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Navigation systems are also Wartsila-made, including NACOS Platinum (integrated vessel control system). Big ships require much power, so they might have more than one emergency generator. Despite that, they don't have the capacity of main generators and engines, don't produce electricity enough to move the ship, and can't supply all the power needed in ports, because of constraints in space. Wartsila's fuel engine package was specifically designed to reduce fuel consumption. It's important to remember that the No. 1 priority of all cruise lines is the safety of their passengers.
How Big Is a Cruise Ship Engine?
If you are in the ship’s engine room as it is running, a cruise ship engine is still pretty loud. In fact, it’s loud enough that anyone working in the engine room is required to use hearing protection equipment, or it will damage their hearing. Every cruise ship has an emergency generator to maintain vital electrical power in case of engine failure. Many of today’s diesel-engine cruise ships also employ a shaft generator to generate electricity for shipboard services, like lighting. Modern diesel-powered cruise ships have between four to six medium-speed (500 revolutions per minute) engines. Each engine can generate upwards of 25,000 horsepower or nearly 18.5 megawatts.
What are Cabins Near the Engine Room Like?
The NACOS is the main software used to coordinate all factors that need to be taken into consideration, in order to navigate and maneuver the ship safely. An intelligent autopilot tracks changes in the behavior of the ship through navigational sensors. If the ship drifts off its course due to strong winds, for example, the system automatically responds to correct the change by sending signals straight to the engine room. Once the signal is received by the engines, the rudder or thrusters of the ship are activated and move to the position given by the system. The displays on the bridge show both the angle of the rudder or thrusters, as well as the rate and the radius of the maneuver in progress.
Marine Engineering
This proactive approach to maintenance ensures that the engines remain in optimal operating condition, reducing the risk of unexpected breakdowns or accidents. These certifications ensure that the engines meet essential safety requirements and undergo regular inspections and audits. The fuel efficiency of an engine is determined by various factors, including design, combustion efficiency, and propulsion system optimization. Advanced technologies such as turbochargers, variable valve timing, and electronic engine management systems contribute to improved fuel efficiency. 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.
Latest Wärtsilä engine to make its debut powering new luxury cruise ships - Wärtsilä
Latest Wärtsilä engine to make its debut powering new luxury cruise ships.
Posted: Thu, 05 Oct 2023 07:00:00 GMT [source]
The positioning system is controlled from the bridge and it uses GPS to ensure that the ship stays at a defined location. When the captain defines a position where the ship needs to remain for a while without anchoring, the system automatically maintains the ship in position by using the bow and stern thrusters. The regulations require full redundancies -- including two engine rooms and the doubling up of cables and electrical systems that snake throughout ships. This means that even if a fire destroys one main engine room and the generators that supply the power to move the ship, a separate engine room with enough power to propel the ship would still be operational. Modern, larger cruise ships use two or three stroke, low speed, crosshead, or medium speed engines.
Gas-turbine cruise ship power system
But if you’re a light sleeper, accommodations near the engine room are among the worst cabins on a cruise ship. 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.
As these magnificent vessels sail across oceans, powering their immense size and providing luxurious amenities to passengers requires robust and efficient engines. The engines used in cruise ships are not only responsible for propelling the ship but also for generating electricity, providing heating and cooling systems, and supporting various onboard facilities. These systems utilize batteries or energy storage systems alongside combustion engines to optimize fuel consumption and reduce emissions. LNG (liquefied natural gas) is emerging as a promising alternative fuel for cruise ship engines, offering significant environmental and operational advantages. LNG-powered engines utilize natural gas in its liquefied state as the primary fuel source, resulting in reduced emissions and improved fuel efficiency. One significant development in engine technology to reduce environmental impact is the increased adoption of liquefied natural gas (LNG) as a fuel source for cruise ship engines.
Propulsion Electric Motor
Engines operating at higher speeds tend to be found on smaller vessels. Determining the type of engine that is installed on a new cruise ship involves examining the engine’s size. Diesel engines are the most traditional type of cruise ship 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.
The Promas Lite propulsion future clients, besides passenger ships, are marine vessels like fishing and freighter ships. When entering service in 2004, the Cunard's QM2 was the biggest in the world at 150,000 GR tonnes. Her designer Stephen Payne showed the advantages of pod-propulsion giving vessels increased maneuverability.
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. LNG-powered engines demonstrate a significant step towards greener and more sustainable cruise ship operations. The use of LNG as a fuel source aligns with the cruise industry’s commitment to environmental stewardship, ensuring a cleaner and more sustainable future for both operators and passengers alike. By prioritizing engine reliability and safety, cruise ship operators can provide passengers with peace of mind and a secure voyage. Diesel engines are the most commonly used type of engines in cruise ships due to their efficiency and reliability.
These engines operate on the principle of internal combustion, where fuel is injected into compressed air, leading to combustion and the generation of power. Of course, the production of electricity is vital to all aspects of a ship's operation. Large equipment (such as the bow thrusters, or, in the case of diesel electric ships, the actual propulsion motor) requires high-voltage electricity. For smaller machinery, such as lights in your cabin or the equipment in the galley, the electricity goes through a transformer and is stepped down into a more useable, lower voltage -- such as 110V.
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. Currently, NCL Norwegian Epic has two rudders with conventional non-Azipod screws. But how does she manage to maneuver if they can push in one direction only? One option is to make them bigger and more effective when maneuvering, another is to add additional mini-pods or install full-sized pods.
Nearly all contemporary cruise ships are powered by electricity (motors turn propellers). It powers the air conditioning systems, lights and all other appliances aboard the ship. Most vessels produce the electricity they need by using diesel engines. HFO (heavy fuel oil) is used by diesel engines, while MGO (marine gas oil) is used by gas turbine engines.
Diesel engines have greater fuel efficiency at slower speeds, and the high gas price compared to diesel makes them more costly to operate. The electricity produced by the engine is used to power the ship’s propellers. A shaft generator converts the circular motion of the propeller shaft into electricity. When ships come into port, they take the opportunity to fill up the fuel tanks. Fueling barges will come up to the ships and load the fuel onboard. When the passengers return from their excursions, the ship is ready to move on.
