Feature 1 | cruise ship technology
against water, dust and corrosion, and have same engine and propulsion configuration award was largely determined by its policy of
been designed so that the doors will still open had been adopted in the Fincantieri-built installing inverters on its ships. An inverter
smoothly at a 30 degree angle of heel. Eurodam, which was phased into service provides the controlled electrical power
Moreover, the ambient qualities are under the Holland America Line brand in in a variable-frequency drive, and these
important from the passengers’ standpoint, 2008. The installations are testament not only devices enable operating performance with
given high expectations as to onboard to the ‘power station’ principle as the system of equipment such as engine room fans and
standards. The interiors and aesthetics of choice for large cruise vessels, but also to the blowers to be optimised, leading to energy
the elevator cabins were conceived by Joseph growing penetration of the luxury passenger savings and a commensurate reduction in
Farcus. The ship’s decor plays on light and art, ship sector by Caterpillar’s MaK marque. environmental impact. Intelligent inverter
and rose crystal and other sculpted glass have The plant is based on four 12-cylinder, speed control, which was designed into
been used for the panoramic elevators. V-form models and two eight-cylinder, in-line Costa Luminosa and Costa Deliziosa from
The vessel is fitted with special service versions of MaK’s M43C design, engendering the outset, was first introduced in the Costa
elevators and escalators used primarily to a total power concentration of 64,000kW. As Fortuna and Costa Serena, and has been
transfer food from the galley to restaurants. may be gauged from the sum of 64 cylinders, specified for a number of other vessels of
These installations must conform to strict the installation has a per-cylinder output of the fleet.
hygiene standards, such that the service 1000kW at its maximum continuous speed Costa Luminosa is said to be the first
elevator cabins are of stainless steel, while of 514rev/min. Each diesel is connected cruiseship in Italy, and one of the first in
the escalators are fitted with a special rinsing to an ABB alternator, the four larger sets the world, to incorporate a ‘cold ironing’
system. The latter employs powerful water jets being of 16.6MVA output, and the two capability, by which a connection is made to
to clean each step while it is moving along the smaller aggregates being of 11.1MVA. Each the shoreside electrical grid when alongside,
underside of the truss. Schindler was in the of the two Azipod electric propulsors has a obviating the need for diesel gensets to be run
vanguard of the move to offer preventative maximum effect of 17.6MW, and the level of during port stays. The design of the main ABB
maintenance for lifts and associated access redundancy conferred is implicit in the two switchboard provided for the requisite high
equipment on cruiseships and has been cycloconverter units and double windings of voltage connection to the dockside electrical
contracted to service the installations in Costa the pod motors. supply. These arrangements raise the ship’s
Luminosa. ABB’s scope of supply also included two environmental credentials and ‘future-proof ’
Navalimpianti Tecnimpianti designed, redundant main switchboards of 11kV her against the spread of tougher emission
fabricated and supplied the retractable roof, 2500A, a total of 13 transformers, comprising controls governing vessels in harbour. Costa
the Skydome, providing weather protection four of 16,000kVA, four of 1800kVA, three Deliziosa has been specified with the same
for the swimming pool on deck 10. The of 1250kVA and two of 400kVA, plus the system.
sliding glass cover is made of five tempered 2200kW motors for the three Fincantieri All vessels in the Costa fleet have been
sliding panels and one fixed panel. Both bow thrusters, and the remote control and assigned Registro Italiano Navale’s (RINa)
sides of the driving panels are mechanically dynamic positioning systems. Green Star notation, certifying that they
synchronised by two electrical gear motors. The engines apply Caterpillar MaK’s are operated in compliance with the
The Italian subcontractor’s involvement Flexible Camshaft Technology (FCT), highest environmental standards, and
in the project also included delivery of the guaranteeing an absence of visible smoke encompassing all shipboard systems and
vessel’s side doors and platforms, and the at all loads and facilitating compliance with procedures that potentially impact on the
davit systems for the lifeboats, tenders, rescue upcoming, tougher International maritime sea and air environment. The company’s
craft and liferafts. organization (IMO) limits on NOx (oxides culture of responsibility in this respect is
The lifesaving equipment features two of nitrogen) emissions, as well as local also demonstrated by its BEST4 (Business
fully-enclosed, 70-person lifeboats of Umoe controls such as the Alaska Marine Vessel Excellence Sustainable Task) accreditation
Schat-Harding’s KISS type, along with 12 Visible Emission Standards. from RINa. BEST4 is an integrated system
partially-enclosed lifeboats of 150 person- Costa’s focus on energy-saving initiatives, of voluntary certification of corporate
capacity apiece, and six combined cruise highlighted by the company’s receipt of compliance with the most demanding
tender/survival craft from the same company. the ABB Energy Efficiency Award 2009, is standards governing social accountability
The latter have capacities of 120/150 in reflected in Costa Luminosa in a number of (SA 8000), the environment (UNI EN
respective tender/lifesaving roles. The outfit technical and operational aspects, including ISO 14001), safety (OHSAS 18001), and
otherwise comprises 60 davit-launchable air conditioning, ventilation and lighting, as quality (UNI ENI ISO 9001).
Viking liferafts, each designed for well as power management and scheduling. Costa Luminosa is testament not only
35 persons. The efficiency drive, which has been given to Costa Crociere’s leading position
Costa Luminosa’s diesel-electric power and added impetus by global events of the in Europe’s cruise shipping sector and
propulsion system employs MaK medium- past 15 months or more, is understood to to its business expansion strategy, but
speed, long-stroke engines from Caterpillar’s have been pursued even more vigorously also to the strength of Italy’s maritime
German stable, driving ABB alternators, and in Costa Deliziosa, due for handover in industrial cluster in the field of
employing two azimuthing Azipod units January 2010. luxury passenger vessel construction
regulated by cycloconverter technology. The Costa Cruises’ qualification for the ABB and outfitting. NA
36 The Naval Architect February 2010
NA Feb10 - p34+p36.indd 36 02/02/2010 12:48:42
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