b'8American Journal ofTransportation ajot.comAirships offer intriguing potential for project freightAirshipsmaybemakingacomebackandliftingprojectfreight could be the reason.By Matt Miller, AJOTImagine airships longer than a football fieldThe most significant impediment, Prentice gracing the skies, as they transport passengersand others believe, isnt necessarily technol-and cargo almost silently and seemingly effort- ogy, but money.The feasibility of producing lessly. For countless many, its a dream that hasairships is not the issue. Its financing, Pren-held promise, romanceand heartbreakfortice said. The biggest problem for the airship decades, a transformation in transportation thatindustry is that you need a lot of capital to do(RISKScontinued fromtion intermediary.is always just beyond the horizon but has neverthis, because theres no way to start small. page 6) Thetransportationinter-quite arrived. Airshipscomeinmanyvarietiesandon file. Are the policy limitsmediary may need to have the Arewefinallythereyet?forms, although it helps to divide themadequate to cover the risk ofsub-contractorobtainaddi-Well, not quite, and it will likelyin twonon-rigid and rigid.ahighvalueprojectcargotional insurance coverage or be close to the end of this decadeNon-rigidairships,thinkmove?Whatarethecover- increasethelimitsontheir before any airship manufacturerblimpsaregoodtoagesthatthesub-contractorexistingpolicies.Allsub-canlaunchatrulycommercialabout 15 tons lift,has in place, and what exclu- contractorinsurancepolicy fleet. The field remains full of seri- maintainingsions in their policies mightlimits should also be provided ous contenders, as well as those whosetheirshapeimpactapotentialloss?tothecargoownersand lofty promises appear to far exceed on-the- throughThese are questions that needtransportationintermediarys groundaccomplishments.However,airshipstobeansweredbeforetheinsurers to ensure there are no now have their best shot in almost a century.transportationintermediaryissues or language that would Whats more, not just luxury tourism, but spe- signsasub-contractor,notlimitsubrogationincaseof cialized freight is a favored trajectory.after a loss occurs. Determin- damage.Subrogationisthe ingthatappropriatecover- insurance companys right to t hei ntriguingp otential ofa irships pressurizedgas.Thesedays,age is in place with adequatelegally pursue parties respon-Anairshipcancarryverylargeloads,thats helium, although the industry believeslimitsmayinvolvereadingsible for loss or damage after very long distances, and with zero emissions,that hydrogen will be used in the future fortheactualpolicylanguagethey pay a claim. Waivers of said Barry Prentice, Director of the Univer- all airships. Bigger airships require a frame orof the contractor. It is highlysubrogationmayimpactthe sityofManitobas TransportInstituteandarigid skeleton to hold shape and carry loads.recommendedthatanexpe- amount of coverage an insur-professor of supply chain management. AllThesedays,mostcommercialairshipriencedinsurancebrokerorance company will offer. the components to produce modern, reliable,developersarefocusedonwhatscalledalegal counsel reviews policy(RISKScontinued on high-quality airships exist. Thats not hype. (POTENTIALcontinued on page 10) language with the transporta- page 18)'