where is engine on cruise ship

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Cruise Ship Engine Power, Propulsion, Fuel

These are some of the most interesting cruise ship technology-related data and facts - engines , power , marine propulsion systems , fuel consumption of cruise ships , and something about pollution (in-article navigation links).

In 2020, IMO (International Maritime Organization) implements its global 0,5% sulfur cap on marine fuels. If not using scrubbers (pollution control devices), owners of older vessels must use as ship fuels either MGO (marine gas oil), ECA Category Fuels (low sulfur MGO), new modified fuels and blends, LNG (liquefied natural gas) or electric/battery power . Each fuel option is based on vessel type and age, routes/itineraries and powerplant. Most newbuild passenger ships are LNG-powered . World's largest seaports plus numerous smaller ports already have installed shoreside power capabilities providing shore-to-ship power supply to berthed vessels. In many ports, shorepower is in addition to LNG bunkering capabilities.

Cruise Ship Engine

Without a source of power, these huge cruise vessels would be nothing more than drifting aimlessly hotels. A large number of older ships use diesel reciprocating engines for generating power for propulsion. Cruise ship engine power is supplied through the transmission to the propeller shafts. These transmissions determine the revolutions of propellers. Modern ships use either diesel-electric engines or gas turbines as a source of power for propulsion, and for ship's systems. Some of the larger ships depend on two power sources - one for electrical power and one for propulsion.

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. The power can be used to spin the generators. The same way works diesel-electric engines, yet they use a direct drive system, not a turbine. The output shafts, to produce electrical power, are connected to generators.

Both engine types need a lot of fuel. Cunard QE2 , for example, consumes daily 380 tons of fuel when traveling at 29 knots speed and carries fuel enough to sail for 12 days. 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.

All ships rely on propellers/screws to be pushed through the water, providing forward and reverse motion. Airplanes, for example, require tremendous propeller speeds to provide the forward motion, but ship propellers don't need to turn so fast and rely on torque power. Therefore, ships travel slowly and rarely top 30 knots (for more info follow our speed-link above).

Cruise ship engine room

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. Ship's lowest decks are almost entirely full of machinery. 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. Rather than long halls stretching the length of hulls, machinery is almost always divided into smaller compartments - one for the main engines, another for the heating/air-conditioning system. This compartmentalization is for safety reasons. If a penetration to the hull or fire happens, multiple compartments help contain the damage. The next photo shows the engine room of RCI's Oasis-Class vessels.

Rarely, engines are not placed at the ship's bottom. RMS Queen Mary 2's four main diesel engines are above the keel, with two smaller gas turbines on top-deck (aft of the funnel). It was not unusual for older liners to have 2 engine rooms. Gradually, technology allowed the consolidation of these spaces. However, current maritime legislation requires vessels to have equipment duplication and 2 engine rooms.

In May 2015, Wartsila Corporation and Carnival Corporation partnered to optimize cruise ship engine room operations of all 101 ships across the corporation's 9 brands. The deal was signed by Micky Arison (Carnival's Chairman) and Bjorn Rosengren (Wartsila's President and CEO). The plan included installing Wartsila's latest marine solutions, first tested on several Carnival Cruise Line vessels in pilot projects. The new systems and technologies included engine control and monitoring systems, safety and fuel efficiency equipment.

Wartsila's "Asset Performance Optimization Solution" package allows obtaining optimal performance from Wartsila marine diesel engines, recommends how to deal with potential issues, maximizes ship performance, ensures full-capacity systems operations, increases the predictability of fuel management and maintenance needs. Wartsila's fuel engine package was specifically designed to reduce fuel consumption.

Wartsila Marine technologies aim to optimize ship performance, but also allow to locate deviations from normal parameters of equipment and engines. This allows emerging problems and engine fault sources to be fixed before they occur.

Conventional diesel cruise ship engine

Today's direct-drive diesels feature one main advantage - the option to use a shaft generator, which is a device using the circular motion of the propeller shaft in order to generate the electricity needed for hotel services, like cooking and lighting.

Shaft generators can be used only while the ship is moving with a fairly constant cruising speed. This is what the NCL Epic cruise ship engine looks like:

Diesel-electric cruise ship engine

Almost all new ships feature a diesel-electric propulsion form. On these ships, main engines are not connected to propeller shafts, and instead of it they are directly connected to big generators in order to produce electricity, which is sent in turn to electric motors, that then power and help turn the propellers. The main advantage of the diesel-electric cruise ship engine systems is efficiency as they allow main engines to operate near the most efficient speed, no matter if the ship is moving at 5 or 25 knots.

Losing electrical power is devastating to ships. Main engines and generators require electricity and it's needed to keep them going. Pumps that are driven electrically take in cold ocean water to cool the engines and electrical pumps get fuel from fuel tanks and supply it to the engine. Electrical power is vital for many operational functions - without it, ships come to a halt.

Large equipment (propulsion motor, bow thrusters) requires electricity of high voltage. As for smaller machinery (cabin lights, galley equipment), the electricity goes through the transformer and is thus stepped down into lower voltage. Large cables snake through all the ships to distribute electrical power. They carry power from generators to switchboards, through passageways, public rooms, crew and passenger cabins. Cabling can be a weak point in the distribution system. If the electrical cables aren't truly redundant, even ships that feature two engine rooms suffer power failure.

While ships are docked, generators and main engines produce more power than needed. They are turned off in port, and smaller generators supply "hotel" loads (lights, air-conditioning, galley, etc.). Moving through water takes up the vast majority of the ship's power needs - about 85% of all the diesel-electric powerplant production is consumed by the propulsion system. The above photo is of the Vista-class Carnival cruise ship engine room. The engine type is "MAN 2 times; 14V48/60CR" (common-rail diesel injection system):

Cruise ship Emergency Generators

All ships are supplied with emergency generators to maintain vital electrical power. Backup generators are located higher up and also outside engine room spaces to isolate them from damage or fire.

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.

Emergency generators are instead used only for essential navigation systems - crucial communication equipment, critical pumps in the engine room, emergency lighting. Should they also fail, vessels are required to have a battery backup. 24 hours of power are at least provided by battery rooms to the smaller emergency equipment list.

Probably you've heard about Carnival cruise ship accidents related to power failures in 2013. At our Carnival Fun Ship 2.0 upgrades link you can learn how CCL battled with this "unmaintained ships" image and implemented revolutionary new technology initiatives fleetwide - including an additional emergency backup generator on each of their vessels.

Cruise Ship Propulsion

The new cruise ship propulsion systems ABB Azipods XO (below photo) are more fuel-efficient than traditional systems, also providing better maneuverability, maximizing speed, reducing bad emissions, which as a whole optimizes ship's performance and enhances passenger safety.

ABB Azipod propulsion systems have a major impact on the vessel's operating efficiency - reducing energy consumption and bad emissions by up to 20%.

In 2019, ABB signed a deal with Oldendorff Carriers (1921-founded, Germany's largest bulk shipping company with a fleet of ~700 ships) for the supply and installation of Azipod propulsion systems on two newbuild carriers. Both self-unloading dry bulk vessels were China-built (by Chengxi Shipyard Co Ltd / subsidiary of CSSC) and scheduled for deliveries in 2021. Each vessel was fitted with two Azipods (power output 1,9 MW per unit) plus various related electric and digital solutions (powerplant, diesel-electric generators, bow thruster motors, transformers, switchboards, power management system, ABB Ability global ABB real-time monitoring).

Azipod cruise ship propulsion system

Azipod cruise ship propulsion system is situated outside the hull in the aft of the ship. Azipod turns in all directions (360 degrees) by a rudder, providing thrust in any directions, not possible for conventional systems.

See at the first photo at right RMS Queen Mary 2 's propulsion system scheme.

QM2's Azipod is actually an electric propulsion system consisting of the following main components:

• Propulsion motor - used to produce or drive thrust. The propeller's rotating is powered by an electric motor.
• Supply transformer - power produced by generators is 6600 KV, which is stepped down to the necessary voltage by supply transformer and is provided to the motor in the pod.
• Frequency controller - used to change the frequency of supplied power so that the rotating motor speed can be controlled.

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).

The above photo shows Oasis-class ship propulsion Azipods (2 units) before being mounted onto the hull. The next photo shows the Azipods (both units) mounted on the hull.

The 3rd Oasis-class ship - Harmony of the Seas, is currently the most technologically advanced and energy-efficient cruise vessel ever built. It is equipped with a new-generation exhaust gas cleaning system (multi-stream scrubbers) and also features a hull lubrication system allowing the ship to float on air bubbles (created around the hull) thus reducing drag and increasing fuel efficiency.

However, the steering and propulsion systems in Azipod arrangement, are combined into one part and the system consists of a propeller (driven by an electrical motor) turned by a rudder connected to the azipod system. The motor is inside the sealed pod and connected to the propeller.

The following YouTube video is about ABB Azipods installed on the new Genting Hong Kong vessels (Star Cruises' new ships and on Crystal Cruises' polar-class boats).

These ships incorporate a complete ABB propulsion - Azipods, electric power plant, computer automation, and software. Crystal cruise ships are powered by two "Azipod D" units allowing navigation in polar destinations. 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. Currently, almost 2/3 of all large-sized cruise vessels, icebreaking ships, and high ice-class cargo ships are with Azipod propulsion.

Advantages of Azipod propulsion marine systems

• A lot of space is saved by the Azipod cruise ship propulsion system in the engine room - there is no propeller, engine, shafting or other arrangements. This saved space can be used for storing cargo.
• Great maneuverability - the propeller can turn in all directions and enables crash maneuvering stop distance that is better than the conventional systems.
• Azipod cruise ship propulsion system can be placed below the ship's height and provide more efficiency than conventional systems.
• In case the ships have large breadth, two (or more) azipod systems, independent from one another, can be used to provide subtle maneuvering.
• Side thruster's use is eliminated as pods can be used to provide side thrust.
• Low lube oil and fuel consumption.
• Lower vibrations and noise than conventional systems.
• Because emissions are low, it's environment-friendly.

Disadvantages of the Azipod marine propulsion

• It requires great initial cost.
• Many diesel generators are needed for producing power.
• The power produced by the motor is limited - the maximum available power now is 21 MW.
• Azipod cruise ship propulsion systems can't be installed in heavy cargo ships that need large motors and a lot of power.

Royal Caribbean Quantum-class cruise ships propulsion

In April 2012 ABB made a USD 60-million contract to provide the Azipod propulsion systems for the new Royal Caribbean ships of the Quantum-class (Quantum, Anthem, Ovation) and Quantum Plus-class (Pulse, Passion). The former name of this vessel design was "Project Sunshine". Builder is Meyer Werft (Papenburg, Germany).

ABB also supplies the power generation, distribution systems, bow thrusters, and of course, the 2 x 20,500 kW propulsion Azipod XO units (at the photo at right), transformers and drives.

NCL Epic ship pod-propulsion

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. The propellers (screws) of the QM2 ship are mounted on the pods which rotate 360 degrees and provide advanced maneuverability. He made the choice to put pods - though relatively new and yet untested for big ships. Royal Caribbean vessels of Oasis, Freedom, and Voyager classes have pod-propulsion as many other big ships, which is opposed to the fixed traditional screws which push in one direction only.

An interesting fact about cruise ship propulsion is that Norwegian Epic doesn't have pods, though slightly bigger than Queen Mary 2 (at 153,000 GR tonnes), because of NCL concerns about the new technology. Some of the lines (including Celebrity and Cunard) have suffered vessel breakdowns due to pod-bearing failures. Lots of voyages had to be canceled, extensive dry-docking periods were required for pod bearings to be replaced, and NCL didn't want to take the risk.

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. Only time will tell if any of these will actually ever happen.

Rolls-Royce cruise ship propulsion system "Promas Lite"

In November 2013, the manufacturing giant Rolls-Royce upgraded Hurtigruten's ship MS Richard With its new "Promas Lite" propulsion system (integrated propeller-rudder system). This is an older ship, and Promas Lite was the perfect choice as it is a combined "propeller-rudder" system increasing the efficiency of older passenger vessels with lesser tonnage. The upgrade significantly reduced Hurtigruten's operating costs on this vessel. The improved propeller efficiency was estimated to be between 11-14% at a cruising speed of 15 knots (17 mph / 28kph).

Promas propulsion integrates propeller, hubcap, rudder bulb and the rudder into a single unit which can increase propulsion's efficiency by 3-8% (1-screw vessels) and by 2-6% (2-screw vessels). It also improves maneuverability, reduces fuel consumption and bad emissions. The new modular technology allows efficient and cost-effective custom-made systems to be built up from various existing and standard parts - mooring winches, anchor cable lifters, warping heads.

Hurtigruten was compensated with ~80% of its total investment in Promas Lite marine propulsion upgrades as the Norwegian Government has this NOx fund encouraging shipowners and operators to upgrade their vessels and invest in new marine technologies that reduce NOx emissions. The Promas Lite propulsion future clients, besides passenger ships, are marine vessels like fishing and freighter ships.

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.

Cruise Ship Power

The cruise ship engine power is responsible for driving propellers, and the other possibility is producing electricity that is used subsequently to drive propellers. The engine's effectiveness depends not only on the design but also the ship's shape, weight, and size. Power is measured in horsepower traditionally - one horsepower equals 746 watts. The next photo shows the world's largest passenger ships' engine that powers each of the Royal Caribbean Oasis-class vessels.

Marine steam engines

The cruise industry began in 1844, when ships were propelled by steam engines, performing the driving of propellers by using steam as working fluid. The largest passenger steamship (before hitting an iceberg on April 14, 1912) was the Titanic, powered by both reciprocating engines and turbines, able to generate 50,000 horsepower (37 megawatts).

Marine diesel engines

Usually, ships are powered by four or five generator sets (medium-speed, 500 revolutions per minute), fueled by diesel and creating 8-10 MW energy each. The power density of marine diesel medium-speed engine is 80 kilowatts per cubic meter. Ships that use diesel engines are required to carry exhaust-treatment systems and catalytic-reduction equipment to reduce the environmental impact.

Marine nuclear power engines

The building of the US first and only merchant nuclear-powered ship was commissioned in the 1950s by President Eisenhower. Of total cost $46.9 million, on the fuel core and nuclear reactor was spent more than $28 million. The ship operated only for five years (1965-1970) but due to the high running costs, its service was terminated.

Marine gas turbines

The first company that fitted cruise vessels with gas turbines, was Royal Caribbean. Gas turbines are greener than diesel engines and allow ships to sail with reduced inventory and smaller maintenance crew. Gas turbines drive generators which in turn provide electricity to propeller motors. They recover heat from gas turbines' exhaust, which then is used to produce the electricity needed for onboard services (air conditioning, water heating).

Rolls Royce is the manufacturer of the world's largest GAS marine turbine "Rolls-Royce MT30". The turbine will provide the immense 109 MW of power for the 2 propellers, all the weaponry, radars, command sys, etc. of the new generation UK aircraft carriers of the Queen Elizabeth class. To this class belong HMS Queen Elizabeth (2017-commissioned) and HMS Prince of Wales (2019-commissioned), each of them with a total power consumption of 80 MW.

Gas-turbine cruise ship power system

The first large vessel to use a new gas-turbine cruise ship propulsion system was Celebrity Millennium . This system will be more frequently used in new cruise ship buildings . It's innovative and, besides new activities available, the economy of scale, marketing, represents an important element of ship design. System's advantages include:

• lower vibrations and noise level, better comfort, lower probability of failure;
• lower exploitation costs because of the easier maintenance;
• nocive emissions reduction, which is partially owed to gas oil instead of fuel (-90% oxide of sulfur, -80% oxide of azote).
• considerable gain of weight and volume, especially when with Azipod marine propulsion system (900 tons, 70 cabins added).

Gas turbines at this time are only interesting in the building of high-speed ships (warships, and especially aircraft carriers, or fast passenger vessels - Millennium max speed is 25kn), because of the better diesel output in lower speeds and higher price of gasoil instead of fuel for diesel engines.

Gas turbine cruise ship propulsion systems are able to avoid pre-heating systems needed for fuel in classic installations (risk of fire!), as they use gasoil, Celebrity's Millenium-class and RCI's Radiance-class use such turbine powerplants. The next photo shows Celebrity's Solstice-class ship propulsion (the 4 aft azipods, and the underwater hull shape).

LNG-powered cruise ships

In June 2015, Carnival Corporation announced the company's contract with Fincantieri to build four LNG-powered vessels with the industry's largest passenger capacity. This was part of the order with Meyer Werft and Fincantieri for a total of 9x units to be built in the period 2019-2022.

The four newbuilds became the industry's first LNG (Liquefied Natural Gas) powered vessels using LNG in their hybrid engines. The gas is stored in the ship and used to generate all needed power at sea. The engines are not exclusively LNG, but "dual fuel" (capable of burring both liquid marine fuel and natural gas). This design is for saving onboard space (reducing fuel storage space required).

LNG is natural gas, which consists of 90% methane and 10% ethane. When cooled to -160 C, it passes from gas to liquid, and its volume decreases over 600 times, making it very efficient for distribution. Long-distance LNG transportation is via dual-hull gas carriers. Short-distance LNG transportation is via trucks or smaller vessels (also barges) fitted with high-pressure tanks.

Gas fuel eliminates all the bad emissions - soot and sulfur oxides. In April 2016 MSC Cruises announced its contract with STX France for up to four LNG-powered ships with GT over 200,000 tons each. For comparison, the Oasis of the Seas is 225,000 GT tons. The new MSC ships have 5400 passengers capacity at double occupancy each. The first one is scheduled for delivery in 2022. Its power plant will be based on a new prototype engine.

Using LNG to power large cruise ships is a relatively new (2016) concept. Due to LNG tanks' large sizes, this fuel is used usually on smaller passenger shipping vessels ( ferries ) operating on short crossing itineraries. LNG bunkering facilities available in ports are very few. Compared to other fuels (including MGO / marine gas oil), LNG is purer (no unburned residues, fewer greenhouse gases), more efficient, stable and cheaper (reduces fuel costs). LNG technology also advances due to IMO's future maritime emissions regulations, especially in ports and while operating in environmentally sensitive destinations.

In comparison to pipeline gas, LNG is superior in quality - purer, with more methane and other energy content. Its chemical structure also has a stable composition that doesn't generate unburned residues, soot or any particulates. In addition, because the fuel is so clean, on LNG-powered ships maintenance intervals are doubled (over 25,000 hours / ~10140 days), as opposed to the standard MDO-powered 12,500 hours (520 days).

• All the world's major environmental organizations and the marine shipping industry joined for an explicit prohibition on the carriage of non-compliant fuels when the 0,5% sulfur cap takes effect in 2020.
• In January 2018, IMO announced that starting January 1, 2020, the marine fuels' max allowed sulfur content (outside Emission Control Areas) is reduced from the previous 3,5% to 0,5%. Unless marine vessels are using approved equivalent compliance methods, after Jan 2020 there is no reason for ships to use non-compliant diesel fuels.
• IMO's new sulfur cap's goal is to provide substantial health benefits by reducing marine fuels' sulfur content (SOx gases). At the same time, IMO's lowered cap significantly increases ships' operating costs.

The LNG cruise ship concept was first introduced by Wartsila (Finnish manufacturing company) and is based on drive shaft propulsion instead of azipods. The LNG tanks' location is in the upper deck area (right below the funnels). The Rolls Royce concept is based on azipods.

AIDAprima (2016) is one of the world's most technologically advanced cruise vessels. The ship rides on a cushion of air, thus reducing frictions and fuel consumption, The new technology is called MALS ("Mitsubishi Air Lubrication System"), allowing the liner to glide on an air bubbles carpet.

The ship's 4 main engines are dual-fuel (heavy oil and LNG gas oil) thus reducing fuel consumption. The ship has an advanced filtering system that reduces stack emissions (greenhouse gases). The ship's propulsion features 1 pair of stabilizers and 2x ABB-pod drives (new XO-Pod series, power output per unit: is 3 MW). The total power output is 48 MW. AIDAprima is also the world's first-ever "LNG cruise ship" as it uses LNG fuel supply while berthed in ports.

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).

AIDA's LNG-powered cruise ships

The AIDAprima ship's first successful test run for LNG supply was in Hamburg Germany on May 7, 2016. While berthed, the ship was successfully provided with LNG at all the itinerary's ports of call (Hamburg, Rotterdam, Le Havre, Southampton, Zeebrugge).

• The company's statistics show that the AIDA ship spends about 40% of its operating time in ports. Compared to using conventional marine diesel (0,1% sulfur content), by using LNG, the vessel's emissions were considerably reduced even further. Sulfur oxides and soot particles were prevented completely (while in port), nitrogen oxide emission was reduced by up to 80%, CO2 emissions were lowered by 20%.
• AIDA ships (produced by Shipyard Papenburg ) are 100% LNG-powered. AIDA invested in research and testing of LNG cruise ship technologies since 2015. In 2013, AIDA collaborated on LNG hybrid barges with Becker Marine Systems. The innovative and flexible solution is used on ships moored in Port Hamburg.
• Since May 30, 2015, AIDAsol is regularly supplied with low-emission LNG power at Hamburg's Hafencity Cruise Terminal.
• AIDA ships use just 3 liters (0,8 US gallons) of fuel on average per person on board for a 100 km (62 ml) trip. This was confirmed by an independent expert study in 2012. Following the implementation of new technologies and economical handling of resources, the company's statistics for 2016 (over 2012) showed reduced energy consumption (9% per person onboard), reduced water consumption (7,2% pp) and reduced CO2 emissions (7,7% pp).

Hurtigruten ships

In April 2018, the Norwegian cruise and ferry company Hurtigruten announced a USD 150 million fleet renovation project. Almost all vessels will be upgraded with new hybrid powerplants that combine LNG-engines and batteries.

For the project was contracted Rolls-Royce Marine, initially for 6 ships plus optional another 3. The program's completion was scheduled before January 1, 2021. The project also includes all vessels to be upgraded with shore power capabilities.

Dual-engine ferries (LNG-MDO)

The next scheme shows the dual-engine powerplant (Wartsila) and propulsion (Azipod) of the cruise ferry Tallink Megastar . This ship is the biggest "floating superstore" on the Baltic Sea, featuring a 2-deck retail shopping complex and the unique self-service option called "Q-shopping". The RoPax vessel uses LNG as prime fuel and MDO (marine diesel oil) as secondary fuel.

The ship is powered by a total of five Wartsila dual-fuel engines - three 12-cylinder (model 12V50DF, combined output 34,2 MW) plus two 6-cylinder (model 6L50DF, combined output 11,4 MW). Ferryboat's total power output is 45,6 MW. Its propulsion system includes two Wartsila fixed-pitch propellers with twin propeller shafts. Navigation systems are also Wartsila-made, including NACOS Platinum (integrated vessel control system).

The power generated by the main engines/powerplant produces electricity that is used from the propulsion motors, as well as all auxiliary systems and hotel functions. This innovative maritime technology allows the engines to be started and stopped depending on the onboard electricity demand, which additionally improves fuel efficiency.

Vessel's hull is ice-strengthened (class 1A). Rudders are from Becker Marine Systems. When compared to traditional marine engines, in gas mode, the ship's engines produce 1/4 less COx, 2/3 less NOx, zero SOx and no soot particles.

The onboard LNG system consists of 2 bunker stations, 2 horizontal LNG storage tanks by Linde (cryogenic, vacuum-insulated, stainless steel, total gas volume 600 m3), double-walled bunkering lines, pipelines (acid-proof stainless steel), special pipe fittings, gas distribution system, steam boilers. All the ship's electrical equipment is certified "explosion-proof". The LNG is stored at temperatures -160 Celsius (-256 Fahrenheit) and under pressure 4-6 bars.

ABB supplied the vessel's power and electric propulsion systems, as well as the Octopus (smart energy management system). While mechanical propulsion is optimized for a single-speed, electric propulsion is based on rotating speed control resulting in energy efficiency at all speeds. ABB's propulsion also improves passenger comfort as the ship runs much more quietly and smoothly. ABB's Octopus marine technology allows real-time monitoring of the vessel's energy (and fuel) consumption. Based on the collected data, the software suggests optimal performance recommendations.

Spain's first LNG-powered cruiseferry was Hypatia de Alejandria (2019) owned by BALEARIA .

Wind-assisted propulsion

On April 12, 2018, the VIKING LINE -owned ferry Viking Grace became the world's first-ever passenger ship equipped with a rotor sail utilizing wind power. This also made it the world's first hybrid vessel that uses both wind power and dual-fuel (diesel-gas) engines.

"Rotor Sail Solution" is an innovative technology developed by the company Norsepower Ltd (Finland) in 5 years. It reduces fuel consumption and also COx emissions up to 900 tons per year (depending on wind conditions).

The cylindrical rotor sail has a height of 24 m (79 ft) and a diameter of 4 m (13 ft). The technology is based on the "Flettner rotor" (patented by Anton Flettner in 1922) and uses the so-called "Magnus effect" - the spinning rotor (rotating cylinder) drags airflow faster around one side. This creates pressure/speed difference that moves it in the direction of the opposite (lower-pressure) side, creating a force at a right angle to the direction of the wind. This wind-assisted propulsion power drives the ship forward. Unlike traditional cloth sails, the rotor needs no furling (stowing), reefing (reducing sail's area) or line-tending. The rotor sail system is automated and shuts down when unfavorable changes in wind force or direction occur.

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. Norsepower's wind propulsion system was also installed on VIKING LINE's newest vessel (still unnamed) scheduled for delivery in 2020. The China-built ferryboat is equipped with two Norsepower-produced rotor sails, doubling its wind power potential.

Ship's powerplant includes 4x Wartsila engines (model 8L50DF, total power output 30,4 MW). Propulsion is diesel-electric (2x shafts with fixed-pitch propellers) and wind-assisted (with 1x rotor sail). Engines are dual-fuel (MDO-LNG). As gas tanks are larger than marine fuel tanks. they need 6 times more space. To save hull space, LNG tanks are located on an open deck. LNG tanks are two (type C / vacuum insulated), each with capacity 200 m3 and weight 140 tons (LNG weight 85 tons per tank).

MS Viking Grace is also the world's first ship with the energy recycling system "Ocean Marine" (developed by Climeon AB / Stockholm-based company). The system converts the excess heat (generated by engines and exhausts) into clean (emission-free) electricity with an annual capacity of 700,000 kWh. This electricity is primarily used on cabin decks (including for heating, hot water, lighting). The technology uses heat exchangers that evaporate a carrier fluid circulating in a closed system. This gas (at 2-bar pressure) drives a turbine, then a 100 kW generator produces electricity. After that, the gas is cooled (in a vacuum chamber) and liquefied. Cooling is rapid, as the cold fluid is sprayed out. Then Heat exchangers cool the carrier fluid to temperatures around 20 C / 68 F.

Cruise Ship Fuel Consumption

How much fuel do cruise ships use.

Cruise ship fuel consumption depends on the ship's size. For most vessels, the average consumption is 30-50 miles on a fuel gallon. This will be also determined by other factors using fuel. Ships' gas mileage varies depending on the type and size of ship, the number of passengers on board, and other factors. Larger ships need more fuel to move through the water.

RMS Queen Mary uses 6 tons of marine fuel per hour. Celebrity Eclipse gets 56 feet to the gallon. MS Zuiderdam - .0130 miles per gallon (0.34 tons fuel per mile). This may not seem very good mileage at first glance, however, cruise ships are moving at once thousands of people whereas a car is moving a few.

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. Some use gas turbine engines. Others use a combination of the two. HFO (heavy fuel oil) is used by diesel engines, while MGO (marine gas oil) is used by gas turbine engines. The MGO is similar to the jet airplanes' fuel.

Speed affects cruise ship fuel consumption because to go faster, vessels must increase the electricity flow to motors. Thus more engines are employed, and it, in turn, increases fuel consumption. For example, Queen Mary 2 consumes 237 tons MGO and 261 tons HFO a day when at full speed. After a certain point, the rate of return decreases from adding engines, because if a ship can manage 17 knots by two engines, it doesn't mean that four engines are going to produce 34 knots.

Cruise companies employ new technologies in order to reduce fuel consumption. Ship's hull, for example, can be applied by silicon coating in order to reduce friction as the ship goes through the water. Friction reduction on Celebrity Eclipse is 5%. Another experiment is LED lighting, using less energy and producing less heat (thus is reduced the demand for electricity and air conditioning). Celebrity Solstice-class vessels have solar panels' field over the AquaSpa pool area. This not only provides shade for the pool area but produced by solar panels electricity is used to decrease the electricity demand from the engines.

RMS Queen Mary 2 is equipped with exhaust gas economizers, using waste heat from engines to produce steam. Then steam is used to heat fuel and QM2 hotel accommodations, laundry, galleys. This reduces the energy amount that has to be produced by ship's engines. The Promas Lite system (mentioned above) generates cruise ship fuel savings in the range of 5-15% depending on the operation type and the actual performance of the ship's existing propeller.

How marine ships fuel consumption increases at higher speeds? Next infographic shows the speed-fuel consumption relation on container ships (their sizes are measured in TEU-containers/20 ft equivalent units), which are similar by speeds and even gross tonnage to cruise passenger ships.

Cruise Ship Pollution

Today cruising is one of the most popular vacations, but there are significant environmental downsides. Mega-ships burn the dirtiest fuel in the world, even if they are sitting in port. Asthma, cancer, respiratory illness, heart disease, are the results of burned in ports nasty bunker fuel.

Shore-to-Ship Power Supply

Those who support the cruise industry point out that cruising has never been more popular. However, more ships generate more pollution. 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%.

Aka "cold ironing" and "shore-to-ship power", shore power capability allows berthed cruise ships to shut down their diesel engines (main and auxiliary) and plug into city's electrical grid, using locally-produced electricity for all shipboard equipment and services - including cooling, heating, lighting, emergency, etc. The technology greatly reduces exhaust emissions in seaports. Next video animation reviews this technology.

TUI Cruises Ships Environmental Report

TUI published the company's environmental impact report (first of its kind) including environmental objectives and TUI strategy for a 5-years period. TUI said it planned to issue reports every 2 years. According to it, in 2012 TUI reduced by 3.7% per nautical mile its fuel consumption, and expects further 5% reduction, reducing CO2 emission at the same time by 0.5 kg to 0.55 kg per traveler.

Energy efficiencies are the key to reduce fuel consumption, CO2, and other emissions, and contribute to climate protection. Mein Schiff 3, for example, is expected to feature special energy management systems that help to consume 30% less energy than comparable size ships. TUI is focused on reducing recycling and waste, too. In 2012, TUI reduced the waste amount to 10,7 L (per passenger day), which is 27,8% less (over 2011). In 2012, TUI used 54,463 tons of fuel, including 9,732 tons LSFO (low sulfur fuel oil), 40,880 tons HFO (heavy fuel oil) and 3,851 tons MDO (marine diesel oil). Fuel consumption was 0,367 tons per nautical mile.

All new TUI ships are built to the latest standards with environmentally-friendly marine technologies. These vessels, both as design (hull and superstructure) and implemented technologies, are highly energy-efficient. Each consumes 1/3 less energy compared to most cruise liners. The advanced exhaust cleaning system uses a catalytic and scrubber converter. This technology allows sulfur emissions to be reduced by 99%, and NOx emissions - by 75%.

All-electric passenger ships

In May 2019, the US company "Maid of the Mist" ordered ABB two new all-electric vessels for the company's Niagara Falls tours. Both catamarans are 100% emission-free being powered by high-capacity batteries. Each ship is fitted with two battery packs (combined capacity 316 kWh / 563 HP output). The electricity is provided by 2 fully-independent power systems and split evenly between the 2 hulls.

Shoreside battery charging takes just 7 min (per ship). The powerplant is controlled by ABB's PEMS (Power and Energy Management System), which also optimizes the onboard energy use. Ships' batteries are charged using hydropower (water-generated electricity), which as of 2019 accounts for ~7% of the USA's total electricity production. In addition to the shoreside charging connection, ABB supplied the newbuilds with switchboards, motors, integrated control systems and ABB Ability's Marine Remote Diagnostic System (24-hour equipment monitoring and predictive maintenance).

Battery power is used during turnaround navigation in ports when the onboard diesel-electric generators are switched off. For ferry batteries (fabrication, delivery, and installation) is often contracted the Canadian company Corvus Energy (Richmond BC) - one of the world's largest manufacturers and suppliers of energy storage solutions (ESS) for the maritime industry. The company provides ESS to hybrid and all-electric ferries. As of 2019, Corvus Energy delivered its innovative product line "Orca ESS" to 200+ vessel conversion/upgrade projects, totaling 200+ MWh.

At the following tag-link can be found listed all CruiseMapper's news related to propulsion-power accidents .

This cruise vessel technology-related survey is integrated with our articles on passenger ships building and safety , and the statistical ones about registry/flag-states , cost to build , speed , passenger capacity . All ship links redirect to the vessel's "itinerary-schedule-current position" page.

Cruise Ship Engine Room (Everything You Want to Know)

Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links. We may receive compensation when you purchase via my links at no cost to you. See my disclosure for more information.

Cruise ships require a lot of power to sail and operate. The cruise ship engine room is both mysterious and fascinating because it’s hidden from passengers.

Passenger ships have come a long way from sails and steam engines. Modern cruise ships use diesel-electric engines, while newer cruise ships are moving towards more environmentally friendly solutions like liquified natural gas.

Here’s everything you need to know about a cruise ship’s engine room.

Table of Contents

Where is the Cruise Ship Engine Room?

The engine rooms on cruise ships are located on the lower decks, between the midship and the aft. The engines aren’t quite at the back of the vessel but closer to midship.

There are several reasons for keeping the cruise ship engine room away from passenger areas.

• Stability : Placing the engines and heavy equipment below sea level helps keep the ship stable and prevents cruise ships from tipping over .
• Noise : Engine rooms are extremely noisy. Naval engineers compensate by incorporating sound reduction features and noise dampeners. However, the sound and vibration wouldn’t be pleasant for cruise ship passengers.
• Security : The engine room spaces are in crew-only areas for safety and security purposes.

Most of the heavy machinery on a cruise ship is located on the lower decks, just above the keel. The positioning of the engine room, other machines, and technical equipment give the massive vessels a lower center of gravity.

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.

The division of the engine room into separate compartments is for safety. Dividing the engine room into different containers makes it easier for the ship to contain the damage if there’s a fire or leak in the hull.

Cruise ship fuel tanks are also on the lower decks, but they are kept separate from the main engines.

Crew members can monitor the ship’s systems from the engine control room. From the operation control center, crew members monitor the ship’s systems and act as a central area for maintaining the technical equipment on the cruise ship.

Every piece of equipment can be monitored from the engine control room to ensure the cruise ship runs smoothly.

The room is monitored 24/7 by watchkeeping teams. Each crew member is assigned specific machinery. For example, one person may be responsible for the freshwater generators and water pumps and another for the fuel oil systems.

How Big is a Cruise Ship Engine?

A cruise ship engine room spans several decks and holds the ship’s engines, fuel tanks, water systems, generators, control room, engine workshop, air conditioning, and other essential navigation systems.

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.

The engines on a cruise ship can be up to 45 feet long, 27 feet high, and weigh up to 275 tons .

These massive engines can propel cruise ships at an average speed of 18-22 knots .

Cruise Ship Engine Technology

Cruise ship engine technology has evolved from wind and sails to newer liquified natural gas technology.

We’ll cover some of the most popular technologies used by cruise ships.

Steam Engines

When the cruise industry began in the mid-1800s, vessels were propelled by steam engines.

Steam engines had boilers that used wood for fuel. Later steam engines used coal.

The boiler produced steam which created pressure in a pressurized system. The pressure moved pistons which drove the propeller shaft.

The Titanic was powered by two huge triple-expansion steam engines and a small propeller. ( Source )

Diesel Engine s

Diesel engines propel most modern ships. Cruise ships may have four to six medium-speed (500 rpm) engines producing 8-10MW each .

Diesel engines work on the same concept as steam engines. Rather than steam, the ignition of diesel fuel pushes the pistons up and down, turning the crankshaft attached to the propeller shaft.

Many of today’s diesel-engine cruise ships also employ a shaft generator to generate electricity for shipboard services, like lighting.

A shaft generator converts the circular motion of the propeller shaft into electricity. However, shaft generators only operate when the ship is moving. And can’t generate electricity while docked in port.

Diesel-Electric Cruise Ship Engines

Almost all new diesel-powered cruise ships use diesel-electric engines.

The engines work the same as a traditional diesel engine, but rather than connecting to the propeller shaft – diesel-electric engines connect directly to large generators .

A diesel-electric engine has one job, generating electricity.

The electricity produced by the engine is used to power the ship’s propellers.

These engines provide greater efficiency than traditional diesel engines.

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.

Diesel-electric engines are popular because of their ease of control, low noise, minimal vibration, and relatively compact size compared to other forms of propulsion.

Marine vessels that run on diesel power must carry exhaust-treatment systems and catalytic-reduction equipment to reduce the environmental impact of the ship.

Gas-Turbine Power System

Royal Caribbean Group was the first company to experiment with gas-turbine systems.

Compared to diesel engines, gas turbines offer several advantages, including:

• Lower environmental impact.
• More reliable.
• Take up less space.
• Gas engines require a smaller maintenance crew and less inventory.

The heat generated from the engine is recovered and used to produce electricity for other onboard systems, such as air conditioning and water heating.

Despite their advantages, gas propulsion is not widely used in the cruise industry. Gas-powered ships are faster, but most cruise ships don’t travel faster than 22-25 knots .

Diesel engines have greater fuel efficiency at slower speeds , and the high gas price compared to diesel makes them more costly to operate.

LNG Powered Ships

Many new cruise ships are propelled by liquified natural gas (LNG).

LNG is the cleanest fossil fuel currently produced. According to Cruise Critic , LNG-powered cruise ships can “reportedly reduce sulfur emissions by as much as 99 percent and nitrogen oxide emissions by up to 85 percent.” LNG can reduce carbon emissions by up to 20 percent .

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.

Carnival Cruise Line announced the first LNG-powered vessels in 2015, using a “dual fuel” design. The ships can burn both liquified natural gas and marine fuel, reducing the required fuel storage space.

AIDAprima became the world’s first LNG-powered cruise ship on her debut in 2016.

Natural gas is purer, cleaner, more efficient, and cheaper than other fossil fuels . But it’s a relatively new technology, and not all ports have the facilities for refueling LNG-powered ships.

Because natural gas burns cleaner than other fossil fuels, the engines require less maintenance. But LNG has a lower fuel density than diesel, so LNG vessels need fuel tanks that are twice the size.

Emergency Generators

Every cruise ship has an emergency generator to maintain vital electrical power in case of engine failure.

The emergency generators are located away from the main engine room, usually on a higher deck. Their location isolates them from catastrophic damage in the engine room (for example, a fire).

The generators can operate critical navigation systems, emergency lights, and other vital equipment. But emergency generators can’t power the ship .

Larger ships may have multiple emergency generators. But due to the size constraints, they can’t produce the same power as the main engines and cannot propel the ship.

What happens if the generator fails?

Cruise ships have several redundant systems to ensure the safety and security of passengers. If the generators fail to work during an emergency, cruise ships have an emergency battery backup to power the most critical systems for up to 24 hours .

Shore-to-Ship Power Supply

Despite innovations in engine technology, cruise ships produce a lot of pollution.

To further reduce ships’ environmental impact, many cruise ships can connect to the cruise port’s power grid , known as “shore-to-ship power” or “cold ironing.”

In the past, cruise ships kept their engines running while docked to generate electricity for shipwide services.

But most of the energy produced by the ship’s engines goes towards powering the propellers, and running the engines while docked created massive energy waste.

Some cruise ships used smaller generators to power the hotel and amusement functions. The smaller generators allow cruise ships to shut off the main engines in port, reducing pollution.

Modern cruise ships are equipped with systems to “plug in” to the local power grid. Even some older cruise ships are being retrofitted to allow for shore-to-ship power.

Not all cruise ports have facilities to enable shore-to-ship energy. But many larger cruise ports have dockside electrical hookups that allow cruise ships to shut off their engines and run on the city’s electrical grid. The technology reduces harmful emissions by up to 95% while ships are docked .

Considering how much time cruise ships spend docked at port, it significantly reduces sulfur and carbon emissions.

How Loud is the Engine Room of a Cruise Ship?

A cruise ship engine room is incredibly noisy, exceeding 173 decibels . At this noise level, the noise in an engine room can cause immediate damage to your hearing without proper ear protection.

For reference, a gunshot is 130 decibels.

Engine rooms have insulation and sound-reducing technology, so it’s not as noisy. To prevent hearing damage, crew members must wear hearing protection when entering the multi-story engine room.

But guests don’t have to be concerned about the noise.

Thanks to the insulation and sound dampening, you’ll only hear a slight “purr” if you’re near the engine room.

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.

But if you’re a light sleeper, accommodations near the engine room are among the worst cabins on a cruise ship .

Where are the Fuel Tanks?

The fuel tanks are located below the passenger decks , near the engine room. The fuel is stored in double bottom tanks.

How Much Fuel Can a Cruise Ship Hold?

A large cruise ship of 1,100 feet in length can hold between 1 to 2 million gallons of fuel .

It’s enough to power the cruise ship for up to two weeks of sailing without refueling.

Are There Cabins Near the Engine Room?

Newer cruise ships have a large gap between the cruise ship engine room and passenger cabins to minimize noise and vibrations.

However, you may still find cabins reasonably close to the engine room.

If you book a cabin near the engine room, you can expect to hear some noise and feel the vibrations caused by the engines . However, cruise ships use sound-dampening technology and insulation to minimize noise pollution.

The engines are typically cheaper because most passengers avoid booking cabins next to the engine room.

Cabins near the cruise ship engine room aren’t noisy enough to cause annoyance or sleeping issues.

If anything, the vibrations caused by the engines are more likely to cause annoyance over the sound of the engine .

How Much Fuel Do Cruise Ships Use?

It takes a lot of fuel to power a cruise ship.

The average cruise ship uses around 18.3 gallons of fuel per minute or 1100 gallons per hour . ( Source )

Marcello De Lio

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A Guide to Cruise Ship Power Systems

by Contractor | Nov 12, 2020 | resources , Travel Tips | 0 comments

Cruise ships are enormous vessels, practically floating cities. Ships that large require power systems that are more powerful than a speedboat. But what does it take to propel such a large ship?

This guide to cruise ship power systems will explain everything it takes to move cruise ships from port to port worldwide. Cruise ship power systems can vary from ship to ship, but every ship has an engine that uses fuel, usually diesel or gas , sometimes with supplemental electricity.

If you have ever taken a cruise or seen one come into port, you may have wondered what it makes it move. This guide should answer your questions and make it all clearer.

What is Marine Propulsion?

Marine propulsion is the way ships generate power to move through the water. The most basic forms of propulsion are sails or with a paddle. For large ships, like cruise ships, the most common are:

• diesel engines,
• diesel-electric engines
• gas turbines .

Traditional Diesel Engines are Simple

Of the three propulsion types presented here, diesel engines are the simplest technology . This technology is not that different from how the steamships of the 19th century.

Engines use diesel fuel, which, when ignited, drives the engine pistons up and down. The pistons are attached to a crankshaft, and the action of the pistons turns the crankshaft, which is attached to the propeller. The propeller moves the ship through the water at a gentle speed.

Efficient Hybrid Diesel-Electric Engines

Most new cruise ships use diesel-electric engines. This type of propulsion is very similar to traditional diesel engines. The main difference is that instead of the engine and pistons being connected directly to the crankshaft and propellers, it is connected to a generator to generate electricity. This electricity is then used to turn the propellers.

This is a more efficient way of using diesel fuel. Because the pistons are fired by a consistent flow of electricity rather than burning fuel, they move at the most efficient speed. Electricity is also used to pump cool seawater through the engines to cool them and prevent overheating.

The electricity generated from the diesel-electric method can also be used onboard. It is converted to a lower voltage and directed to the cabins for passengers to use.

Modern Gas Turbines New to Cruise Ships

As you can probably imagine, cruise ships require a lot of fuel. Gas turbines, although they use a non-renewable energy source, are a greener option than diesel. They work the same way that diesel-electric propulsion systems do, and the heat that the turbines generate is often used for onboard electricity.

Gas turbines are a relatively new cruise ship power system, but they will probably be used more frequently. Some of the benefits to this engine system are:

• less polluting
• are easier maintenance
• lower chance of fire
• lower noise and vibrations

How Are Engines Stored on a Cruise Ship?

Cruise ship engines are very big and require their own space. The cruise ship engine room is usually located on the lowest deck. Ships designers have historically put the heaviest equipment as low as possible, and nothing is heavier than an engine. Because engines are so big, they can sometimes take up three whole decks.

Rather than having a large room filled with all the different machinery that keeps the ship moving, the engine components are divided up into different rooms. The main engine won’t be in the same room as the air conditioning and heating systems. The main reason for this separation is safety, such as if there is an engine fire.

How Much Fuel Do Cruise Ships Use?

Cruise ships use a lot of fuel. How much is dependent on the size of the ship, the speed it goes, and the distance it travels. The amount of fuel an average cruise ship goes through in a voyage is generally around 300 tons a day.

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.

How Are Cruise Ship Power Systems Evolving?

As the world considers the effects that fossil fuels have on climate change, cruise ships have come under increasing scrutiny. Ship designers and engineers have begun coming up with new, more eco-friendly ship power systems to lessen the impact of cruising on the environment . Although no ships run solely on these power types yet, they supplement fossil fuel systems.

Although fossil fuel powered engines are still widely used in the cruise ship industry, there are already ships implement new technologies. The ones you might see now are:

• Solar power
• Liquefied Natural Gas

Using Wind Propulsion Like a Sailing Ship

When you hear of a wind-powered ship, an old-fashioned sailing ship might be what comes to mind. This is not an image that is compatible with a modern cruise ship. Instead, you should think of modern, electricity generating windmills.

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.

Only a few ships use wind power, but it is a viable option for future ships . Wind power is the traditional method of sailing, and it makes sense to return to it in an effort to be more environmentally conscious.

Harvesting Solar Energy Way of the Future

Solar power is a relatively new form of marine propulsion. It has been used only since the late 2000s but is seeing promise as a more environmentally friendly method of powering cruise ships.

Ships that do use this type of power have usually solar panels affixed to their exteriors. While they are not powerful enough to propel the ship on their own, the electricity generated from these panels is used for supplementary purposes, such as interior lights, elevators, and fuel engines.

In the future, ships might have solar panels shaped like sails. As solar panels become more advanced, they could be capable of powering all of the interior electrical needs. This would cut emissions from fossil fuels drastically.

Liquefied Natural Gas and New Fuel Technology

Though fossil fuel and, therefore, less eco-friendly than wind or solar power, liquefied natural gas (LNG) is a cleaner option than diesel . LNG is 90% methane and 10% ethane, and when it’s cooled to very lower temperatures, it converts from a gas to a liquid. When LNG burns, the emissions released are cleaner than diesel, with no soot or sulfur oxides.

Storage requirements on board for LNG require very large tanks, so this type of fuel is most commonly being used on smaller ships that don’t travel as far, like ferries. But as the technology improves, it should start to be seen on larger cruise ships.

A Cruise Ship Is a Floating City

Cruising is one of the most popular types of tourism today. Ships sail to ports around the world, bringing thousands of people in for the day. It makes sense then that a cruise ship requires powerful propulsion systems to keep them moving.

From coal to solar power, ship designs are always evolving, and engineers are meeting the environmental considerations of the 21st century head-on and planning for a new way of cruising. While some of these power systems seem straight out of a science fiction novel, it’s only a matter of time before they are used everywhere.

Take a look around the next time you are on a cruise ship. Now that you know how cruise ships are powered, you’ll probably see signs of what kind of power systems are propelling your ship. And maybe, before you know it, you’ll be laying on the deck below solar panel sails.

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The Shipyard

For Those Who Love Ships

• Cruise Ships

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

It’s like back in the days when we were little children. 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.

It’s the heart of the matter, it’s where it all happens, it’s the real deal. And if you are anything like me, you would gladly give away a day at the spa, a dessert buffet and even two, or the latest Marvel flick in the movie theater, just to spend a precious hour down in the noisy engine room of your favorite cruise ship. But life being proverbially unfair, modern cruise lines rarely allow their passengers to enter the bridge or the engine rooms of their ships, unless the visit is part of a specially organized guided tour. Some cruise ships have a window from which passengers can observe what’s going on in the bridge, but only if they promise not to disturb the officers. Which is really hard, when you badly want to touch everything…

So until the next time someone lets me out of sight and I make my umptieth attempt at trespassing to the engine room, let’s have a quick virtual tour of a cruise ship’s most forbidden and exciting parts.

The bridge is the brain of the ship. It is from there that the captain and his officers command and maneuver the ship, keep watch for other vessels or potential hazards, and navigate through the oceans. 

For twenty-four hours each day, the bridge is occupied by two Deck Officers and two Able Seamen, traditionally in four-hour shifts. The main job of the Officer of the Watch is to monitor the ship’s systems and surroundings, and to ensure that everything is running safely and smoothly. During extreme weather, docking, or other special cases, the Captain of the ship is also present on the bridge to guide the deck officers.

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. This way the skipper could observe both wheels, while moving freely between the two and giving out commands. On today’s cruise ships, the bridge is usually on the upper deck in the forward part of the ship and extends over the sides of the superstructure, allowing deck officers a view to the sides of the ship as well as down to the waterline. The side extensions are called bridge wings and often have a glass flooring for better visibility.

The bridge houses a number of important nautical devices and information systems for command and navigation of the ship.

Satellite Navigation

The signals emitted by special navigation satellites are picked up by the cruise ship through a special antenna. On board, a computer converts these signals into the exact position of the ship at a given time. On large ships, the position indicator is constantly recorded in a so-called electronic nautical chart.

Satellites also enable automatic positioning systems on modern cruise ships. 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.

Modern cruise ships carry a gyro compass and a magnetic compass. The gyro compass consists of a fast-rotating disk, usually positioned in a gimbal. It is a non-magnetic compass oriented parallel to the axis of rotation of the earth and thus indicates the north-south direction.

The gyro compass is more accurate and reliable than the magnetic compass and is therefore the primary reference point for steering the ship. The magnetic compass on board is more prone to inaccuracies and it serves only as back-up.

The word radar stands for Radio Detection And Ranging. Radars are devices that allow us to locate distant objects from a given location, regardless of visibility and weather conditions. The radar emits electromagnetic waves to an object, then receives back the reflected echoes from that object, and interprets them based on distances and angles. These interpretations enable us to determine where an object lies, and in some cases even what its contours look like. In the shipping industry, radars are used for monitoring traffic in ports and coastal regions, for collision protection, for collecting weather data, and for navigation.

Speed logs are devices that measure the speed of the ship. There are two main types of speed logs: Doppler logs and electromagnetic logs.

The Doppler logs send out underwater sound signals. When the sound wave reaches the sea floor, it gets reflected and then returns to the receiver of the log. Due to the movement of the ship relative to the seabed, a Doppler effect occurs and is evaluated by the device. As long as the sound waves can reach the bottom of the sea and return to the receiver, the Doppler log measures the distance travelled over ground. However, if it is no longer possible to use the seabed as a reference, the device uses particles suspended in the water, such as plankton and minerals, to measure travel through the water.  

The electromagnetic logs create an electromagnetic field in the water around the ship, with the aid of a small alternating current and a transducer. A voltage proportional to the speed of the ship is generated in the water and is picked up by special sensors, which then transfer the information to an electronic device for interpretation. From the electronic device, the speed is then transmitted onto the displays in the bridge.

Echo Sounder

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.

Electronic Chart Display and Information System

The Electronic Chart Display and Information System (ECDIS) is a console, built into the bridge of modern cruise ships, which incorporates the main engine safety system, fire control system, monitoring and control system, power management system, propulsion control system and navigation and maneuvering system. The ECDIS allows for navigation of the ship without the need of traditional paper charts. Navigation can be done manually, automatically, or through the Navigation and Command System (NACOS).

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. The console is composed of a number of displays showing information from the radars and compasses, data about the course of the ship and planned maneuvers, the current status of the pitch of the thrusters, the speed of the ship, and anything else concerning the steering of the ship. 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.

The Engine Room

The engine room is the heart of a cruise ship. It is here that pistons hammer and crankshafts turn to propel the ship forward. It is the loud and oily place where the Chief Engineer and his team work around the clock to ensure that everything is running smoothly. It is the engine room of the ship that allows for the luxuries of air-conditioning, electricity, and plumbing on board cruise ships.

In future articles we will have the chance to explore the contents of the engine room in all the excruciating detail that they deserve, so to all the techies out there – I’ve got you covered. Just stay tuned.

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. The machine rooms are split into watertight compartments, each housing different machinery.

Today’s cruise ships operate on diesel or diesel-electric engines. Their operating principle does not differ much from the old days of coal steamers, except for the medium used to generate power. While back in the day ocean liners used steam to move the engine’s pistons, modern cruise ships use diesel fuel. Today’s diesel engines are composed of the engine unit itself, gearboxes, shafts and generators. Some ships also have shaft generators which create electricity from the turning movement of the propeller shaft. The electricity is then used in the cabins, on deck and in the kitchens.

The latest generation of cruise ships are equipped with diesel electric engines. Instead of the more traditional engine-shaft-propeller arrangement, in this case the engines are connected to generators to create electricity. The generators power electric motors, and the electric motors move the propellers.

Aside from the engines and generators, the machinery that occupies the engine rooms includes pumps and heat exchangers for engine cooling, stabilizer fins and their motors, as well as the ship’s bow thruster system.

Since all of the equipment in the engine room is highly dependent on electricity, modern cruise ships also have back-up generators, usually located outside the main engine room, to protect them in case of fire. While these generators cannot produce enough power to keep the ship moving, they produce enough to keep some of the vital functions of the ship running, such as powering the emergency lights and the communication and navigation systems. In case the back-up generators fail, cruise ships are also equipped with a back-up battery that allows some of these functions to continue running for short periods of time. 

All the machinery in the engine rooms is monitored in the Engine Control Room (ECR). The ECR is a room full of screens, lights, alarms, and switches from where the current operational status of every piece of equipment can be checked.

The main switchboard of the ECR is used to distribute the generated electricity to where it is needed on board. The ERC is also where the engineering team comes together to discuss and plan the safe running of the engine rooms, to take decisions in emergency situations, to consult the technical manuals and drawings of the ship, to restart certain pieces of machinery if necessary, and to maintain communication with the bridge. Communication between the ECR and the bridge is crucial for the safe operation of the ship, especially during docking, moving through shallow waters, maneuvering, and changes in the course or speed of the ship.

This concludes our three-part overview of how a cruise ship functions. Now that we have covered the basics, in future articles we can explore all the specifics to our hearts’ content. As always, don’t hesitate to leave your constructive comments below and feel free to suggest topics you want to know more about – chances are I want to know more about them too!

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What Engine Do Cruise Ships Use

Published: December 8, 2023

Modified: December 28, 2023

by Fania Thibault

• Hotel Reviews
• Sustainability

Introduction

Cruise ships are marvels of modern engineering, offering unforgettable experiences on the high seas. 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.

The choice of engines for cruise ships is a critical decision that takes into consideration factors such as power requirements, fuel efficiency, environmental impact, reliability, and safety. Over the years, there have been significant advancements in cruise ship engine technology, leading to the emergence of more sustainable and innovative options.

In this article, we will explore the importance of engines for cruise ships and the different types of engines used in these vessels. We will also delve into the factors considered when selecting an engine for a cruise ship and discuss the latest technological developments in cruise ship engines.

So, hop aboard as we embark on a journey to uncover the fascinating world of cruise ship engines and their role in ensuring the smooth and enjoyable sailing experience for passengers.

Importance of Engines for Cruise Ships

The engines in cruise ships are the lifeblood of these floating resorts, playing a crucial role in their operation and overall experience. Here are some key reasons why engines are of utmost importance for cruise ships:

• Propulsion: The primary function of cruise ship engines is to provide propulsion, allowing the ship to move through the water. The engines generate the necessary power to drive the ship forward at varying speeds, ensuring smooth and steady navigation.
• Power Generation: Cruise ships are like miniature cities, requiring a constant supply of electricity to cater to the needs of passengers and crew. Engines in cruise ships are equipped with generators that produce electricity to power everything from lighting and air conditioning to entertainment systems and onboard facilities.
• Heating and Cooling Systems: The engines also facilitate the operation of heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) systems on board. This ensures that passengers are kept comfortable and the ship’s interior maintains an ideal temperature across various climates and seasons.
• Supporting Onboard Facilities: Cruise ships are known for their extensive range of amenities, including restaurants, bars, spas, theaters, casinos, and more. The engines provide the necessary power and support systems to run these facilities smoothly, offering passengers a seamless and enjoyable experience.

Without efficient and reliable engines, cruise ships would be unable to function effectively. The engines not only determine the speed and maneuverability of the ship but also ensure the seamless operation of all onboard systems. From providing propulsion to generating electricity and supporting various amenities, cruise ship engines are vital to the overall functioning and comfort of these floating wonders of the sea.

Types of Engines Used in Cruise Ships

Cruise ships rely on different types of engines to meet their power requirements and ensure smooth operation. Let’s explore the three main types of engines commonly used in cruise ships:

Diesel Engines:

Diesel engines are the most commonly used type of engines in cruise ships. These engines work by compressing air in the cylinders and injecting fuel, usually diesel, into the compressed air, leading to combustion. The combustion process generates the power needed to propel the ship and generate electricity for onboard systems. Diesel engines are known for their efficiency and reliability, making them a popular choice for cruise ships.

Gas Turbine Engines:

Gas turbine engines, also known as jet engines, are another type of engine used in cruise ships. These engines operate by combusting fuel, such as natural gas or marine diesel oil in a combustion chamber. The high-temperature, high-pressure gases produced by combustion flow through a turbine, which then powers the ship’s propellers. Gas turbine engines offer a high power-to-weight ratio, making them suitable for high-speed cruise ships.

Combined Gas and Steam Turbine Engines (COGAS):

Combined gas and steam turbine engines, commonly known as COGAS systems, are a hybrid combination of gas turbine and steam turbine engines. In this configuration, the gas turbine exhaust is used to heat water and produce steam, which is then used to drive a steam turbine. The combined power output of the gas turbine and steam turbine is used to propel the ship and generate electricity. COGAS systems offer high efficiency and flexibility in power generation, making them suitable for larger cruise ships.

The choice of engine depends on factors such as power requirements, fuel efficiency, operational costs, and environmental impact. Cruise ship operators carefully consider these factors to select the most suitable engine type for their specific needs, ensuring optimal performance and a memorable experience for passengers.

Diesel Engines

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.

Diesel engines offer several advantages that make them an ideal choice for cruise ships:

• Efficiency: Diesel engines are known for their high thermal efficiency, meaning they can convert a larger portion of the fuel’s energy into useful power. This results in improved fuel economy, which is beneficial for long-distance voyages.
• Reliability: Diesel engines are renowned for their robustness and durability. They can operate for extended periods without requiring significant maintenance, ensuring smooth and uninterrupted operation throughout the cruise.
• Flexibility: Diesel engines can run on various types of fuels, including low-sulfur diesel, marine gas oil, and blended fuels. This flexibility allows cruise ships to adapt to different fuel availability and environmental regulations.
• Low Emissions: While diesel engines produce emissions, modern designs incorporate advanced technologies, such as exhaust gas scrubbers and selective catalytic reduction systems, to minimize pollutants. This helps reduce the environmental impact of cruise ships.

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.

Overall, diesel engines continue to be the preferred choice for many cruise ships due to their reliability, fuel efficiency, and ability to meet stringent environmental regulations. Their continuous development and improvement ensure that cruise ships can provide a memorable experience for passengers while minimizing their impact on the environment.

Gas Turbine Engines

Gas turbine engines, also known as jet engines, are another type of engine used in cruise ships. These engines operate on the principle of burning fuel to produce high-pressure gases, which then flow through a turbine to generate power.

Here are some key characteristics and benefits of gas turbine engines:

• High Power-to-Weight Ratio: Gas turbine engines offer a high power output in relation to their weight, making them well-suited for high-speed cruise ships. They provide the necessary thrust and propulsion to propel the ship through the water at high speeds.
• Quick Start-Up and Response: Gas turbine engines can start up quickly and respond rapidly to changes in power requirements. This allows for efficient maneuverability and enhances the ship’s ability to adapt to various conditions.
• Fuel Flexibility: Gas turbine engines can operate on a wide range of fuels, including natural gas, marine diesel oil, and biofuels. This flexibility provides cruise ships with options to utilize different fuel sources based on availability and environmental considerations.
• Low Emissions: Gas turbine engines typically produce lower emissions compared to other engine types. The combustion process in gas turbine engines is efficient, resulting in reduced levels of pollutants, such as nitrogen oxides and particulate matter.

Gas turbine engines are often used in combination with other propulsion systems, such as diesel engines or electric motors, to achieve optimum efficiency and performance. This allows cruise ships to operate using a combination of power sources, adapting to different operational requirements and optimizing fuel consumption.

While gas turbine engines offer several advantages, they also have some considerations to take into account, such as higher fuel consumption at lower speeds and the need for regular maintenance. However, ongoing advancements in gas turbine technology continue to improve their efficiency, reliability, and environmental performance.

Overall, gas turbine engines provide an efficient and powerful option for cruise ships, particularly those focusing on high-speed travel. Their ability to quickly respond to power demands and lower emissions make them a valuable choice for enhancing the overall cruising experience.

Combined Gas and Steam Turbine Engines (COGAS)

Combined Gas and Steam Turbine Engines, commonly known as COGAS systems, are a hybrid combination of gas turbine and steam turbine engines. These systems are used in larger cruise ships to provide efficient power generation and propulsion.

Here are some key features and advantages of COGAS systems:

• High Efficiency: COGAS systems offer high levels of efficiency in power generation. The gas turbine exhaust, which is typically waste heat, is utilized to produce steam, which is then used to drive a steam turbine. By extracting additional power from the heat, COGAS systems maximize energy utilization and minimize fuel consumption.
• Flexible Power Output: COGAS systems provide flexible power output options, allowing cruise ships to adjust their energy requirements based on different operational conditions. The combination of the gas turbine and steam turbine provides a versatile power generation solution that can be tailored to meet specific needs.
• Improved Fuel Economy: The integration of gas and steam turbines in COGAS systems leads to improved fuel economy. By utilizing waste heat to produce steam, these systems enhance overall fuel efficiency and reduce operational costs for cruise ships.
• Lower Emissions: COGAS systems contribute to lower emissions compared to conventional engine setups. The combined cycle operation allows for cleaner combustion and more effective pollutant control, resulting in reduced environmental impact.

COGAS systems are commonly used in larger cruise ships due to their enhanced efficiency and power output capabilities. These systems provide the necessary propulsion and electricity generation, supporting the operation of various onboard facilities and amenities.

While COGAS systems offer numerous advantages, they do require regular maintenance and expertise to ensure optimal performance. The integration of gas and steam turbines requires careful monitoring and control to maintain the balance between power generation and fuel efficiency.

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.

Factors Considered in Engine Selection for Cruise Ships

The selection of engines for cruise ships involves careful consideration of various factors to ensure optimal performance, efficiency, and environmental impact. Here are some key factors that cruise ship operators take into account when choosing an engine:

• Power Requirements: The power requirements of the cruise ship dictate the type and size of engine needed. Factors such as the ship’s size, weight, and intended speed play a significant role in determining the power output necessary for propulsion and onboard systems.
• Fuel Efficiency: Fuel efficiency is a critical factor in minimizing operational costs and reducing environmental impact. Cruise ship operators aim to select engines that offer high fuel efficiency, allowing for extended cruising ranges and decreased fuel consumption.
• Environmental Impact: As environmental concerns grow, cruise ships are under increasing pressure to address their impact. Engine selection takes into consideration emissions regulations and the availability of cleaner fuels or technologies to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, sulfur oxides, and nitrogen oxides.
• Reliability and Safety: Cruise ships operate under demanding conditions and must ensure the safety and comfort of passengers and crew. Engine reliability, durability, and the ability to withstand maritime challenges are crucial considerations in engine selection.

Cruise ship operators often collaborate with engine manufacturers and designers to customize engines based on their specific needs and performance criteria. This ensures that the selected engines meet the unique operational requirements of the cruise ship while adhering to safety and environmental standards.

Engine selection for cruise ships is a complex process that involves evaluating and balancing various factors. The aim is to choose engines that provide the necessary power, fuel efficiency, reliability, and environmental sustainability to enhance the overall cruising experience while minimizing ecological impact.

Power Requirements

The power requirements of a cruise ship are a primary consideration when selecting an engine. Various factors influence these power requirements, including the ship’s size, weight, intended speed, and onboard facilities. Cruise ships require significant power to propel the vessel and operate numerous systems and amenities.

The power requirements for propulsion involve calculating the amount of power needed to move the ship through the water at the desired speed. This calculation considers factors such as the ship’s displacement, water resistance, and desired cruising speed. The engine must be able to generate sufficient thrust to propel the ship effectively and maintain the desired speeds during the voyage.

In addition to propulsion, the power requirements for onboard facilities and amenities must also be taken into account. Cruise ships have a wide range of facilities, including restaurants, bars, entertainment venues, spas, and more. These facilities require electricity and other energy sources to operate smoothly. The engine must have the capacity to generate sufficient electricity to meet these demands.

The power requirements of a cruise ship can vary greatly, depending on the ship’s size and capacity. Larger cruise ships may have multiple engines or engine systems to meet the power demands. The engine selection must be able to meet these power requirements efficiently and reliably.

Engine manufacturers work closely with cruise ship operators to determine the power requirements and customize engine designs accordingly. The goal is to ensure that the engines can provide the necessary power for propulsion and onboard systems, while optimizing fuel efficiency and maintaining operational reliability.

By carefully considering the power requirements, cruise ship operators can select engines that are tailored to meet their unique needs, providing the necessary power to ensure a smooth and enjoyable sailing experience for passengers while maximizing operational efficiency.

Fuel Efficiency

Fuel efficiency is a crucial factor in engine selection for cruise ships. Given the significant fuel consumption associated with operating these large vessels, cruise ship operators prioritize engines that offer high levels of fuel efficiency. Optimal fuel efficiency not only decreases operational costs but also reduces the environmental impact of cruise ship operations.

Engines with high fuel efficiency can significantly improve the cruising range of a ship, enabling longer journeys without the need for frequent refueling. This is especially important for cruise itineraries that cover long distances or involve remote destinations where refueling options may be limited.

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.

Another consideration in fuel efficiency is the choice of fuel. Cruise ships traditionally used heavy fuel oil, but there is a growing shift towards cleaner fuels. Many cruise lines now invest in engines that can run on low sulfur marine gas oil or even liquefied natural gas (LNG). LNG-powered engines, in particular, have gained popularity due to their lower emissions and improved fuel efficiency.

Efforts to improve fuel efficiency also extend to operational practices. Cruise ship operators implement measures like optimized routing, reducing speeds, and implementing energy-saving technologies onboard to maximize fuel efficiency. These practices, combined with fuel-efficient engines, can have a significant impact on fuel consumption and emissions.

Cruise ship operators also monitor and analyze fuel consumption data to identify areas for further improvement. This data-driven approach allows them to implement fuel-saving strategies and continuously optimize engine performance.

By prioritizing fuel efficiency in engine selection, cruise ship operators can achieve significant cost savings and reduce the environmental footprint of their operations. Investing in fuel-efficient engines and adopting sustainable operational practices aligns with the industry’s commitment to environmental stewardship and ensures a more sustainable future for the cruise ship industry.

Environmental Impact

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.

Emissions from cruise ship engines contribute to air pollution and climate change. Key pollutants include sulfur oxides (SOx), nitrogen oxides (NOx), and particulate matter. To address these concerns, engine manufacturers have developed advanced technologies to reduce emissions, such as selective catalytic reduction (SCR) systems, exhaust gas cleaning systems (scrubbers), and improved combustion techniques.

Modern cruise ship engines are designed to meet increasingly stringent emissions regulations, such as the International Maritime Organization’s (IMO) MARPOL Annex VI standards. These regulations outline limits for the emission of sulfur oxides, nitrogen oxides, and particulate matter from ships operating in designated emission control areas.

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. LNG-powered engines significantly reduce sulfur oxide emissions and can offer substantial reductions in nitrogen oxide and particulate matter emissions. Additionally, LNG is a cleaner-burning fuel compared to traditional marine fuels.

Cruise ship operators are also exploring other sustainable technologies, such as hybrid electric systems. These systems combine traditional engines with electric propulsion, allowing ships to operate on cleaner, electric power during certain parts of the journey. This results in reduced emissions and improved fuel efficiency.

Environmental impact considerations go beyond emissions reduction. Cruise ship engines need to comply with regulations related to ballast water management, waste management, and noise pollution. Engine selection takes into account technologies and systems that minimize these impacts, promoting sustainable practices throughout the ship’s lifecycle.

Overall, minimizing the environmental impact of cruise ships through engine selection is a top priority for the industry. By investing in environmentally-friendly technologies and adhering to stringent regulations, cruise ship operators are actively working to reduce emissions and create a more sustainable future for the industry and the environment.

Reliability and Safety

Reliability and safety are paramount considerations in engine selection for cruise ships. The engines must be able to operate consistently and safely throughout the voyage to provide a smooth and worry-free experience for passengers and crew.

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.

Safety is a top priority in the cruise ship industry. The engines must comply with stringent safety standards to protect passengers, crew, and the ship itself. Safety features such as automatic shut-off systems, fire suppression systems, and sophisticated monitoring and control systems are integrated into modern cruise ship engines.

In the event of emergencies or unforeseen mechanical issues, redundancy is essential. Cruise ships typically include multiple engines or engine systems to provide backup and redundancy in case of engine failure. This redundancy ensures that the ship can continue to operate safely and reach its destination even in the face of engine issues.

Cruise ship engines are subject to stringent certification processes and must adhere to international standards such as those set by classification societies like DNV, Lloyd’s Register, or the American Bureau of Shipping. These certifications ensure that the engines meet essential safety requirements and undergo regular inspections and audits.

Regular maintenance and inspections play a critical role in maintaining engine reliability and safety. Cruise ship operators have stringent maintenance schedules and comprehensive maintenance protocols to detect and address potential issues before they become significant problems. This proactive approach to maintenance ensures that the engines remain in optimal operating condition, reducing the risk of unexpected breakdowns or accidents.

By prioritizing engine reliability and safety, cruise ship operators can provide passengers with peace of mind and a secure voyage. Engine manufacturers continually innovate and improve designs to enhance reliability and integrate the latest safety features, aligning with the industry’s commitment to providing a safe and enjoyable cruising experience.

New Technological Developments in Cruise Ship Engines

The cruise ship industry is continuously evolving, driven by advancements in technology and the desire to improve efficiency and sustainability. Engine manufacturers are constantly innovating to meet the changing needs of the industry. Here are two notable technological developments in cruise ship engines:

LNG-Powered Engines:

The adoption of liquefied natural gas (LNG) as a fuel source for cruise ship engines represents a significant technological advancement. LNG-powered engines offer several benefits, including lower emissions, improved fuel efficiency, and reduced environmental impact. LNG produces significantly less sulfur oxide (SOx), nitrogen oxide (NOx), and particulate matter compared to conventional fuels.

LNG-powered engines also contribute to noise reduction, creating a more enjoyable and environmentally friendly cruising experience. Several cruise lines have already made significant investments in LNG-powered ships, leading the way in sustainable and cleaner ship operations.

Hybrid Electric Systems:

Hybrid electric systems combine traditional engines with electric propulsion technology, creating a more environmentally friendly and fuel-efficient option. These systems use batteries or energy storage systems to store energy and assist the combustion engine during peak power demands or low-speed operations.

Hybrid electric systems offer several advantages, including reduced emissions, improved fuel efficiency, and enhanced maneuverability. By utilizing electric power, cruise ships can operate with lower levels of noise and vibration, enhancing passenger comfort. Additionally, the ability to switch to electric power during port stays reduces emissions and allows for a cleaner and quieter environment.

These technological developments in cruise ship engines demonstrate the industry’s commitment to sustainable practices and reducing environmental impact. The adoption of LNG-powered engines and hybrid electric systems represents a significant step towards greener and more efficient cruise ship operations.

As technology continues to advance, engine manufacturers are exploring new ways to enhance efficiency, reduce emissions, and improve performance. From advancements in propulsion systems to the development of alternative fuels, there is a continuous effort to make cruise ship engines more environmentally friendly and sustainable.

The integration of these new technologies in cruise ship engines not only benefits the environment but also enhances the overall cruising experience for passengers. With cleaner engines and reduced emissions, cruise ships can navigate through pristine environments while offering guests an unforgettable journey on the high seas.

LNG-Powered Engines

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.

LNG-powered engines offer several benefits for cruise ships:

• Lower Emissions: LNG is a much cleaner-burning fuel compared to conventional marine fuels. LNG-powered engines produce significantly lower sulfur oxide (SOx), nitrogen oxide (NOx), and particulate matter emissions. The use of LNG can greatly contribute to reducing the environmental impact of cruise ship operations, particularly in emission control areas and sensitive coastal regions.
• Improved Fuel Efficiency: LNG-powered engines are more fuel-efficient than traditional marine engines. The combustion of LNG produces more energy per unit of fuel compared to other fossil fuels, resulting in improved overall engine efficiency. This translates into lower fuel consumption and reduced operating costs for cruise ship operators.
• No Black Carbon Emissions: LNG does not produce black carbon emissions, which are fine particles that can contribute to climate change and have adverse health effects. The absence of black carbon emissions further enhances the environmental benefits of LNG-powered engines.
• Quieter Operation: LNG-powered engines operate at lower noise levels, reducing noise pollution both onboard the ship and in the surrounding marine environment. This results in a more pleasant and enjoyable experience for passengers and reduces the impact on marine life.

While the adoption of LNG-powered engines requires significant infrastructure investments, including the availability of LNG bunkering facilities, several cruise lines have already made substantial commitments to utilizing LNG as a fuel source. These cruise ships not only comply with emissions regulations but also demonstrate a proactive approach to reducing their carbon footprint.

Furthermore, advancements in engine technology continue to improve the performance and reliability of LNG-powered engines. Engine manufacturers are developing innovative solutions to optimize combustion efficiency, enhance system integration, and improve overall engine control for LNG-powered vessels.

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.

Hybrid Electric Systems

Hybrid electric systems are a cutting-edge technological development in cruise ship engines, combining traditional engines with electric propulsion to create a more efficient and environmentally friendly power solution. These systems utilize batteries or energy storage systems alongside combustion engines to optimize fuel consumption and reduce emissions.

Here are some key aspects and advantages of hybrid electric systems for cruise ships:

• Reduced Emissions: By integrating electric propulsion into cruise ship engines, hybrid systems significantly reduce emissions compared to traditional engines. The ability to switch to electric power during low-speed or port operations eliminates engine exhaust emissions entirely, contributing to cleaner air and reduced environmental impact.
• Improved Fuel Efficiency: Hybrid electric systems optimize fuel efficiency by intelligently managing power demand. Electric propulsion can be used in conjunction with or as a sole power source for low-speed operations, reducing the need for continuous fuel consumption from combustion engines. This leads to lower fuel consumption, cost savings, and decreased carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions.
• Enhanced Maneuverability: Hybrid systems offer improved maneuverability, making it easier for cruise ships to navigate in tight spaces, such as busy ports or confined waterways. Electric propulsion provides instant torque and responsiveness, enabling precise control and smooth maneuvering.
• Noise and Vibration Reduction: Electric propulsion significantly reduces noise and vibration levels onboard the ship, creating a more enjoyable and comfortable experience for passengers. This quieter operation also reduces noise pollution in surrounding marine environments, minimizing the impact on marine life.

Hybrid electric systems work by utilizing batteries or energy storage systems to store electricity generated by the combustion engine or through shore power connection. This stored energy can then be used when operating at low speeds or during port stays, reducing the need for the combustion engine and resulting in quieter and cleaner operations.

Cruise lines that have adopted hybrid electric systems have witnessed notable reductions in emissions and improved fuel efficiency, reinforcing their commitment to sustainable operations.

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.

Hybrid electric systems represent a significant step forward in the pursuit of sustainability in the cruise industry. By harnessing the advantages of electric propulsion alongside traditional engines, cruise ships can achieve a harmonious balance between performance, efficiency, and environmental responsibility.

The selection of engines for cruise ships is a critical decision that influences the performance, efficiency, sustainability, and overall cruising experience. Cruise ship operators consider various factors, including power requirements, fuel efficiency, environmental impact, reliability, and safety.

Diesel engines are commonly used in cruise ships due to their efficiency and reliability. They provide the necessary power for propulsion and onboard systems while ensuring fuel economy and compliance with environmental regulations. Gas turbine engines offer high power output and quick response, making them suitable for high-speed cruise ships. Combined Gas and Steam Turbine Engines (COGAS) provide efficient power generation and improved fuel economy by utilizing waste heat to produce steam.

Fuel efficiency and environmental impact are of paramount importance in engine selection. The adoption of LNG-powered engines and hybrid electric systems significantly reduces emissions, lowers fuel consumption, and minimizes environmental impact. LNG-powered engines utilize clean-burning liquefied natural gas to reduce emissions of sulfur oxides, nitrogen oxides, and particulate matter. Hybrid electric systems optimize fuel efficiency by integrating electric propulsion during low-speed operations, reducing emissions and noise pollution.

Reliability and safety play crucial roles in engine selection, ensuring continuous operation, passenger comfort, and crew safety. Cruise ship engines undergo rigorous certifications and adhere to international safety standards. Regular maintenance and advanced monitoring systems are in place to maintain engine reliability and promptly address any issues that may arise.

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.

Ultimately, the selection of engines for cruise ships is a complex process that requires balancing power requirements, fuel efficiency, environmental impact, reliability, and safety. By choosing engines that meet these criteria, cruise ship operators can provide an unforgettable cruising experience while minimizing the industry’s ecological footprint.

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Engineering Department Onboard Cruise Ships – A Detailed Guide

What comes to mind when we hear the word “ Cruise Ship ”?

Big, behemoth and beautiful seagoing vessels which resemble floating hotels, giant casinos, or floating theme parks?

Well, as glamorous as they may seem from the outside, a lot of discipline, punctuality & hard work goes into providing a unique experience of luxury, quality, comfort, fun, relaxation, safety & security for guests vacationing on them.

Many crew members work long shifts, putting in hours of hard work along with dedication, efficiency and attention to detail to ensure that guest needs are attended to as quickly as possible and that they only have the best experiences and the happiest memories of their limited time onboard.

An average-sized cruise ship typically has a passenger capacity of around 2000-2500 and a crew complement of 600-1000, which is predominantly divided amongst the following departments, viz., Deck, Engineering, Food & Beverage, Housekeeping, Sanitation, Guest Services, Laundry, Spa, Medical, Entertainment, Photography, Merchandise, IT, HR, Shore Excursions , Cruise Staff and Youth/Children’s activities.

Let me give a brief introduction of the roles and responsibilities of the various departments on board.

The Deck department is headed by the captain and has command of the ship. Safety, Security and Environmental departments also come under their purview.

They are also responsible for drills related to safety, security, pollution prevention and also related shipboard training of the crew-members.

In some companies, the carpentry and upholstery department also come under the Deck department.

The food and Beverage department , as the name suggests comprises everything that is food-related or culinary in nature. All the restaurants, galleys, chefs, stewards, bakery and bar department come under it.

The housekeeping department takes care of the upkeep of the guest & officer cabins and public spaces onboard whereas the sanitation department ensures that all the shipboard areas are sanitized and germ/infection-free.

The laundry department handles the clothes and linen of the entire ship and the Spa department offers personal care, grooming and wellness services for the passengers. In many cruise lines, these can also be availed by senior officers.

Food and Beverage, Housekeeping, Sanitation, Laundry and Spa all have their assigned managers who report to the Hotel Director, who is the overall in charge of all Hotel operations, of which these departments are part.

Entertainment, Photography, Merchandise, Shore Excursions, Guest Services, Cruise staff and Youth/Children’s activities departments come under the purview of the Cruise Director.

While Entertainment is responsible for casinos, stage shows, theatre screenings, stage & theatre technicians and equipment, the Photography department, as the name suggests, helps the guests to capture their precious moments onboard as photographs and make lasting memories through them with family & friends, while enjoying various activities and events.

The merchandise department is in charge of all the retail shops onboard which sell exotic items and articles such as jewellery, goodies and memorabilia to guests. They also run crew shops onboard which sell articles of everyday use and utility to crew-members, such as toiletry items, medicines and snacks.

Shore Excursions department’s job is to make the shore-side trips of the guests to exotic destinations at various ports of call, as easy, fun, safe, adventure-filled, inexpensive and entertaining as possible.

Cruise staff focuses on fun activities, trivia, games & competitions for the guests and crew alike, whereas Youth and Children’s activities focus specifically on youth and children’s entertainment and even provides day-care services for children, especially toddlers.

The guest services department is the interface between the guests and the ship staff/crew. Their job is similar to the job of the hotel front desk or reception. Any service requests such as cabin service requests as well as complaints such as a leaky cabin faucet etc. are made by the guests through them.

It is their duty to take these requests and/or complaints and pass them on to the concerned departments for action/rectification, provide feedback to the guests and assist them with any further follow-ups if required.

All the above have their specific line managers who report to the Cruise Director. The roles and responsibilities of some departments though can vary slightly from company to company.

In addition to the above departments, Medical, Information Technology and Human Resource are independent departments who have their own heads and report directly to the captain and the company.

The Medical department typically has 3 to 4 doctors and a similar number of nurses who work in shifts. It is headed by a senior doctor. They cater to both passengers and crew requiring medical assistance, at separate timings during the day. They are also the first responders for any medical emergency onboard.

The Information Technology department is responsible for all the computers, servers, programming, LAN, Ethernet, Wi-Fi, related hardware and software on board. Any network-related maintenance and troubleshooting onboard are carried out by them.

The Human Resource department is responsible for the orientation and familiarization training of new employees. They are also responsible for crew training pertaining to company culture and tradition, policies, leadership skills and management. Any conflicts and complaints onboard, inter-departmental as well as intra-departmental, are handled by the HR department, in conjunction with other departments. Final decisions with regards to re-employment and termination of crew members are taken by the HR department, once again after consultation with other concerned departments.

The Engineering Department Of Cruise Ship

After a brief introduction to the roles and responsibilities of various departments onboard cruise ships, let us now focus on the main topic of our discussion in this article, the Engineering department , which covers all the technical & environmental operations of the vessel.

This department is headed by the Chief Engineer. The Staff Chief Engineer, Hotel Services Engineer, HVAC Engineer & the Chief Electrician, who are in charge of different engineering subdivisions, report to the Chief Engineer.

These subdivisions are – Main Plant & Environmental Engineering, Hotel Engineering, HVAC & Electrical/Electronics.

Let us look into each: –

Main Plant & Environmental Engineering

This subdivision is headed by the Staff Chief Engineer who, in turn, is subordinated by the senior watchkeepers (2nd Engineers), the First Engineer and the Environmental Engineer.

There are usually three watchkeeping teams, each headed by a senior watchkeeper and comprising of junior watchkeepers (3rd or 4th Engineers) and a motorman.

On cruise ships, there are thousands of guests on board at any given time and there could be guest complaints requiring the immediate attention of the technical department, at any time of the day or night, such as a vacuum toilet not working, a leaky shower or a broken sprinkler head etc.

The engine control room acts as not only a control centre for engine-room machinery but also as a communications centre where all the complaints/malfunctions or incidents related to technical equipment are communicated by other departments at any time as they occur.

In the above cases, it is the job of the senior watchkeepers who man the engine control room to attend such calls and communicate the concerns/complaints to the concerned in-charges, within the Engineering department.

Any hotel equipment related complaints, leaky cabin faucets or sprinkler heads, malfunctioning vacuum toilets to the Hotel department, any electrical equipment malfunctions to the Chief Electrical engineer and any AC/ ventilation related complaints to the HVAC engineer.

Therefore, unlike many cargo ships, the engine control room cannot at any moment, be left unmanned in UMS mode. The watchkeeping teams ensure that the engine room and the engine control room are manned 24 hours.

Each watchkeeping team also has certain assigned machinery under their responsibility. For example, one watch may be responsible for fuel oil system and purifiers, another may be assigned boiler & compressors, and the third may be in charge of freshwater generators and water treatment.

It is their responsibility to carry out maintenance as per PMS on their assigned equipment every day, in addition to their watchkeeping responsibilities.

This, in turn, is carried out ensuring that at no time the maintenance work affects the efficiency of watchkeeping duties. For any complicated maintenance requiring more time and manpower, they are provided assistance by the main plant team.

The First Engineer heads the main plant team and is the overall in-charge of engine-room machinery. He has a team of mechanics, fitters and wipers under him who help him in carrying out routine maintenance and overhauls of engine-room machinery.

All maintenance activities on the main diesel generators, engine-room pumps, heat exchangers, major repairs on boilers, preparation for boiler surveys, bunkering and any pipeline modifications/repairs within machinery spaces are handled by the main plant team.

The Environmental Engineer is responsible for the wastewater treatment plant and garbage-handling equipment and has designated motormen under him.

The sewage treatment plant and related pumps and equipment, black water units, screen presses, incinerators and food waste processing equipment come under his KRA.

Hotel Engineering

It is the name given to the subdivision of the Engineering department which deals with all the machinery that are not part of engine-room operations.

The Hotel Services Engineer helms it and is supported by assistant hotel service engineers, plumbers, fitters and a water technician.

Their responsibilities include safety equipment such as lifeboats & davits, sprinkler system, hydraulic side-shell doors, watertight doors , vacuum toilets, freshwater distribution lines in the accommodation and hotel machinery such as coffee-makers, ice-cream vending machines etc.

They are also responsible for chlorination and maintenance of all the swimming pools on board and in some companies, also for potable water treatment and chlorination. This is handled exclusively by the water technician who reports to the Hotel services engineer.

HVAC stands for Heating, Ventilation and Air-Conditioning. It is helmed by the Chief AC Engineer, and he, in turn, is assisted by Assistant AC Engineers, AC Technicians, fitters and wipers.

Their areas of responsibilities pertain to the operation and maintenance of the main AC Chillers, which provide air conditioning all over the ship, Air handling Units, Ventilation fans, Refrigeration Machinery, Cold rooms, Chilled & heated water system and related heat exchangers.

Electrical Department

It is helmed by the Chief Electrical Engineer, who is sub-ordinated by the First electrician, Electronics engineer, 2nd electricians and assistant electricians.

It is one department that has a large scope of work as electrical installations and equipment are everywhere on the ship, many of them requiring everyday checks and maintenance, both regular and breakdown.

Almost all passenger vessels have high voltage installations, mostly 6.6 kV or 11 kV. This is because, since current demand is high, a higher voltage is adopted so that conductor size, and consequently electrical losses, can be reduced.

The high voltage switchboards require special training and procedures, with regards to electrical safety, which cruise ship electricians are equipped and certified with.

They are also responsible for electrical propulsion systems, which propel most cruise ships, related transformers and converters.

Therefore, as we saw, from propelling the ship to wonderful destinations, providing power to the entire ship, maintaining passenger comfort and hygiene whilst ensuring that they have uninterrupted enjoyment onboard and complying strictly with safety and pollution prevention regulations, the diverse roles and responsibilities that the Engineering department takes up, makes them critical for cruise ship operations.

You might also like to read:

• Top 10 Most Expensive Cruise Ships in 2021
• A List of Unique and Interesting Marine Careers
• 50 Marine Careers Essential Guide
• What is Naval Architecture: Careers, Courses And Jobs For Naval Architects
• A Career in Logistics: A Detailed Guide

Disclaimer:  The authors’ views expressed in this article do not necessarily reflect the views of Marine Insight.  Data and charts, if used, in the article have been sourced from available information and have not been authenticated by any statutory authority. The author and Marine Insight do not claim it to be accurate nor accept any responsibility for the same. The views constitute only the opinions and do not constitute any guidelines or recommendations on any course of action to be followed by the reader.

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The ambition in the cruise industry is to go above and beyond – to exceed expectations. This is as true for the guest experience as it is for the industry’s drive to reduce emissions and decarbonise. When the goal is net zero operations, cruise ships need a range of sustainable engines, propulsion solutions, maritime technology, and services.

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Discover the benefits others have already gained from choosing Wärtsilä.

Wärtsilä 31DF dual-fuel engines with custom flexible mounting guarantee comfortable cruising aboard The Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection’s Ilma superyacht.

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Ship lengthening is a complex process, but with the right expertise – like that found at Fincantieri and Wärtsilä – the benefits were clear for Windstar

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Intelligent engines heading to new destinations

New itineraries, new experiences, mega ships, pools with waterfalls, private terraces – the cruise industry is driven by a constant stream of new ideas. At MAN Energy Solutions we aim to match the innovative creativity of the cruise industry with intelligent power solutions: reducing emissions, increasing fuel efficiency, enabling the use of future fuels, digitalizing operations, and always contributing to safety.

Fuel flexibility for smooth sailing

Competition in the leisure industry is already tough, but the cruise sector also faces future developments in environmental regulation and fuel markets which are hard to predict with any degree of certainty. Emissions regulations are becoming ever more stringent and there is additional pressure from passengers and ports demanding more ecologically-responsible forms of tourism. Fuel is the key, because profitable operation depends on reducing both fuel costs and emissions. Our dual-fuel and methanol-ready engines give you the flexibility to choose the most economical and environmentally-friendly pathway for your cruise ships through to 2050. MAN offers cruise operators highly efficient and reliable propulsion engines. Its proprietary, next generation, fully electronic common rail injection technology CR2.2 and MAN ECOMAP optimize fuel consumption and reduce smoke emissions, while the low noise and vibration behavior of its engines contribute to high levels of passenger comfort.

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Our methanol-ready cruise engines can run on net-zero green methanol as soon as it becomes widely available. A simple conversion is all it takes. The dual-fuel MAN 49/60DF adds the options of LNG, SNG and biofuels.

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I sailed on Royal Caribbean's 2 largest cruise ships. They were shockingly similar for the $1,000 difference

• Royal Caribbean operates many of the cruise industry's biggest ships.
• Icon of the Seas  launched in January, dethroning its predecessor, Wonder of the Seas, as the world's largest.
• Here's how the two mega-ships compare in size, neighborhoods, amenities, dining, cabins, and costs.

Icon of the Seas, Royal Caribbean's new mega-cruise ship darling, was deemed a success before it was even built.

In January, the highly anticipated vessel — complete with more than 40 bars and restaurants, a six-slide waterpark, and a waterfall — set sail, dethroning its less than two-year-old precursor, the Wonder of the Seas , as the world's largest cruise ship.

Before its debut, Michael Bayley, the president and CEO of Royal Caribbean International, had already repeatedly called Icon its "best-selling product" yet. The company experienced its largest booking day ever when reservations opened for Icon of the Seas more than a year before its launch, it said

Despite all of this fanfare, you might be surprised by how similar it is to its predecessor.

I've sailed on both ships. Let's see how Icon and Wonder compare in six categories: size, neighborhoods, amenities, dining, cabins, and costs.

Both ships stunt the size of their competitors.

Wonder of the Seas debuted in 2022 as the then-world's largest cruise liner, measuring 235,600 gross-tons, 1,188 feet-long, and 18 decks-tall. The ship can accommodate up to 9,288 people, including 2,204 crew.

Icon of the Seas is, comparatively, 13,063 gross-tons heavier, eight feet longer, and two decks taller. It can sail up to 9,950 people, including 2,350 crew, although it's 52 feet less wide than its predecessor.

Both vessels feel more like amusement parks than traditional cruise ships.

Royal Caribbean invited me on complimentary, non-revenue sailings on both ships: two nights on Wonder in late 2022 and three nights on Icon in January.

I spent most of my time lost, overwhelmed, and exhausted.

It's no surprise both ships are operating weeklong itineraries this year. Any less, and you might not have time to experience all the activities and restaurants on your list.

Like other Royal Caribbean ships, Wonder and Icon have eight 'neighborhoods' that serve separate purposes.

The new ship shares three of Wonder of the Seas' neighborhoods : Central Park, Royal Promenade, and Suite.

Icon's other five — Thrill Island , Surfside, Hideaway, Chill Island, and AquaDome — are a first for the cruise line.

Many of the ships' amenities overlap, but in differing quantities.

Wonder has three waterslides. Icon has a six-slide waterpark complete with rafting and racing options.

Both have increasingly popular cruise amenities like decks-long dry slides, mini-golf courses, rock climbing walls, and playgrounds.

But instead of Wonder of the Seas' zipline , Icon of the Seas has Crown's Edge, a thrilling agility course with a small zipline that leaves travelers dangling 154 feet above the ocean.

Wonder’s Boardwalk neighborhood was my go-to.

Boardwalk delivered exactly as it had promised: an open-air space grounded by wood-planked floors, a hot dog stand, a sweets store, and kitschy, colorful decor.

Icon of the Seas' Surfside , designed for families with young children, felt like its closest dupe.

Both neighborhoods had a carousel, an outdoor playground, and family-friendly dining. But Surfside was more toddler-friendly, as suggested by the children's water play area and nighttime story readings.

On to entertainment: Both mega-ships have ice skating performances and exciting multi-disciplinary shows at the AquaTheater.

But travelers who enjoy musicals at sea will want to stick to Icon.

Unlike its predecessor, the new ship shows a rendition of Broadway hit "The Wizard of Oz" — Munchkins, a puppet Toto, and a 16-piece live band included.

The layout of Icon's amenities were better than its cousin.

Some of Wonder of the Seas' enticing outdoor amenities — like the surf simulator, zipline, and mini-golf course — are clustered on the deck above and away from the pools and water slides.

This layout might be difficult for parents with children who bounce from one activity to the next. Wouldn't it be easier to have all of these outdoor extras near each other, or at least on the same deck, for parental supervision purposes?

This is where Icon of the Seas excelled: All its exciting open-air activities were adjacent.

The rows of pools flowed perfectly into Thrill Island's waterpark , rock climbing walls, mini-golf course, and Crown's Edge.

The best part? The adult-only Hideaway — which flexes an infinity pool club with a DJ — is right behind Thrill Island, creating a clear separation between parents and their children without being too far from each other.

'Free' options like the buffet and build-your-own tacos and burritos bar are available on both ships.

But you won't find the larger vessel's five-stall food hall or mini-golf-adjacent finger food stand on Wonder.

As expected, Icon of the Seas has more dining options than its predecessor, although there are some overlaps.

Wonder of the Seas has 11 bars and 21 dining venues (9 complimentary and 12 upcharged).

Icon of the Seas has eight more bars, four more complimentary restaurants, and three more specialty dining choices.

Nor will you find the new ship’s plush $200-a-person Empire Supper Club on any other cruise liner.

The multi-course dinner, paired with cocktails and live music, stunts the cost of either vessel's other dinner options.

But if you love Johnny Rockets, you’ll be disappointed by Icon of the Seas.

Restaurants like the popular burger chain and Southern comfort-inspired Mason Jar are only on Wonder of the Seas. Fine by me: My fried chicken at Mason Jar was as dry as a desert.

The younger ship doesn't have Wonder's robot bartender-armed bar either. It does, however, have new watering holes with dueling pianos and live jazz.

Surprisingly, Wonder of the Seas has 65 more cabins than its new cousin.

But several of Icon's 28 stateroom categories are a first for the cruise line.

This includes the new family infinite balcony cabin, which has a small bunk bed nook for children.

Royal Caribbean assigned me an ocean-view balcony stateroom on both ships.

My Wonder of the Seas' cabin was 20 square-feet smaller than the one on Icon. But my bathroom on the latter was so tiny, I accidentally elbowed the walls at almost every turn.

Sailing on the world's largest cruise ship doesn't mean you'll have the world's largest cabin after all.

Wonder and Icon are both operating seven-night roundtrip itineraries from Florida to the Caribbean.

In 2024, Wonder of the Seas is scheduled for year-round sailings from Port Canaveral to the Caribbean and Royal Caribbean's private island, Perfect Day at CocoCay , starting at $700 per person.

Icon of the Seas is spending its first year in service operating nearly identical itineraries but from Miami instead. The cheapest 2024 option is $1,786 per person.

That's a difference of more than $125 per person per day.

"Bookings and pricing for Icon of the Seas can only be described as 'iconic,'" Naftali Holtz, the CFO of Royal Caribbean Group, told analysts in February.

Icon of the Seas’ name speaks for itself.

If your family is looking for a jam-packed kid-friendly cruise with enough amenities to stay entertained for a week, both ships are a great option.

But if you're a seasoned mega-ship-cruiser looking to experience something new, Icon of the Seas is your best bet.

They may be similar, but no other behemoth cruise liner has a waterpark for children and a pool club for adults just dozens of feet from each other.

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Live updates, father of florida cruise passenger, 20, who jumped off royal caribbean ship after argument believes his son is still alive: report.

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The father of the 20-year-old passenger who jumped off a Royal Caribbean cruise ship last Thursday in a reportedly drunken, impulsive leap believes his son is still alive nearly a week later.

Francel Parker, dad of missing Levion Parker, told the Daily Sun that he believes his child — whom he called a master diver — is still alive in the waters off the Bahamas.

“As soon as he went off the side, I prayed over him. I was confident the prayers I said over my son were heard. I stand on the word of God. I believe he is alive,” Francel Parker said to the local Florida paper Wednesday.

The US Coast Guard called off its search for the North Port man a day earlier.

The younger Parker allegedly jumped off the 18-story Liberty of the Seas around 4 a.m. in front of his helpless dad and younger brother after getting into an argument with his father, witnesses previously told The Post.

But Francel, who runs an AC business in Port Charlotte, told the local newspaper that he wasn’t arguing with Levion and that his son wasn’t trying to take his own life.

He said Levion is a skilled diver who works on a commercial fishing boat, and he is demanding to know how his underage son was given alcohol on the four-day cruise to Cuba and the Bahamas’ Grand Inagua Island.

“We don’t drink,” Francel said. “I’d like to know how my son was served so much alcohol.”

Another passenger onboard the cruise who witnessed Levion’s heart-stopping jump said Francel was “fussing at him for being drunk.”

Bryan Sims told The Post that he was hanging out with Levion and his 18-year-old brother, Seth, in the hotel tub of the ship in the early hours of April 4 before they went their separate ways.

After Sims had used the restroom and dried off, he bumped into the brothers and their father near the elevators.

“As we were walking from the hot tub back to the elevators, his dad and brother were walking towards us. His dad was fussing at him for being drunk, I guess,” Sims said of the moment before Parker jumped.  

“When we got to them, he said to his dad, ‘I’ll fix this right now.’ And he jumped out the window in front of us all,” Sims said, calling what he witnessed “surreal.”

Another cruise guest described the frantic chaos that followed.

“There was a lot of yelling, and the crew was alerted immediately,” Deborah Morrison told The Post.

“His family was horrified. Just beside themselves. I can’t even begin to imagine what they’re going through.”

Francel told the Daily Sun that he threw six life rings off the ship in hopes of saving his son before the massive vessel was able to come to a stop about 20 minutes later.

Royal Caribbean said it “immediately” launched search boats to look for the 20-year-old and alerted the Coast Guard, which later took over the search.

At least 406 people on major cruise lines and ferries have gone overboard between 2000 and 2024, according to data collected by retired professor and cruise industry researcher Ross Klein.

Death rates among overboard passengers and crew members vary significantly among cruise lines, but even the safest cruise companies were only able to rescue about 40% of people who fall or jump off the ship, Klein told the Washington Post in July.

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Eight passengers stranded on African island after Norwegian cruise ship left without them

A dream cruise vacation has turned into a nightmare for eight passengers left stranded on the African island of São Tomé and Príncipe after their ship left without them because they were late to return from a private tour.

The tourists — six from the U.S. and two from Australia — were aboard the Norwegian Dawn, a Norwegian cruise line ship , which departed from Cape Town, South Africa, on March 20 for a 21-day voyage up the coast of Africa set to end in Barcelona, Spain, on April 10.

But on Wednesday, the group of eight tourists was late to return to the ship by more than an hour for the all-aboard time of 3 p.m. from a private excursion on the island, which was not organized by the cruise line.

Jay and Jill Campbell of South Carolina were part of the group that was left behind.

They said that their tour’s operator notified the cruise captain that they were going to be late to rejoin the ship and that the local Coast Guard tried to get them on the vessel but that they weren’t allowed to board.

As a result, the couple and the rest of the group have been stranded for days on the island off Nigeria, grappling with language, currency issues and complicated travel to catch up with the ship.

“The lovely people of São Tomé were very gracious, very hospitable. They had reached out as much as they could to help us find hotels,” Jay Campbell said on NBC's "TODAY" show Tuesday morning.

“We were able to get to a tour agency there to arrange flights to the next port of call. ... Very difficult process — you’re dealing with multiple languages, language barriers, you’re dealing with different currencies ... finding someone that even has dollars ... trying to get an agent to understand where we need to get to.

"It’s one of those ‘You can’t get there from here,’" he added.

A Norwegian spokesperson called the incident a “very unfortunate situation” and said, “Guests are responsible for ensuring they return to the ship at the published time.”

The cruise line said that after the guests failed to return, their passports were delivered to local port agents, in line with protocol. The company said it was working with local authorities to understand “the requirements and visas needed for the guests to reboard the ship at the next available port of call.”

On Monday, the guests had made arrangements to rejoin the ship in Banjul, Gambia, but the ship was unable to safely dock there because of “adverse weather conditions” and “tidal restrictions,” Norwegian said. The guests were then contacted and provided with information to rejoin the ship at Dakar, Senegal, on Tuesday. 

Jill Campbell said they traveled through seven countries in 48 hours to arrive in Senegal on Monday night.

But the couple was reconsidering whether they even wanted to return to the cruise.

"We are considering whether or not we are going to board the ship. It is in dock here in Senegal," she said. "We believe there was a basic duty of care that they had forgotten about, so it does concern us."

"After what we witnessed, we truly believe that although there’s a set of rules or policies that the ship may have followed, they followed those rules too rigidly. I believe that they really forgot that they are people working in the hospitality industry and really the safety and well-being of the customers should be their first priority," she added.

Ultimately, the eight passengers did rejoin the cruise before 8:30 a.m. ET Tuesday in Dakar, Senegal, Norwegian told NBC News in an e-mail Tuesday evening, after this story originally published.

Norwegian said the passengers were responsible for making their own travel arrangements to rejoin the ship.

"Despite the series of unfortunate events outside of our control, we will be reimbursing these eight guests for their travel costs from Banjur, Gambia to Dakar, Senegal," a cruise line spokesperson said in a statement. "We remain in communication with the guests and are providing additional information as it becomes available."

A silver lining of the catastrophe was that the Campbells were able to connect with another Norwegian Dawn passenger — Julia Lenkoff, 80 — who was also left on the island, but for a medical reason.

Lenkoff was on a different day tour Wednesday. She had "medically disembarked" from the cruise to seek local treatment on that day, Norwegian said.

Norwegian said that its care team tried to call Lenkoff several times and was unable to reach her and that it worked with its port agent in São Tomé and Príncipe for updates on her health.

The Campbells met Lenkoff and were able to put her in contact with her family in California, who flew her home — a move Lenkoff's daughter said "saved her life."

"She's a world traveler. She travels all the time. So this was going to be one of her bucket list trips, because she's been to 120 countries so far, and she wanted to get to 130," her daughter, Lana Lenkoff Geis, said in an interview that aired Tuesday on "TODAY."

Norwegian said Lenkoff was escorted on a flight to Lisbon, Portugal, then put in the care of airport staff members to continue her journey back to the U.S., where she has safely returned.

Breaking News Reporter

Cruise passenger dies after shuttle bus crash

One woman has died and 10 others were injured after a shuttle bus crashed into the transportation area outside a Honolulu cruise terminal Friday, according to police.

The ship, Carnival Miracle, was on a 15-day journey, departing Long Beach, California, on April 6, according to Carnival Cruise Line. Nine of the people hit by the vehicle were cruise ship passengers.

"Sadly, one guest has died from her injuries. She was traveling with her husband, who was also injured and is expected to recover. Members of the Carnival Care Team are assisting the guests. Our thoughts are with the guests affected and their loved ones," Carnival Cruise Line said in a statement to ABC News.

A 57-year-old man was dropping off customers at pier 2 when a bystander told him that his vehicle was moving forward. He then jumped into the drivers seat, trying to stop the vehicle, but he accidentally pressed the gas pedal instead of the brakes, colliding with two concrete barriers and eleven pedestrians, according to the Honolulu Police Department.

Five pedestrians were transported to the hospital -- one of whom was later pronounced dead and four others are in good condition. Six other pedestrians refused treatment on the scene, police said.

According to police, speed does not appear to be a contributing factor in the collision and it is unknown if drugs or alcohol were contributing factors.

The investigation is ongoing.

What Engine Does a Cruise Ship Have?

By Michael Ferguson

Cruise ships are some of the most impressive and luxurious vessels of travel ever designed. They are able to take passengers on a journey across the world in comfort and style, while providing them with a wide range of amenities and activities. But behind the scenes, what makes it all possible is the engine that powers these gigantic vessels.

Most cruise ships today have large diesel engines that are capable of producing thousands of horsepower. This is necessary in order to move the massive ship through the water at speeds of up to 20 knots (around 23 mph). The engines also provide power for all of the onboard systems, including air conditioning, hot water, lighting, and entertainment.

These diesel engines are typically two-stroke engines, meaning that they use two strokes to complete the combustion cycle. They operate on a four-stroke cycle when running at full speed. The main advantage of a two-stroke engine is that it is more efficient than a four-stroke engine when used for propulsion.

Cruise ships also use other types of propulsion systems in order to increase efficiency and reduce emissions. Some newer cruise ships have electric motors or gas turbines that are used in combination with diesel engines. This allows them to operate more efficiently while still providing enough power for all onboard systems.

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'The ship can move': Why you should watch next solar eclipses from a cruise ship

Cheers broke out on Holland America Line’s Koningsdam ship when the total solar eclipse began on Monday.

Off the coast of Mazatlan, Mexico, passengers were perched on loungers, reclining on beach towels and lining the railings of Deck 14 with cameras on tripods at the ready. When the sliver of fiery orange that remained of the sun disappeared, a black circle ringed by white light took its place. Passengers applauded the moment they'd been awaiting since the ship departed from San Diego on Friday.

The sunny, 72-degree weather – quintessential cruise weather – gave way to chilly wind and late morning’s best impression of sunset. The horizon line glowed orange in the dusky sky.

Cruise ships can help take guests to the path of totality for eclipses, allowing passengers to get a prime viewing spot and make a vacation of it.

What is a total solar eclipse?

A total solar eclipse occurs when the moon completely blocks the face of the sun as it moves between the sun and Earth.

While the sun is about 400 times bigger than the moon, the moon is roughly 400 times closer to Earth. “In the past, the moon was much closer, and in the future, the moon will be much further away,” said Adam Burgasser, a professor of astronomy and astrophysics at the University of California, San Diego, and director of the Cool Star Lab, who served as an onboard expert during the cruise. “And so we're in a special time, which, of course, lasts for billions of years, where it's set up just right to block out the sun.”

Total solar eclipses take place about every 18 months on average, but the last one visible from the U.S. was in 2017 .

The phenomenon creates a multi-sensory experience, with a cold front moving in ahead of the eclipse. “You block the sun, and it gets cold,” said Burgasser. “It’s actually just that simple. And it's slow enough that the atmosphere can react.”

Plants and animals respond, too: Birds often begin to chirp, plants may close up, and nocturnal will come out. “It’s kind of an all-around-you experience where it's not just the fact that the sun has been blocked that’s so fascinating, but just the effect it has on the entire environment.” Those effects weren’t easily discernible on Koningsdam, though, which was about 150 miles from shore.

Nicole Chaput, a 57-year-old passenger from Calgary in Canada, said partial and total eclipses are “totally different.”

“I heard someone describe it as being partly pregnant,” she said. “You can’t do it. There’s no comparison.”

What makes a cruise a good place to see an eclipse?

Bad weather can wreck even the best-laid viewing plans. If a city in the path of totality has overcast skies, it can be tough to quickly move to an alternate site.

“If you're on a cruise ship and a little bit farther to the east or a little bit farther to the west along the path, there's clear sky, the ship can move,” said Dan Jarrell, who was on the cruise with his wife, Kay, and friends. The Washington, D.C.-area resident has seen solar eclipses with friends during two other sailings, including on Holland America’s Veendam in 1998.

“If you're on land and there's not a road there, you’d better have a tank,” Jarrell said.

That’s where a cruise ship comes in handy. “Having the ability to map out based on what the current weather is where you can catch the eclipse, and having a range over the course of the ocean where you could chase that a little bit is certainly helpful,” Burgasser added.

Capt. Ane Smit, Master aboard Holland America’s Zaandam for the viewing, said the ship can move at a maximum of 20 knots, so the crew needs to scout out the conditions with enough time to move as needed.

“If it's not good enough, we really need to start finding another spot because we are not the quickest vehicle, of course, to be driving around, but we have the luxury of being able to go in any direction without any restriction,” he said. “It’s a pretty wide highway that we have.”

The view of the horizon also allows passengers to “see that shadow coming in and leaving more so than you can in a topographical area,” said Burgasser. Being in the ocean away from city lights is also helpful for seeing stars and other parts of the sky usually only visible at night.

The cruise line also made the practicalities of watching an eclipse easier: eclipse glasses were distributed to guests’ staterooms and Burgasser guided guests through the event via the ship’s speaker system, before and after totality.

More eclipse cruises on the horizon

If you missed your chance to see it this time or want another go, Holland America has more eclipse-viewing opportunities on the books.

“Guests have reacted positively to our 2024 eclipse cruises and with the next full eclipse in 2026 we plan to have three sailings in Europe that will align with the path of the eclipse,” Paul Grigsby, the line's Vice President of Deployment & Itinerary Planning, said in an email. Details have not yet been released.

Other cruise lines offer similar opportunities as well. Princess Cruises' Emerald Princess was near Koningsdam on Monday.

Chaput, the Canadian passenger, said she’s been “chasing” total solar eclipses since seeing her first one in 1991. Monday’s eclipse marked her seventh viewing and second on a cruise ship.

“I think it’s just such an amazing natural phenomenon,” she said. “It’s seeing science in action.”

Contributing: Josh Rivera, USA TODAY

The reporter on this story received access to this sailing from Holland America Line. USA TODAY maintains editorial control of content.  

Nathan Diller is a consumer travel reporter for USA TODAY based in Nashville. You can reach him at [email protected]