but fanef who grew up near plymou plymouth, massachusetts, wanted to mark the past by looking ahead instead>> i thought, well, we should build a ship that speaks to the next 400 years what the marine enterprise will look like then as opposed to what it looked like 400 years ago. >> reporter: an international team turned his vision in to the solar and wind powered may flower autonomous ship, the software developer is to learn more about our oceans by gathering data on plastic pollution, warming waters and the affects on marine life. >> it's expensive for the scientists to be on the research vessels so having ships like this is an important step in enabling us to go out to the dang are ruerous places and lea. >> reporter: other boats have tested similar technology. take for instance, the car firrfir ferry. >> what are the benefits to not having a crew in here? >> nobody gets tired or hurt or sick, and we can keep the ship small. >> what is your biggest fear with this vessel? >> something silly breaks that we didn't think of, and it slowly crashes in to ireland. >> could it capsize? >> sure. t