NOTE: I designed this ship with the QSDS system as presented in the softcover version of Marc Miller's Traveller. Responses from voters in the THUDDD competition have shown me some serious differences between the QSDS that I used and the QSDS v1.5 that they were using. When I find a version of QSDS 1.5 I'll re-evaluate this design.

Caravel class Subsidized Merchant (CAM Interstellar, Sylea)

Deck Plans, Return to Traveller Page, Return to Home Page.

Walt Smith (smithw@hartwick.edu).

Press Release for Immediate Publication (Sylea):

Central Axis Manufacturing's Interstellar Division (CAM Interstellar) is proud to present its entry for the VCTI Subsidized Merchant Program. A showpiece of economy, reliability and profitability, the new Caravel class starship is certain to be a popular choice for any jump-2 trade route. Well defended, fully featured, every effort has been made to make the Caravel as efficient to operate as it is economical to invest in. The main Cargo Bay features easy access through clamshell doors forward and a cargo lock to the rear, and all the necessary tie-downs and bracing for any kind of cargo from palletized shipments to large mechanisms. A separate and secure 5-ton Mail Stowage Compartment makes the Caravel even more attractive to Mail Contracts along the route. The outer rim of the upper deck is lined with innovative modular passenger staterooms, each pair designed to convert easily into a high passage suite. With this design, Central Axis Manufacturing makes a successful transition from Orbital Industry to Interstellar Shipbuilding.

 Subsidized Merchant: The Caravel-class Subsidized Merchant is designed to meet the commercial needs of a cluster of worlds along a jump-2 route. It is equipped for operations along developing frontiers as well, with reasonable armament, a durable streamlined slab-shaped hull, and wilderness refueling capabilities. Its self-reliance is further enhanced by the inclusion of an Engineering Shop and 2-bed Sickbay. The small middle passage staterooms are constructed in pairs and each two may easily be converted to a single high passage stateroom. It has a crew of eleven: Captain, Astrogator, Helmsman, Electronics Operator, Engineer, two Stewards, Medic and three Gunners. As a second Steward is only needed if ten high passengers are carried, the Purser will usually act as Cargo Master and Broker. The three Gunners are expected to assist with cargo handling and security duties in addition to their ship defense role. An Air/Raft (included in the price of the vessel) is carried for liaison duties and minor errands.

Designer's Notes: I used the QSDS for this model, and found it a very different process than the Classic Traveller and High Guard systems I'd used in the past. My first design was a 600-ton vessel with internal dismountable tanks allowing jump-3, to allow the ship to bypass worlds if necessary for profit. I abandoned this design when I realized that the purpose of VCTI was to develop all the worlds on the route - the Vlandian government would reject any design intended to bypass worlds on their designated route.

As the necessary passenger and cargo spaces would not fit in a 400-ton hull, a 500-ton hull was settled on. I installed HEPlaR thrusters due to the cost savings over thrust plates, and installed a 200 Mw power plant. Power was a little short, so I replaced the TL-12 laser turrets with reconditioned TL-11 models. The original design had a 20-ton launch on an external grapnel (I've always been partial to lifeboats), but I decided to trade it in for a Sickbay, Engineering Shop and some extra cargo (the Mail Stowage Compartment). An Air/Raft took over the errand duties as a compromise.

I was concerned about the 20-middle-passenger design spec. Analysis of the worlds along the route showed that finding twenty people wealthy enough to travel to the stars but chintzy enough to go economy class on each world was unlikely, and the ability to carry high passengers was needed. It would have been uneconomical to make each passenger stateroom high passage capable, so I envisioned a suite system - each pair of small staterooms could be converted into a two-compartment large stateroom. Middle passengers are much more profitable, but carrying one high passenger makes a lot more credits than shipping two empty middle passage berths.

Economic Analysis: All figures are per two-week voyage unless otherwise indicated. Expenses include a Cr100 berthing fee and the purchase of unrefined fuel, as well as contributions towards annual maintenance. The Captain is assumed to be working for shares of profit, and thus is not included in the crew salary expense.

Expenses: Cr144244.5

Less Finance Payment: Cr27344.48

Gross Profit (fully loaded): Cr325000

Net Government Profit (including monthly finance payment): Cr45600

Net Captain's (or Investment Syndicate's) Profit: Cr135155.5

Break Even Point (Government): Full cargo hold, 5 middle passengers

Break Even Point (Captain): 54 tons cargo, no passengers

Captain's (or Investment Syndicate's) Initial Investment: Mcr11.2224

Potential Annual Return on Investment: 30.1%