Det Norske Veritas, the ship classification organisation based in Norway, has just published the results of their study about the future of the container shipping industry. The organisation put together its own panel of experts from the freight and shipping industries, to look at the kind of ship which would be adaptable to future needs. The concept ship ‘Quantum’ is designed to adapt to new fuel technologies, as well as running more efficiently on existing ones. It is of a size which will allow it to come alongside in shallower harbours, such as thos along the coast of South America. The shipping industry will face many new challenges in the future, and decisions made today will affect the industry for the next 25-30 year.s