Hows about a HUGE cargo ship? The kind of size & cargo capacity that could make you a serious amount of money (nearly rich) in one trip.... if you survive..
This thing would have to be massive & extremly slow - possible top speed of 100? & NO weapons.
It would be heavily armoured so an attack from a single ship shouldn't be a problem - but you wouldn't want to get caught in an ion storm!!!

Perhaps it could be included in group missions so that some group members fly as escorts?

From In-Progress:

"I've also set Waylon to working on a new ship, which currently has no ETA and is in the very-early concept development stages, but will probably be larger than any current ships, but smaller than a real "capital" class. This will fit with various PvE, Guild and Epic Mission objectives which I'm shooting for."

I also remember hearing John say somewhere that it would be a cargo ship... looks like you may get your wish :D

I would also love to see a larger, non-combat cargo freighter. I hope one is coming with the work Waylon is doing now.
Just a thought on it - heavy mass of course, poor to decent armor, decent thrust-not a lot, just enough to make sure it can actually move when filled with ore, cargo space of maybe 125 or so, speed of 40/150 infiniboost. 1s 2L ports...

my thinking is that this would be useless for combat, slow and clumsy, but a cargo run with this would be lucrative enough for a pacifist trader to risk it. the weapon slots are only for mining equipment or defensive mines.
I'm basically just saying that I think there is at least a small market for a large, clumsy, sluggish freighter. It only needs to have enough cargo space to make it worth the risk of death. Thanks :)

Regarding thrust for cargo / freight ships, I saw a1k0n mention recently that there is a seperate thrust used for turbo, so I'd like to see the larger cargo ships (including some of the current Mauds) have a nice large turbo thrust, but a pretty low normal thrust. That would make it so it could travel in a straight line to get out to jumping distance quickly, but it wouldn't be very effective in combat situations, where its low normal thrust would make it difficult to dodge.

I dont think there is small market for large/slow cargo vessel. I've just reckon that the bigest ship I can buy now can hold less than 50 cubic meters of cargo. For me it is to small. And my question is what is the point in carrying cargo 5 times the same route only to bring 30 crates of Stabilizing Systems? My answer: Only in risk beeing caught in ion storm or slaughter by pirates.

My point of game is to gain higher licence levels to earn more credits and get more and bigger ships. And I would really appreciate a vessel with 150 cubic-meter cargo hold, even if it has only one smal mount point for gun, and low velocity and acceleration. Cargo ship is not for racing but it's big piece of metal to bring big piece of cargo from one point of space to another. And if you want to feel safe, take several other players with fighters with you. That is what I think.

I definately want to see a dedicated mining ship, like you said it should be slow and lumbering, but I would love to see like 4+ large weapon ports for mining beams only, something where you could really go to town as a mining vessle, or at least be able to eat lunch while you wait for the hull to fill.

With the introductin of a medium sized ship, all current ships fitting into the "small" catagory, there will be more opportunity for traders to hire escorts simply because each load will bring in way more money then would be necessary to pay out to each escort. This hopefully will encourage more group oriented play, though I've been seeing more of it recently, if only to fight pirates and such. I can't wait to get my first trade ship, maybe I'll buy a fleet of them, hmmmm…

One more thing stuck my mind. If there will be a large vessel. For example the size of NOSTROMO main ship only, it couldnt fit in the station landing bay! Station bays looks designed for light to medium size ships. Heavy ships couldn't fit!

If there will be a big ship (L-150m,H-50m,W-80m,M-650000kg) it could only stay on base orbit. Only pilot could dock in the base using a rescue capsule or small maneuver unit.

Hmmm... Sounds like a human driven queen.

What do you think aboout it?

All I can say is these bigger ships will be funnier as they will not be able to run. >:)

Also like johnhawl218 it will make more team based things not only available but necessary.