A modern Noah's Ark

This is not a duplicate of Building Noah's Ark or Can We Build Noah's ark?, because the former asks only about a relatively small number of species and the latter is set in Biblical times.

Ignoring financial problems, is "Noah's Ark" technically feasible with modern technology?

By Noah's Ark, I mean a ship which can sustain all Earth's extant air-breathing animals (which cannot survive in the sea for a year) in good health at sea for 1 year.

A few specifications:

• I'm not necessarily implying a global flood. Let's just say the creators of this Ark just floated their boat on the ocean for a year just because.
• However, no support from other craft or from land is allowed. They have to procure their own fresh water, bring their own food, dispose of their own waste etc.
• As said, ignore the cost of such a boat, however enormous. Also, assume a workforce as large as you like, with all the modern shipbuilding technology you could ask for.
• There needn't only be 1 pair of each animal. Parthogenetic creatures can be brought aboard by their lonesome, while eusocial species can ride in full colonies.
• No extinct animals, land plants, fungi or microbes are going on board.
• The ship can be as large as needed, and doesn't need to fit the length specified in the Bible.

Obviously, providing space for the hundreds of thousands of species will be a challenge, as will bringing enough food for the passengers. Our sailors will need to accquire drinking water, dispose of tonnes upon tonnes of waste, and prevent the spread of disease. How will they do it, and what will our modern Ark look like?

posted almost 6 years ago

SealBoi‭

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