In this case we have a truly inspiring partner, one that can open a window onto the future of our sector, and the world around us.”
Nor-Shipping delegates can also look forward to a world first – experiencing hyperloop. HTT is using the exhibition to launch a virtual reality hyperloop, giving users the sensation of travelling by passive levitation for the first time. It is, Liodden said, “an opportunity not to be missed.”
“HTT has signed a series of agreements with partners such as the city of Brno, Czech Republic and Abu Dhabi, UAE to test feasibility and development potential,” she states. “This technology, which is supported by an innovative global crowdsourcing network, is here to stay and we believe it can genuinely impact upon and inspire our industry.
“It is the perfect fit for our disruptive sustainability hall, where our exhibitors will showcase the best ideas from inside and outside the industry and question conventional thinking and business models. This type of technology is not a threat to shipping, it’s an opportunity. It’s up to us embrace change, not resist it. That’s the only way to build a truly sustainable, long-term future for shipping.”
