Page 32: of Maritime Reporter Magazine (December 1999)

Circle 216 on Reader Service Card

Ship Design

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E-Mail: Marketing@ JJMA.com 18 rf^HBi^BHHHHHHBHHHHHHHHHHB^HHHHHHHHHHIMHHHHHHHHeHHMnHI some nine percent of the vessel's staterooms have bay win- dows overlooking the Royal Promenade enhances the effec- tiveness of this astounding central feature, and should better realize the extra revenue potential it offers. The preoccupa- tion with the expectations of an increasingly discerning pas- senger market is reflected in arrangements whereby 69 per- cent of the total 1,557 passenger cabins have a view, either seaward or into the mall, while 49 percent incorporate a bal- cony. The conceptual design for Project Eagle, in support of the $1.5 billion, three-ship series entrusted to KMY's

Turku yard, was provided by Kvaerner Masa-Yards Tech- nology - highly regarded worldwide for its innovative approach to ship design - in close co-operation with Royal

Caribbean. The combination of the wider-than-Panamax beam, affording the extra stability for a still greater breadth in the main passenger decks, and the longitudinal division of the superstructure by way of an indoor arcade, or prome- nade, have been fundamental to the Eagle concept.

The idea of a central mall running through the ship was first applied in the Finnish domain almost a decade ago, in the Turku-built ferries Silja Serenade and Silja Symphony.

At the time of their delivery in 1990/91, the 58,400-gt sisters had signified a major new stage in the evolution of the Baltic cruise ferry concept.

Voyager of the Seas provides a new window on Finnish engineering in a number of sectors, not least as regards her cycloconverter-based, ABB electric propulsion system and array of podded propulsors of the proven Azipod type. The trials results met or exceeded expectations, with the vessel having achieved a forward speed of 25 knots, compared with an anticipated, maximum service speed requirement of 22 knots, and made an incredible 17 knots astern. Moreover, she was worked athwartships at five knots, such a relatively high rate of lateral travel being achieved using the two azimuthing units within the three-pod configuration, in con- junction with the four tunnel thrusters in the foreship sec- tion. Each Azipod offers an output of up to 14-MW, the cen- terline, fixed propulsor being flanked by two 360-degree rotatable units, while a total of 12 MW is available from the staggered line of bow thrusters.

A crash stop distance of less than six ships' lengths, with full control available throughout the maneuver, and a highly responsive, precise action in very slow-speed navigation through the rock-bound leads of the archipelago, also helped endear the vessel to her handlers.

The 75,600-kW primary power concentration engendered by Wartsila 46-series diesel machinery, whereby six 8-cylin- der engines drive the main gensets, testifies to Finnish strengths in medium-speed engine design and manufactur- ing. Inevitably, the speed with which a vessel of such con- siderable passenger and crew capacity might be safely evac- uated in the event of a casualty in difficult weather and sea conditions is always a point of interest. Certainly, she has been designed and equipped to meet the toughest regulatory requirements in that regard. However, in keeping with the principle of risk minimization and the philosophy that the ship herself should be the safest haven in all circumstances,

Voyager of the Seas incorporates an exceptional degree of system redundancy and, furthermore, offers the highest design integrity.

It is claimed that she could take a 40-degree angle of heel before suffering water ingress although, of course, she has been designed and equipped mindful of passengers' toler- ance of little more than a level platform at all times. Not without cause has she assumed the mantle as the first vessel to receive Det Norske Veritas' Comfort-class notation. The high level of engineering redundancy is reflected in the

DNV Redundant Propulsion (RP) certification, as an acknowledgement of features such as the divided main machinery plant and main electricity distribution system.

Moreover, she has been equipped with a dual, integrated bridge system from Litton for all key navigation and com- mand functions, as reportedly another 'first' in the industry. 34 Circle 215 on Reader Service Card