Feature 1 | CRUISE SHIP TECHNOLOGY
to locate family members onboard the
ship.
It is possible to supply small children
with a micro watch-size transponder
which can track the child’s location. “We
know exactly where the family members
a r e”.
Another innovation is interactive TV
screens located next to the lifts which
enable passengers to see entertainment
and dining options. This inter-active way
finding system is also used as part of the
security and safety system onboard.
Royal Caribbean’s ships are known
for their range of activities including
surfing machines, climbing walls and in
the case of Oasis of the Seas, a zip wire
above the deck. Passengers indulging
in these pursuits are required to sign a Central Park, one of two open areas on the Oasis of the Seas
waiver as far as the vessel’s insurance is
concerned.
The waiver agreement can be done via a Considering that the entire centre of Kulovaara stresses. He says that it is not
handheld device, Mr Kulovaara explains. the ship is open to the skies, including the only a question of working with experts,
The ship also has system which traces any Boardwalk and Central Park areas, the fire but the company has been very transparent
technical deficiencies in the hotel side of safety has been reviewed with alternative with regulatory authorities as well. “I am
operations, like for example if a light bulb design processes, he says. very proud of the positive endorsements
blows. This property management system The alternative design, which is allowed we have got from IMO and the Secretary-
is also based on handheld devices. under SOLAS requirements needed General”.
Even the phone system that the ship’s to be used in quite a few areas, he says. The bridge configuration is similar to
officers use is wi-fi based. “We don’t have Simulation methods have been used for that on the Celebrity ships – a lot of the
traditional deck phones any more, we safety calculations, demonstrating that same thinking has gone into both ships
have wi-fi phones for the officers.” the solutions onboard are of an equal or where the navigation of the vessel is
The ship is very different, designed higher level than what is required under separated from the safety operations –
from a blank sheet of paper, unlike the the regulations. with each having their own discrete part
Freedom class ships, which were based “I believe this is the largest technical of the bridge. “We have a safety centre
on the previous Voyager class. naval architect design undertaken in which is separated and manned 24/7
Oasis was built from scratch, taking into the world for a commercial ship,” Mr behind the wheel house,” he explains.
account the latest International Maritime Kulovaara says. Work on the project took We want to make sure that there are no
Organization regulations, Mr Kulovaara three years with the participation of the distractions for the navigation team. A
says, and using the latest technology. “greatest minds in shipbuilding.” similar methodology is employed for
On the safety and regulatory side, These included the shipyard STX, the control room.
the ship goes beyond the regulatory Delta Marine, Det Norske Veritas and “I am very proud of the technical
requirement because, for example, the Germanischer Lloyd. The Maritime design and the competence behind
ship’s fire zones have to be bigger than the Safety Board for the ship included former the process,” he says. “I feel Oasis is a
regulations specify. chairman of the International Marine historic design effort and reflects the
“We needed to do reviews based on that, Organization (IMO) Maritime Safety best that technology can do and builds
making sure that the ship’s safety standards Committee, Dr Tom Allan, Professor on SOLAS and all the naval architectural
were not compromised. We wanted to Dracos Vassalos of the University of competence in the world.
use the latest regulatory framework and Strathclyde, Dr Tor Svensen of DNV and “I have seen a few first of class ships
elected from the beginning to work with Vice Admiral James Card , former vice in my life and have been involved in
the probabilistic design. commandant of the US Coast Guard. building 50 at least. She has functioned
“We feel that gives us the opportunity Safety assessments for the lifeboats were exceptionally well.” The safety advisory
to build a ship that is safer and more fit completed by Germanchisher Lloyd. board, he says “have been difficult people
for purpose. From the design point of The most modern calculation methods to please”. Technology and expertise
view she has several features which are have been used for safety assessments, aside, the important thing has been the
extraordinary.” within the framework of SOLAS, Mr team effort. NA
28 The Naval Architect February 2010
NA Feb10 - p27+p28.indd 28 01/02/2010 20:45:43
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