Merchantman

Merchantman

Manufacturer		Banu
Focus		Trade
Maximum Crew		8
Standalone Price		$350^[1]
Cargo Capacity		3584 Standard Cargo Units^[2]
Length		160m
Height		65.0m
Beam		160m
Upgrade Capacity [?]		6
Max Power Plant Size [?]		6
Main Thrusters [?]		2x TR5, 1x TR6
Maneuvering Thrusters [?]		12x TR3
Max Shield [?]		7
Hardpoints		Weapons Systems
0×	Class 1	(Size 4)
2×	Class 2	(Size 4)
4×	Class 3	(Size 4)
2×	Class 5	(Size 5)

Official description

Banu traders are renowned for their merchant prowess, traveling the spacelanes and trading with everyone from humans to the Vanduul! Their sturdy, dedicated trading ships are prized beyond all other transports, sometimes passing from generation to generation of Banu. Banu technology offers players a completely different way of experiencing their universe.^[3]

NOTE: The Merchantman has been described as being adaptable into a fast, armored smuggling ship capable of running blockades and escaping authorities.^[4]

The Merchantman is a promised feature of the $27 million crowdfunding goal.^[3]

Developer updates

“	One of the things that we want to do with the Banu trader is that there is a whole receiving room in it, and you could maybe collect items in different parts of the galaxy, and then maybe fly around and sell them in other parts [...]	”
–Chris Roberts on April 23, 2014^[5]