Modern Cruise Ships Research Articles

On the lightweight design of laminated insulating glass units in cruise ships

ABSTRACT Modern cruise ships employ many large windows to enable passengers to enjoy the marine environment. Most windows are insulating glass units (IGUs) consisting of laminated glass and a hermetically sealed cavity. These laminated IGUs exhibit three physical effects under bending: (1) geometric nonlinearity of the glass panes, (2) shear transfer in the laminated glass, and (3) load sharing due to the hermetically sealed cavity. The Authors have previously studied the (1) and (3) effects on the window mechanical behaviour and glass pane thickness determination. Hence, this paper investigates through optimisation how all these effects together lighten the IGUs, and how the shear transfer affects the IGU mechanical behaviour with the optimised thicknesses. All three combined effects have positive effects on the IGU weight. These results are more pronounced for large and thin IGUs subjected to high design loads. For example, the choice of interlayer material is less important (for optimum weight) for small windows subjected to a low design load. Since all the effects are important, using the finite element method is recommended to achieve a lightweight window design.

In-depth characterization of exhaust particles performed on-board a modern cruise ship applying a scrubber

To comply with environmental regulations, ship operators may adopt exhaust after-treatment devices such as scrubbers or selective catalytic reduction (SCR). Beyond gaseous emission control, these technologies impact the exhaust particles emitted from marine engines to the atmosphere. This study characterizes comprehensively the chemical composition and physical properties of exhaust aerosol particles upstream and downstream a hybrid scrubber operating in open loop mode on-board a modern cruise ship. The study considers two engines, one equipped with SCR and both with scrubber, during engine load conditions of 75 % and 40 %, and the influence of marine gas oil (MGO) use in addition to heavy fuel oil (HFO). At least 4 different particle types were observed in the exhaust based on transmission electron microscopy (TEM) studies both upstream and downstream scrubber, and both scrubber and SCR affected the particle number size distribution (PSD). The geometric mean diameter (GMD) of the particles increased over scrubber both due to removal of nucleation mode particles and particle growth in the scrubber. The scrubber effectively decreased particle number (PN) and, also, non-volatile particles, but the effect depended on particle size and no significant decrease was observed in number of particles above 50 nm, typically comprising black carbon (BC) and in the case of HFO combustion, also asymmetrical metal containing particles. In addition to PN, concentrations of PAH compounds were reduced in the scrubber. The results may be further utilized when including the exhaust aerosol characteristics from ships applying scrubbers to emission inventories, as well as climate and air quality models.

Socio-cultural accompaniment of tourists by means of animation in cruise tourism

The study examines cruise tourism, which has become a dynamic area of the tourism industry in recent years. The object of the study is tourist animation practices in cruise tourism, the subject is the motivational structure and value system of tourist practices implemented in cruise tourism. In the course of the study, general scientific methods were used: comparison, generalization, behavioral method. The purpose of the study is to analyze the impact of tourist services during a cruise trip, since tourist satisfaction from the rest depends on the animation support (creating an emotional mood in travelers, conditions for achieving physical and moral recovery, etc.) The article considers the socio-cultural practices of tourist services using animation. Comfort and complexity of tourist services have become a symbol of cruise tourism. The technical characteristics of ships allow them to be used for various forms of cruise passenger service. Particular attention is paid to the animation team, which provides social and cultural services to cruise participants, relying on the material and technical capabilities of modern cruise ships and coastal infrastructure. Analyzing the mood and satisfaction of tourists is especially important in the specific context of social exchange. The state of the tourism sector and, consequently, the economic situation of the country in the period of post-war reconstruction will depend on how satisfied they are with cruise travel. The study attempts to systematize the value components of cruise travel and analyze the positive and negative aspects of the cruise service system. From an applied point of view, this study covers the potential of the cruise ship and the capabilities of the animation team to accompany tourists during the trip. It is necessary to implement strategies that will improve passengers' impressions and emotions, especially those related to various leisure programs to attract tourists to travel on a cruise ship. The results can also be used to improve activities and marketing plans for the development of cruise tourism in Ukraine.

Implementing the dynamic simulation approach for the design and optimization of ships energy systems: Methodology and applicability to modern cruise ships

To reduce the environmental impact of modern cruise ships, a crucial role is played by the recovery of waste heat from onboard diesel generators used to balance part of the onboard thermal energy demand. To maximize the recovered waste heat, this paper proposes a novel design methodology for ships energy systems based on the dynamic simulation approach, suitably enhanced to consider moving objects like ships. Through this approach, partial load regimes due to variable energy requirements and the relative response of innovative energy saving technologies are dynamically assessed by properly considering real cruising conditions as a function of the current ship position along its route. To this aim, 3-D ship envelope models, detailed energy ship-plant system layouts, and algorithms for deriving new customized hourly weather data files are suitably developed in MatLab and TRNSYS. To show the capability and potentials of the proposed methodology, a novel case study referred to an LNG-powered cruise ship traveling in the Norwegian fjords sea is presented. Different thermally and electrically activated technologies are coupled in 16 energy ship-plant system layouts, implementing novel controls strategies for optimizing the exploitation of the waste heat recoveries and cold-ironing. Encouraging results are achieved for the best layout, including primary energy savings of 18.1%, avoided pollutants emissions of 24.4 ktCO2/y, 40.0 tNOx/y, 90.0 tSOx/y, 84.0 tPM2.5/y, and a simple payback of 0.68 years. Finally, the proposed methodology represents a step forward toward the modern early design of onboard ship energy systems useful for ship designers, manufacturers, owners and operators.

Rationalization and optimization of waste management and treatment in modern cruise ships

Here we report over possible optimizations onboard cruise ships in the management of glass, paper and cellulosic waste, ranging from simple rationalization of the materials' use (for glass and paper) to the recovery of some of the energy embedded in paper and other cellulosic waste. This latter option is investigated considering two possibilities: i) the recovery of thermal energy from incinerator's flue gas by means of an absorption plant, ii) the production of syngas to be directly fed to the ship engines. For each option, we calculated the achievable benefits in terms of reduced fuel consumption, avoided CO2 emissions and cost savings (evaluated on the basis of the avoided fuel consumption). Finally, on the basis of the previously calculated benefits, we defined three different scenarios, each including the rationalization of glass and paper waste management, topped by different combinations of thermal energy recovery/syngas production. We then evaluated these scenarios in terms of environmental and economic benefits. This analysis showed that even trivial approaches, as a simple rationalization of paper consumption, can allow consistent advantages over existing waste management policies; moreover, syngas generators for treating cellulosic waste emerged as very effective tools for lowering the environmental impact of modern cruise ships. Joining these two strategies allows notable savings in terms of fuel, CO2 emissions and ship operational costs, and could represent a path for sizably reducing the environmental footprint of cruise ships.

Sustainable energy design of cruise ships through dynamic simulations: Multi-objective optimization for waste heat recovery

Modern cruise ships are energivorous systems and their design is challenging due to stringent restrictions on the environmental impact recently imposed by the International Maritime Organization. Nowadays, energy saving technologies and strategies for ships can be selected and analysed by means of system dynamic simulations. In this paper this innovative goal is obtained through TRNSYS where the ship-envelope and the related energy system are modelled and simulated by means of new customized weather data with the aim to optimize the system energy performance by considering different objective function (maximum energy saving, minimum payback, etc.). To show the effectiveness of the proposed approach, a novel case study is presented. It refers to a modern cruise ship fuelled by liquefied natural gas cruising in Mediterranean and Caribbean seas. Novel hourly weather files are developed for accounting actual locations and orientations of the moving ship. Low-, medium- and high-temperature engines waste heat recoveries are exploited for supplying different thermally activated energy saving devices. Results of the conducted optimization procedure show significant reductions of fuel consumption (between 0.1 and 1.9 kt/y), operating costs (up to 615 k€/y), and pollutant emissions with respect to traditional systems. Short paybacks are obtained (lower than 5 years), depending on the considered innovative system layouts. Finally, useful design and operating criteria for ship manufacturers and users are provided.

Cruise ships power plant optimisation and comparative analysis

The stringent regulatory framework for the emissions and safety from shipping operations as well as the market pressure to reduce the operational costs have led the cruise ship industry to pursue and investigate alternative solutions for both the new-built and the existing ships by using multi-objective optimisation methods. This study aims at investigating and comparatively analysing the optimal power plant solutions for different fuel types for a cruise ship by employing cost, emissions and safety objectives in a life-cycle basis. For this purpose, a bi-objective optimisation method is employed to identify optimal power plant configurations of a modern cruise ship considering the actual ship operational profile and several energy system design parameters. In subsequence, availability and the blackout event frequency were estimated using availability formulas and the Combinatorial Approach for Safety Assessment. The results demonstrate that the cruise ship power plant optimal configurations with dual fuel engines operating with natural gas exhibit lower lifecycle cost and lifetime emissions, whilst demonstrating a level of the systems safety comparable to the baseline power plant configuration. Furthermore, it is concluded that an increase in the generator sets redundancy does not necessary result in a considerable improvement of the power plant safety performance.

Towards an explanation of why onboard fires happen: The case of an engine room fire on the cruise ship “Le Boreal”

As the cruise ship industry enjoys continuous growth and penetration into new markets, good safety records must be maintained to achieve business objectives. Unfortunately, serious incidents and accidents reoccur on modern cruise ships and hence a better understanding of why this continues to happen is needed. This paper contributes towards a better understanding of underlying causal factors behind onboard fires, focusing on consequential engine room fires in particular. By analysing a recent fire incident on an almost new cruise ship built to the latest standards, we reveal potential deficiencies in maritime safety control and suggest how they can be rectified. The incident analysis was guided by systemic method CAST, which enables to explore a complex socio-technical system responsible for safety control. The analysis provides a different, more comprehensive explanation of, and response to, the incident from that in the official accident investigation report. Given the systemic nature of suggested causal scenarios, they are capable to explain and preclude other incidents. From a practical point of view, the findings would allow developing and maintaining robust safety management systems, which are currently required onboard.

Potential of thermal storage for hot potable water distribution in cruise ships

Hot potable water preparation in ships requires lots of energy from the power plant; this is particularly true in modern cruise ships with a high demand of potable water for people, restaurants, spa and pools. Usually the required amount of hot water is instantly produced using a number of different energy sources available on board. However, the use of direct heaters on peak demand conditions increases fuel consumption and greenhouse gas emissions. This is especially important in the case of ship in port configuration, due to the reduced number of active engines and therefore the reduced amount of waste heat from the cooling line usually employed for this task.This paper investigates possible solutions to size a hot water thermal storage in order to compensate the mismatch between heat generation during cruise and heat required during ship in port configuration. The performances of different solutions are compared using dynamic thermal simulations of the ship’s hot water distribution system with different regimes and time dependent heat requirements. Moreover it will be introduced the use of PCM materials with the aim to further improve system’s performance.

Age-induced changes in the lower limb muscle activities during uphill walking at steep grades

BackgroundUphill walking is particularly challenging for elderly persons. However, there is a lack of age-differentiated studies investigating the underlying differences in muscle activation when walking on sloped surfaces. These studies are needed, e.g., for planning of evacuations of large modern cruise ships with long walking distances on often inclined surfaces. MethodsAn age-differentiated, gender-balanced study with 26 young (20–30 years) and 26 elderly people (60–77 years) was therefore conducted, investigating uphill walking at 7° and at 14° contrasted to level walking on a treadmill. EMG signals of musculus gluteus maximus (GMAX), m. biceps femoris (BF), m. rectus femoris (RF), m. vastus medialis (VM), m. gastrocnemius medialis (GAS) and m. soleus (SOL) were analysed with regard to mean and maximum muscle activities and timing during the gait cycle. ResultsThe results showed that walking uphill at 14° was highly strainful for elderly people. In line with previous research, young people mostly “pushed” themselves uphill with the GAS and SOL. In contrast, elderly people not only used the known compensatory ability of hip muscles to propel the trailing leg, but also showed a high level of BF activation prolonged until the mid-stance phase at the steepest uphill gradient of 14°. SignificanceThe strikingly long activation of the BF until the mid-stance phase in elderly people at steep gradients is an unexpected, new finding. It suggests that, instead of pushing, elderly people “pull” themselves uphill. In cases of evacuations, the lower physical fitness levels of elderly passengers and their increased need for assistance on inclined surfaces have to be planned for in advance. Considering the findings in (home) training programmes might help elderly people to strengthen lower limb muscles and to enhance the efficiency of muscle activation patterns enabling them to manage steep inclinations more easily.

Simplified body nonlinear time domain calculation of vertical ship motions and wave loads in large amplitude waves

A strip theory based partially nonlinear time domain code is extended to include body nonlinearity in the calculation of radiation and diffraction forces, which expresses the dependence of hydrodynamic forces on the time changing underwater hull shape. The body nonlinear Froude–Krylov and hydrostatic forces are combined with the body nonlinear radiation and diffraction forces. The radiation forces are represented in terms of impulse response functions, infinite frequency added mass and radiation restoring coefficients. Additionally, a semi-empirical technique is employed to include the surge mode to overcome one of the strip theory two-dimensional simplifications. The method is used to calculate the wave induced vertical motions and bending moments on a modern Cruise Ship. Results from the time domain code in regular waves with different steepnesses, with and without nonlinear radiation and diffraction forces, are calculated and compared. Similarly, the analysis is carried out for design regular waves and is compared with model test experimental data obtained in a seakeeping tank.

Structural design of passenger cruise ships – an introduction to classification requirements

Modern passenger cruise ships are also from structural point of view very complex objects that vary very much from one design to another. Hence assessment of such a kind of ship is difficult if not impossible to do only by application of conventional rule formulas since they are usually developed and suitable to apply on similar structural arrangements. Therefore assessment of modern passenger cruise ships has to be done combining applicable rule formulas with extensive use of various types of direct calculations. A brief introduction on structural design assessment procedures as foreseen by Lloyd's Register Ship Rules (hereafter Rules) is described in the paper.

Fatigue Assessment of Large Thin-Walled Structures with Initial Distortions

Due to economic reasons the industry is seeking new lightweight solutions for large steel structures. However, when moving from traditional steel plate thicknesses, i.e. 5 mm or larger, to thinner ones, the fatigue design becomes challenging due to larger initial distortions caused by welding. The fatigue assessment methods used for thicker welded structures are not fully validated for thinner ones. This paper deals with the fatigue assessment of large thin-walled structures starting from the global response analysis of a whole structure to the stiffened panel and finally welded joint. A modern cruise ship is used as an example case, where traditional superstructure deck plate thickness of 5 mm is replaced by 3 mm. The influence of initial distortion at different levels of structural analysis is studied using geometrically nonlinear finite element (FE) analysis. For the lowest level of analysis, i.e. small welded joint, the experiments have been carried out including geometry measurements and fatigue tests. It is shown that for a large thin-walled structure the global response analysis can be carried out with acceptable accuracy using ideally straight plates and geometrically linear FE analysis. For intermediate level of analysis, i.e. stiffened panel, the analysis can also be geometrically linear, but the actual shape of the plates influences the structural stresses near welds significantly. When analyzing small welded specimens to define experimental fatigue strength, both the actual shape and the geometrically nonlinear FE analysis are needed in order to capture the straightening effect and to obtain the correct structural stress.

Brass bands, icebergs and jazz: music on passenger shipping 1880–1939

Musicians have been employed by shipping lines to entertain passengers during long sea days for well over a century. This vocation continues to provide musicians with the opportunity to earn a living while travelling aboard modern cruise ships. Despite this long heritage, almost no research has been conducted into the history of music on passenger shipping. This paper provides a general overview of the first 50 years of shipboard musical performance. Beginning with the first steward-musicians of the Norddeutscher Lloyd Line, the paper charts the major changes in commodified musical performance during the golden age of passenger shipping. Shipboard musical performance reflected the contemporary tastes of high society and, while often conservative in its reflection of land-based popular culture, was at the cutting edge of entertainment technology. Shipboard musical performances are found to have changed in response to passenger demands for increasing luxury and sophistication while they travel.

Time-domain analysis of passenger comfort on cruise ships under motion responses in waves

The assessment of passenger comfort in modern cruise ships is considered from a hydrodynamic point of view, in addition to improvement using stabilizing fins. Passenger comfort is evaluated in this study based on the symptoms of motion sickness on ships provoked by low-frequency whole-body vibration. Motion sickness dose value is an index used to quantify seasickness and is chosen as a primary index to evaluate passenger comfort. To calculate motion sickness dose value in the time domain, a time series of vertical accelerations should be processed using frequency filters, which are defined in the international standards and guidelines provided by classification societies as forms of transfer functions in the frequency domain. Digital frequency band–limiting and weighting filters are formulated as a form of infinite impulse response filter and then applied to the present case. Two pairs of stabilizing fins are equipped to reduce the roll and pitch motions and to improve the passenger comfort on a model cruise ship. A linear optimal control algorithm, linear quadratic Gaussian, is considered to actuate each stabilizing fin. Numerical computations are carried out based on practical operating conditions for the cruise ship model using a time-domain ship motion program, which integrates the motion control algorithm and the passenger comfort analysis. The results of computations show that passenger comfort on a cruise ship can be evaluated appropriately by computing the index motion sickness dose value in the time domain. The motion stabilization by the stabilizing fins can be considered as a good method to reduce the motion of the present cruise ship model and eventually contribute to improve passenger comfort.

Evaluation of vessel emissions in a lagoon area with ground based Multi axis DOAS measurements

Abstract The environmental impact of large vessel exhaust gases on port and coastal areas is a subject of great interest due both to increasing maritime traffic and the vicinity to highly populated urban zones. In lagoon cities the pollution from maritime traffic is greater than in other coastal areas. Therefore monitoring and evaluation of pollutants produced by ships navigating through the principal transport channels become necessary. In the case of Venice, the Giudecca Channel, crossing the city centre, is used both by urban maritime traffic and by large vessels docking in the port. In this work, the FRE–DOAS (Flow Rate Emission with Differential Optical Absorption Spectroscopy) methodology developed to evaluate gaseous pollutant flow rates from moving sources is presented. This methodology is applied to a set of spectral measurements performed with a Multi axis DOAS remote sensing system, allowing a determination of vessel emissions and evaluation of their impact on pollution in Venice. Two one-month measurement campaigns were carried out: from June 12 2007 to July 12 2007 and from September 12 2007 to October 12 2007. The individual flow rates released by large and medium-sized vessels and the total flow rate emissions due to the total traffic along the Giudecca Channel for every day with appropriate meteo conditions during the campaigns are estimated. The average daily mass of gas emitted by large and medium-sized ships during their passage through the Channel was evaluated as about 205 kg for SO2 and 284 kg for NO2. These values make up only about 30% of total daily traffic emission. These results are extremely interesting, because they demonstrate inequivocably the effectiveness of the proposed system for remote measurements, opening a new frontier in maritime traffic emission control in harbour areas or in those coastal zones subject to heavy maritime traffic. Moreover, the low values obtained for some large modern cruise ships indicate the use of Low Sulphur Fuels, even though these are not yet required by local regulations.

Labour Flexibilization at Sea

Cruise line employment of men and women contract seafarers from all over the world since the late twentieth century has produced what is called multinational or ‘mini UN’ crew on board large modern cruise ships. This phenomenon is encouraged by open ship registries that legally endorse and affirm the flexibilization of labour at sea. Labour flexibilization processes, however, are not characterized solely by the demand and supply of low wage seafarers. Rather, they are mediated by perceived traits ascribed to seafarers' passport citizenship, physiognomy and biological sex. Men seafarers from countries of the Global North and South, respectively and overwhelmingly dominate the shipboard positions of senior officers and lower level support staff. Women's positioning in this uniquely stratified maritime workforce depends perceptively as well on the association of nationality, race/ethnicity and gender, with that of shipboard work. Thus, although cruise ship crew diversity appears to signify a globalized multicultural workforce and site at sea, seafarer recruitment and shipboard placement according to specific intersections of identity modalities disclose a troubling trend of constructing and affirming the kind of hierarchical identities reminiscent of land-based practices in the past centuries.

Cruising in the 21st century: Who works while others play?

The cruise industry is growing in scale and importance annually. Influences such as multiculturalism, globalisation, the increase in numbers of mega-cruise ships and changing passenger demography, suggest that the work environment is not as it might once have been and yet there is very little research to reveal insights into this complex and seemingly unique world. This paper aims to find out what it is like to work and live on a modern cruise ship by examining the views of employees across a number of cruise brands.

Site Team Management for Construction of a Large Modern Cruise Ship

This paper addresses the typical functions and organization of a new building department for any large cruise ship company, including the general corporate structure that encompasses the new building department. The role of the new building office and the relationship of this office to the shipyards is explained. The paper focuses the majority of the information on the role and responsibilities of the owner's inspection team at the shipyard. The organization and the functions of the inspection team are provided along with the arrival schedules of the shipboard personnel. Typical inspection requirements and inspection workloads are presented. The paper illuminates the requirements of the site office leading up to and including delivery.

近代クルーズ客船新造への道程

近代クルーズ客船新造への道程