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More from *Abiogenisis

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September 1, 2011
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:iconabiogenisis:
The floatforest is a constantly shifting sea of drifting plant covered islands, in some areas so dense as to be almost indistinguishable from land. Millions of Birrin call this tropical, dynamic world home, from sophisticated city dwellers to nomadic tribes with limited contact with the global civilisation.

The Birrin discovered that, when dried, the heavily compacted masses of dead plants that constitute the older larger islands can be burned as a very efficient fuel. In a short period of time mining began and factories sprung up in the old forest, large areas of vegetation being destroyed to supply fuel for cooking and industrial steam boilers. Soon steam powered ships plied the channels of the float forest , using the forest itself as fuel as they travelled, or purchasing high grade and dried peat from retailers.

As seen here, some more enterprising groups combined the two and use huge ships to transport peat for sale in towns across the forest. The tall hull of this vessel contains racks of high grade peat, being dried on the go and kept warm via heat diverted from the steam ships' own boilers. To counter balance the height of the ship, much of the vessel lies under water in an expanded hull filled with ballast. This added mass also gives the ship the inertia needed to ram through sections of forest, using the blade like prow to first life and then cut the mats of vegetation floating on the waters surface. The flared disk built out around the bow catches vegetation and forces it downwards, keeping it from impacting against the front and sides of the vessel.

Anchored and with boiler firing to dry the latest shipment, this peat-merchant paddle wheeler has stopped off at one of the larger suppliers in the oldest parts of the forest. Over the next few days it will be loaded as the crew relaxes a little, and set off into the narrow channels to deliver its wares across the inland sea, using a portion of its peat load as fuel.

A few locals, curious, look across the water towards it on their morning swim.
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:iconaliasundercover:
~AliasUndercover Mar 30, 2013
I foresee a fossil-fuel crisis in their future.
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:iconabiogenisis:
*Abiogenisis Apr 3, 2013
Actually, they have already been through one :)
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:iconslackjaw10:
~slackjaw10 Jun 6, 2012
The amount of thought you put into the world(s) in your work is frightening.
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:iconcutangus:
*CUTANGUS Apr 3, 2012  Professional Digital Artist
The ship concept is excellent for the unusual task!
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:iconabiogenisis:
*Abiogenisis Apr 3, 2012
A forest-breaker
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:icongogolsovercoat:
~GogolsOvercoat Dec 29, 2011
Absolutely brilliant.
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:iconel-jorro:
~El-Jorro Dec 28, 2011
Awesome...just awesome! I love the concept!
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:iconwbyrd:
~wbyrd Dec 21, 2011
Looks like a very practical design. something fit for heavy seas and violent weather. The high bow and streamlined front end make me think it's used to forcing it's way through high seas.
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:iconabiogenisis:
*Abiogenisis Dec 27, 2011
Thanks, actually the front end is designed to cut through floating vegetation in the forest :)
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:iconwbyrd:
~wbyrd Dec 30, 2011
Okay after re-reading the description I saw that.

wish I could afford to hire you for some of my projects, your creatures and vehicles would fit my worlds nicely :D
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