The ship would also harness wave energy, which is normally the force slowing down ships.

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An as-yet-unspecified second wave will see Chinese handset giant Huawei ship them too.

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In much the same way that a surfer rides a wave, the bubble of space containing the ship and its passengers would be pushed at velocities not limited to the speed of light toward a destination.

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The ship's power is set to come from solar, wind and wave power with biofuel in case nature doesn't cooperate -- when the vessel isn't adrift via ocean currents.

ENGADGET: SeaOrbiter to begin construction by year's end, project price tag clocks in at $52.7 million