Using Ocean Vessels as Mobile Desalinization Plants and Power Plants for Humanitarian Emergencies in the Developing World

The idea of building or refitting several types of large, ocean going-vessels, to serve as mobile desalinization and power plants, has the potential to address humanitarian needs in the developing world.  The United Nations estimates that 1.1 billion people do not have proper access to sustainable, clean drinking water, and that approximately 1.6 million children will die each year from lack of adequate potable water.  In the wake of natural disasters, humanitarian emergencies arise where populations need fresh water and power suddenly, and in not readily anticipatable amounts.   Desalinization of ocean water and coastal generation of power embodies potentially important resources to meet these challenges, particularly when one considers that presently about 40% of the world’s population lives within 100 kilometers of a coastline.  Large scale implementation of desalinization is restricted by its cost, environmental concerns, and notably, its ability to reach those in need.  Aircraft carriers and other large ships, for example, have historically had to generate sizable quantities of fresh water and power - this paper investigates the feasibility of expanding that capability for supply to land communities.  These mobile platforms would have advantages including:  versatile power generation options (e.g. conventional, nuclear, wind, solar, wave, tide) and reduction of environmental impact of brine and thermal release.