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Usually, ships fill up at various seaports and use fueling barges as floating gas stations. Vessels use lower-grade diesel which tends not to burn as purely as diesel-powered road-going vehicles. Cruise lines that have adopted hybrid electric systems have witnessed notable reductions in emissions and improved fuel efficiency, reinforcing their commitment to sustainable operations. Cruise ship operators often collaborate with engine manufacturers and designers to customize engines based on their specific needs and performance criteria.
Cruise ship fire in Portland, Maine leads to evacuation newscentermaine.com - NewsCenterMaine.com WCSH-WLBZ
Cruise ship fire in Portland, Maine leads to evacuation newscentermaine.com.
Posted: Wed, 18 Oct 2023 07:00:00 GMT [source]
Latest news for the cruise industry
On large ships, the position indicator is constantly recorded in a so-called electronic nautical chart. Grandpaw’s almost mystical tool shed was strictly off limits, but we were just dying to have a peek, weren’t we? Now that we are all grown up, Grandpaw’s gadgets are old news, but there is still a place or two on a cruise ship that remains like a pie in the sky for all of us obsessed by ships. Generators power all the vital functions to run a ship, like emergency lights, communications, and navigation systems. If the generator fails, then there are also backup batteries that can be used for short periods of time.
Propulsion Electric Motor
The special engines of LNG-powered cruise ships use natural gas cooled to approximately -260°F. Once cooled, the liquid form of natural gas is about 600 times denser than natural gas, making it easier to transport. Although you might envision the engine room as a massive open room running the ship’s length, the lower decks are divided into several water-tight compartments. One compartment may house the cruise ship water fresh water systems, another for the main engines, and another for the air conditioning.
Shore-to-Ship Power Supply
Cruise ships also have an echo sounder, a device used for the electro-acoustic measurement of water depths (sounding). The depth is determined by measuring the time between the emission of a sound impulse (water sound) and the arrival of the sound waves reflected from the bottom of the sea. The main purpose of echo sounders in cruise ships is safe navigation through waters. The term “bridge” comes from the time of the paddle steamers, where a bridge was built above the two paddle houses that used to hold the paddle wheels.
A Cruise Ship Is a Floating City
The chief engineer and crew work 24/7 to ensure the entire ship operates smoothly. It permits luxuries onboard like electricity, plumbing, and air conditioning to function. The largest ships, like the Oasis class from Royal Caribbean, contain six engines.
You’re also likely to experience noise from the crew as they go to and from work throughout the day and night. Cruise ship engines also create vibrations under operation and those vibrations are going to be felt within the immediate area, including adjacent cabins. You may find that the vibrations cause the coathangers in your wardrobe to rattle, which could disturb your sleep.
Wind-assisted propulsion
The number of engines range from five to six, and the power rating for each one is between 9-15 megawatts. Ships that are equipped to use auxiliary wind power have a special rotor sail on deck that uses the direction of the wind to create a force to keep the ship moving forward. These rotor sails are very sensitive to the wind and can shut down when conditions are unfavorable. For its LNG-bunkering operations in Florida (at homeports PortMiami and Port Canaveral), CCL-Carnival partnered with Royal Dutch Shell plc as fuel supplier for the liners Mardi Gras (2021) and Celebration (2022). After Norwegian Spirit (the first ship in NCL fleet with installed Promas Lite in 2011), in May 2014 the Star Cruises ship SuperStar Virgo became Southeast Asia's first passenger liner with RR's Promas Lite propulsion. Fincantieri used Promas Lite propulsion for all Viking Ocean liners.
This is especially important for cruise itineraries that cover long distances or involve remote destinations where refueling options may be limited. Most larger ships have more than one engine room to house their machinery. The arrangement of the engine room can vary depending on the type, design, and size of the ship. For stability reasons, the engine machinery is typically placed as low as possible in the ship’s bowels and often takes up several decks in height.
I tried the newest ships from Carnival, Royal Caribbean, Celebrity, and Norwegian. Here’s how they compare
Overall, COGAS systems represent an advanced and environmentally friendly solution for powering and propelling larger cruise ships. Their high efficiency, flexible power output, and lower emissions make them a notable choice for cruise lines seeking to optimize energy usage and reduce their environmental footprint. Passenger ships have come a long way from sails and steam engines.
Typically, exhaust gas is approx 350°C, but it’s cooled continuously by heat extraction to approx 30°C when it emerges from the funnel. They need enough space not just for the engines, but also for the generators, the fuel tanks, the control room and the engine workshop. If you are in the ship’s engine room as it is running, a cruise ship engine is still pretty loud.
Engine Room Fire Forces Marella Cruise Ship to End Voyage Early - The Maritime Executive
Engine Room Fire Forces Marella Cruise Ship to End Voyage Early.
Posted: Mon, 10 Jul 2023 07:00:00 GMT [source]
When cooled to -160 C, it passes from gas to liquid, and its volume decreases over 600 times, making it very efficient for distribution. Short-distance LNG transportation is via trucks or smaller vessels (also barges) fitted with high-pressure tanks. Azipod marine ship propulsion is a combination of both steering and propulsion systems. Conventional marine propulsion systems use a two-stroke engine connected to a shaft, that passes through a stern tube and shaft tunnel to connect to the propeller outside the hull in the ship's aft/stern. This system's steering is done by a rudder (in the propeller's aft).
Engine reliability is crucial to maintaining continuous operation without unexpected downtime or performance issues. Cruise ship operators rely on engines that have a proven track record of reliability and longevity. Robust design, quality manufacturing, and adherence to rigorous maintenance schedules are critical factors in ensuring engine reliability. Cruise ship operators also monitor and analyze fuel consumption data to identify areas for further improvement.
As technology continues to advance, further improvements are being made in the efficiency and energy storage capabilities of hybrid electric systems. This, coupled with ongoing advancements in battery technology, will pave the way for even more efficient and environmentally friendly cruise ship operations in the future. The environmental impact of cruise ships is a significant concern, and engine selection plays a crucial role in minimizing this impact. Cruise ship operators aim to select engines that reduce emissions and mitigate the environmental consequences of their operations. The power requirements of a cruise ship are a primary consideration when selecting an engine.
Older cruise ships may still use a diesel reciprocating engine to generate enough power to move them. Power is supplied to the ship through a transmission going to a propeller shaft. Those who support the cruise industry point out that cruising has never been more popular. A solution is to have docked vessels plug into the port's shore power grid. Most of the world's largest cruise ports have such dockside electrical hookups, reducing bad emissions by up to 95%. Added to the dual-fuel engines, the new technology makes Viking Grace one of the world's most environmentally-friendly passenger ships, operating with very low levels of emissions and noise.
While connected to a generator, the engines can run at their most efficient settings regardless of the travel speed. Whether the ship is sailing at 10 or 20 knots, the engines can operate a peak efficiency. When the cruise industry began in the mid-1800s, vessels were propelled by steam engines. Cruise ship engine technology has evolved from wind and sails to newer liquified natural gas technology. The engines on a cruise ship can be up to 45 feet long, 27 feet high, and weigh up to 275 tons. Here’s everything you need to know about a cruise ship’s engine room.
This allows cruise ships to operate using a combination of power sources, adapting to different operational requirements and optimizing fuel consumption. In recent years, there has been a growing focus on improving the environmental performance of diesel engines used in cruise ships. This has led to the development of technologies like LNG (liquefied natural gas) fuelled engines and hybrid electric systems, which further enhance the efficiency and sustainability of these engines. When ships are docked and not moving, main engines and generators produce far more power than needed. In port, they are turned off, and smaller generators are used to supply the "hotel" load (i.e., lights, air conditioning, the galleys, etc.). Moving the ship through the water takes up the vast majority of a ship's need for power -- somewhere in the vicinity of 85 percent of the power a diesel electric plant produces goes to the propeller.
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