It was an experiment to see if anyone could build a ship and operate it successfully as a business.

这是一次试验，确定是否可以建造一艘可成功地进行商业运行的蒸汽船。

youdao

The amount of electricity needed to operate a ship in port varies from 1 to 4 Megawatts (MW) for a container ship to 5 to 10 MW for a cruise ship.

FORBES: Plug-in-Power Set for Massive Growth at Major Ports

The result of a trial to establish whether a ship used to export livestock from the UK can operate out of Dover is "inconclusive".

BBC: Dover trial of animal export ship MV Joline inconclusive

The basic idea behind the Littoral Combat Ship is to build a fast and survivable warship that can operate at much lower costs in the shallow-water areas near enemy coastlines where frigates traditionally have been used.

FORBES: Low-Cost Warship Rescues Navy From Shrinking Fleet