Monday, April 1, 2024

How Cruise Ships Work Part 3: The Bridge and the Engine Room

cruise ship engine

Because ships need their heaviest weights located as low as possible for stability, engines are usually mounted just above the keel. The lowest decks of the ship are almost entirely devoted to machinery. Welcome to High Seas Cruising, your resource for exploring the exciting world of cruise ship travel. We provide expert advice, insightful reviews, and comprehensive guides to help seasoned and novice cruisers create their ideal sea journeys.

How Much Power Is Needed for a Cruise Ship?

Whether you desire adventure, luxury, or exploration, High Seas Cruising is your compass to unforgettable cruise vacations. The engines are typically cheaper because most passengers avoid booking cabins next to the engine room. It’s enough to power the cruise ship for up to two weeks of sailing without refueling. You may feel the engine’s vibration if your cabin is on the lower decks, near the aft. On most ships, the noise isn’t enough to cause any annoyance or trouble sleeping. The emergency generators are located away from the main engine room, usually on a higher deck.

How Are Cruise Ships Powered?

Gas turbine engines (being aero-derivative) generate heat which is transformed from mechanical energy into electricity. To achieve this, compressed air is fired in a combustion chamber. Hot exhaust is made over a turbine that spins to drive mechanically a shaft.

Importance of Engines for Cruise Ships

This problem is done away with by employing diesel-electric propulsion. Starting, acceleration and deceleration is much quieter and smoother due to electrical control. The electrical/electronic control of speed and direction (reversing), is quicker and smoother than conventional engines which largely rely on mechanical means for the same. Each DG room has its independent air, fuel, lubrication and cooling water supply systems. This is for the purpose of safety and redundancy keeping in mind emergencies like fire and flooding. As more restrictions are being placed on cruise ship emissions, there is a rising need for companies to comply.

Safe Return to Port

Each of the Star Cruises "Global-Class" vessels have three "Azipod XO" thrusters. All ships have installed ABB's "Intelligent Maneuvering Interface" and the "OCTOPUS" software optimizing fuel consumption and energy management. All these ships were constructed by the German shipbuilder MV Werften.

New Technological Developments in Cruise Ship Engines

cruise ship engine

The improved propeller efficiency was estimated to be between 11-14% at a cruising speed of 15 knots (17 mph / 28kph). Azipod marine ship propulsion is a combination of both steering and propulsion systems. This system's steering is done by a rudder (in the propeller's aft). ABB Azipod propulsion systems have a major impact on the vessel's operating efficiency - reducing energy consumption and bad emissions by up to 20%. After Carnival Corporation’s success with LNG fuel, other cruise lines followed their example.

Disney Cruise Ship Develops Engine Trouble, Skips Port of Call - Cruise Hive

Disney Cruise Ship Develops Engine Trouble, Skips Port of Call.

Posted: Fri, 08 Sep 2023 07:00:00 GMT [source]

The basic detail about the cruise ship engine room is its location. For stability, the ship's heaviest weights are at its lowest possible deck, and usually, engines are mounted above the keel. An area creating enough power for driving such an enormous vessel through water needs to be really big - very often engine rooms occupy at least three decks.

Their location isolates them from catastrophic damage in the engine room (for example, a fire). Cruise ships may have four to six medium-speed (500 rpm) engines producing 8-10MW each. The boiler produced steam which created pressure in a pressurized system. Generally, the safest place to be is your current location at sea. The cruise industry guidelines comment that the safest method to returning large numbers of guests to a port is by using the ship itself. It keeps out noise and reduces the heat generated by fully operating engines.

Low Air Draft Creates Whale of a Tale for Carnival Cruise Ship - The Maritime Executive

Low Air Draft Creates Whale of a Tale for Carnival Cruise Ship.

Posted: Fri, 24 Nov 2023 08:00:00 GMT [source]

More or less, everything is distributed to operating proportions, but the key mechanics differ from one to another. Usually, the primary concern for most ships is have engines and machinery compartmentalized for safety and avoiding fire hazards. Compartmentalized and labeled rooms make maintenance simpler and enhances safety for unprecedented accidents. The technical aspects are a vital part of a cruise ship, so it will be first visited. Not to state the obvious, but the ship’s heart is shaped by the crew and the engineers that have put many hours and dedication into making a cruise ship work.

This is the timeline in which LNG-powered cruise ships were launched. AIDA was the first to incorporate this fuel for its passengers, with other cruise lines closely following its example. The cruise ship industry is continuously evolving, with new technological developments transforming engine technology. Advancements in LNG-powered engines and hybrid electric systems provide more sustainable and efficient options, aligning with the industry’s commitment to environmental stewardship. Reliability and safety are paramount considerations in engine selection for cruise ships.

Often, there are many comparatively smaller engines that make up the power demand for the ship; in port, only one engine may be online, but out at sea at full speed, they may all be online. The pistons were connected to a crankshaft, which turned the vertical motion of the pistons into a rotational movement. The crankshaft was directly connected to the propeller through a long propeller shaft. The faster the pistons on the engine moved up and down, the faster the propeller shaft turned and the faster the ship went. In exceptionally rare instances, engines may be placed somewhere other than the very bottom of the ship; on Cunard's Queen Mary 2, the four diesel main engines are located above the keel.

On some smaller and midsize ships, such as National Geographic Explorer or Windstar's Star Breeze, Legend and Pride, the concept has not changed dramatically. The mechanics are the same; the main difference is how the power is created. Instead of steam making the pistons go up and down, the ignition of fuel now creates pressure and pushes the pistons up and down, turning the crankshaft connected to a propeller shaft. Despite the colloquialism of "steaming to St. Thomas," the days of steam engines in ships have all but disappeared. (The last passenger ship built with a steam engine -- Sitmar's FairSky in 1984 – was scrapped in 2013.) Today, diesel engines are the standard.

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