I think you should visit a terminal. The cranes used to load and discharge containers are massive. Often much bigger than any existing vessel as the vessels keep getting bigger. See for instance cranes being shipped on a vessel: http://www.schoonerwoodwind.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/c.... Now try and discharge+load e.g. 1000 containers.
In your suggestion did you consider:
* how would a smaller ship be able to offload a much bigger ship
* speed of loading+discharging matters a lot and a smaller ship will be much slower
* where to store the containers
* impact on transhipment
There are vessels with cranes on them, those are usually not full container ships but more like vessels which mostly handle trucks+cars plus occasional container or breakbulk cargo.
The latest terminal in Rotterdam has switched to working remotely with camera's because it has become impossible to put anyone on a crane, see e.g. following video. Dutch, just look at the monitor screens they're using:
http://nos.nl/video/2011857-wereldprimeur-in-rotterdamse-hav...
In your suggestion did you consider:
There are vessels with cranes on them, those are usually not full container ships but more like vessels which mostly handle trucks+cars plus occasional container or breakbulk cargo.The latest terminal in Rotterdam has switched to working remotely with camera's because it has become impossible to put anyone on a crane, see e.g. following video. Dutch, just look at the monitor screens they're using: http://nos.nl/video/2011857-wereldprimeur-in-rotterdamse-hav...