Feature 2 | PROPELLERS & THRUSTERS
Advanced Mermaid system chosen for Germany’s cruise ship
Up-market operator Hapag-Lloyd Cruises has endorsed the Mermaid podded electric propulsion solution, ordered by shipbuilding contractor STX Europe for the German company’s 39,500gt luxury vessel Europa 2.
two Mermaid pods, each using 7.25MW synchronous electric motors and PWM(pulse width modulation) converter technology. Europa 2 is scheduled to join the
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Hapag-Lloyd fleet in 2013, following delivery from the St Nazaire shipyard in Loire-Atlantique. Te French industrial input to the project includes major elements of the electric drive system. Jointly developed by Converteam
and Rolls-Royce, and applying and melding the two groups’ strengths in the electrical, mechanical and hydrodynamic disciplines,
the Mermaid system has
undergone a number of refinements impacting on power density, operating efficiency, compactness and reliability. Te Hapag-Lloyd project demonstrates
the receptiveness from a highly respected quarter to the attributes of
the latest
generation of pod and the nature of the drive technology employed. It provides a vitally important new reference for Mermaid in the face of stiff competition from the market-leading Azipod brand. In fact, the current Europa had been among the first recipients in the cruise sector of the Azipod system. The current range of Mermaid pods
offers five frame sizes from 1850mm to 2770mm motor stator diameter, covering the 5MW-27MW power band. As a consequence of advances in electric motor power density, pod diameters can be reduced, allowing a more streamlined form for the nacelle, improving efficiency. Both induction and synchronous motors can be used, although the latter have a somewhat higher efficiency. Te solution adopted for Hapag-Lloyd’s
nascent cruise ship combines Mermaid optimised hydrodynamic performance with the latest PWM converter technology
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Two 7.25MW Mermaid pods have been specified for Hapag-Lloyd Cruises’ luxury newbuild Europa 2.
arger than the company’s current flagship, the 1999-built Europa, the newbuild has been specified with
The Mermaid propulsion systems for Europa 2 use the latest converter technology, offering benefits in efficiency, availability and compactness.
to meet the owner‘s requirements as
to reliability, robustness, Te PWM MV7000 converters allow system
compactness, and low levels of noise and vibration, as well as manoeuvrability and overall efficiency.
electrical energy to be converted from a given level of voltage, current and frequency to another through the use of high-grade switching components, in the
The Naval Architect July/August 2011
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