Photos: 400 years later, a new Mayflower will sail without humans
The Mayflower is taking to the water in Plymouth harbor.
It’s not the ship that left this southwest England port 400 years ago carrying Pilgrim settlers to America. The sleek vessel being readied Tuesday for its official launch has no passengers, no crew — but like its predecessor, an ambitious mission.
The 50-foot (15-meter) trimaran has “no one on board, no captain, no place to eat, no place to sleep,” said Brett Phaneuf, co-director of the Mayflower Autonomous Ship project. “It’s sophisticated artificial intelligence that will captain the ship across the ocean.”
400 years later, a new Mayflower will sail without humans
Technicians lower the Mayflower Autonomous Ship into the water at its launch site for it's first outing on water since being built in Turnchapel, Plymouth south west England, Monday, Sept. 14, 2020. The autonomous ship aims to cross the Atlantic from Plymouth, England, to Plymouth, Ma, USA, in April 2021, to become be the first totally autonomous ship to cross the Atlantic ocean without any help from the outside. (AP Photo/Alastair Grant)
400 years later, a new Mayflower will sail without humans
Technicians check the hull and interior of the Mayflower Autonomous Ship at its launch site for it's first outing on water since being built in Turnchapel, Plymouth south west England, Monday, Sept. 14, 2020. The autonomous ship aims to cross the Atlantic from Plymouth, England, to Plymouth, Ma, USA, in April 2021, to become be the first totally autonomous ship to cross the Atlantic ocean without any help from the outside. (AP Photo/Alastair Grant)
400 years later, a new Mayflower will sail without humans
Technicians lower the Mayflower Autonomous Ship into the water at its launch site for it's first outing on water since being built in Turnchapel, Plymouth south west England, Monday, Sept. 14, 2020. The autonomous ship aims to cross the Atlantic from Plymouth, England, to Plymouth, Ma, USA, in April 2021, to become be the first totally autonomous ship to cross the Atlantic ocean without any help from the outside. (AP Photo/Alastair Grant)
400 years later, a new Mayflower will sail without humans
The Mayflower Autonomous Ship is towed to its berth after being launched for it's first outing on water since being built in Turnchapel, Plymouth south west England, Monday, Sept. 14, 2020. The autonomous ship aims to cross the Atlantic from Plymouth, England, to Plymouth, Ma, USA, in April 2021, to become be the first totally autonomous ship to cross the ocean without any help from the outside. (AP Photo/Alastair Grant)
400 years later, a new Mayflower will sail without humans
A crane carries the Mayflower Autonomous Ship to its launch site for the ships first outing on water since being built in Turnchapel, Plymouth south west England, Monday, Sept. 14, 2020. The autonomous ship aims to cross the Atlantic from Plymouth, England, to Plymouth, Ma, USA, in April 2021, to become be the first totally autonomous ship to cross the ocean without any help from the outside. (AP Photo/Alastair Grant)
400 years later, a new Mayflower will sail without humans
Keith Ivory a safety specialist checks the Mayflower Autonomous Ship in Plymouth south west England, Monday, Sept. 14, 2020. The autonomous ship aims to cross the Atlantic from Plymouth, England, to Plymouth, Ma, USA, in April 2021, to become be the first totally autonomous ship to cross the ocean without any help from the outside. (AP Photo/Alastair Grant)
400 years later, a new Mayflower will sail without humans
The Mayflower Autonomous Ship is towed to its berth after being launched for it's first outing on water since being built in Turnchapel, Plymouth south west England, Monday, Sept. 14, 2020. The ship aims to cross the Atlantic from Plymouth, England, to Plymouth, Ma, USA, in April 2021, to become be the first totally autonomous ship to cross the ocean without any help from the outside. (AP Photo/Alastair Grant)
400 years later, a new Mayflower will sail without humans
Technicians check the hull and interior of the Mayflower Autonomous Ship at its launch site for it's first outing on water since being built in Turnchapel, Plymouth south west England, Monday, Sept. 14, 2020. The ship aims to cross the Atlantic from Plymouth, England, to Plymouth, Ma, USA, in April 2021, to become be the first totally autonomous ship to cross the ocean without any help from the outside. (AP Photo/Alastair Grant)
400 years later, a new Mayflower will sail without humans
Brett Phaneuf, President of Submergence Group, left, and Don Scott, Chief Technology Officer, MarineAI on board following the launch of the Mayflower Autonomous Ship in Plymouth south west England, Monday, Sept. 14, 2020. The autonomous ship aims to cross the Atlantic from Plymouth, England, to Plymouth, Ma, USA, in April 2021, to become be the first totally autonomous ship to cross the ocean without any help from the outside. (AP Photo/Alastair Grant)
400 years later, a new Mayflower will sail without humans
Brett Phaneuf, President of Submergence Group, right, and Don Scott, Chief Technology Officer, MarineAI on board following the launch of the Mayflower Autonomous Ship in Plymouth south west England, Monday, Sept. 14, 2020. The autonomous ship aims to cross the Atlantic from Plymouth, England, to Plymouth, Ma, USA, in April 2021, to become be the first totally autonomous ship to cross the ocean without any help from the outside. (AP Photo/Alastair Grant)
400 years later, a new Mayflower will sail without humans
Brett Phaneuf, President of Submergence Group, left, and Don Scott, Chief Technology Officer, MarineAI on board following the launch of the Mayflower Autonomous Ship in Plymouth south west England, Monday, Sept. 14, 2020. The autonomous ship aims to cross the Atlantic from Plymouth, England, to Plymouth, Ma, USA, in April 2021, to become be the first totally autonomous ship to cross the Atlantic ocean without any help from the outside. (AP Photo/Alastair Grant)
Most Popular
Read through the obituaries published in Santa Maria Times
Read through the obituaries published in Santa Maria Times
Here are just some of the wonderful pets at the Santa Maria Valley Humane Society that are ready for their forever home. Please share and help…
This week's local crime and court updates from Santa Maria Times.
The following is taken from the Santa Maria Police Department's calls-for-service log and the Santa Barbara County Sheriff's Office daily arre…
Your daily look at late-breaking news, upcoming events and the stories that will be talked about today.
Your daily look at late-breaking news, upcoming events and the stories that will be talked about today.
Your daily look at late-breaking news, upcoming events and the stories that will be talked about today.
Your daily look at late-breaking news, upcoming events and the stories that will be talked about today.
You didn't think we would stop with football, did you? We continue highlighting the greatest athletes in the history of the Central Coast wit…