HIGH-TECH TRENDS AT SEA
Remember once individuals went on a cruise to “get far from it all” and disconnect from the world? It’s arduous to believe that there was no connectivity on cruise ships till 1999. That was the year Norwegian Cruise Line’s Norwegian Sky set sail with the primary dedicated net cafe. Norwegian was conjointly the primary to produce fleet-wide WiFi access (2002) and mobile phone service (2006).
Ubiquitous Wi-Fi access and crystal clear telephone reception confounded are currently expected – particularly from company meeting and incentive planners and participants.
Wi-Fi access on Silversea shipNorwegian isn't the sole cruise line implementing leading-edge technology. Royal Caribbean International has proclaimed that Wi-Fi bandwidth are increased on all ships throughout a huge improvement program. other big business players together with Celebrity Cruises, Carnival Cruise Lines, and relative newcomer disney Cruise Line are making waves with new technology.
And it’s not just the big guys. Luxury and ultra-premium cruise lines together with Silversea, Regent seven seas Cruses, and Crystal Cruises supply pervasive, high-quality wireless access throughout their little and mid-sized ships.
Today’s cruise ships are outfitted with the newest high-tech product and services – in passenger areas, furthermore as behind the scenes. Here’s a glance at some of the good technology innovations designed to form your cruise expertise smoother, greener, and even more superb.
1. Royal Caribbean’s Wayfinder –– There’s a reason Royal Caribbean’s Wayfinder system has won multiple awards for technology excellence – it’s awesome! aboard activities, real time updates, and customised directions and routing are at guests’ fingertips with plasma and liquid crystal display touch-screen signs throughout Oasis of the Seas and attract of the Seas. The interactive assemblage are going to be integrated on different Royal Caribbean ships throughout the ongoing “Royal Advantage” upgrade program.
2. Automatic face recognition Technology – high-resolution passenger photos taken at leaving are used for security and connected to cabins keys. And that’s not all – no additional searching through rows of icons displayed in the ship’s photo gallery to find your portraits. automatic face recognition code types through thousands of passenger photos taken by ship photographers, identifies (tags) you and uploads your photos to a customized digital album.
3. Shape Recognition Cameras. Don’t worry about long lines at the buffet on the 5,412-passenger attract of the Seas – your attendees can ne'er have to wait to be sitting at any of the twenty four feeding venues, because of biometry. form recognition cameras count and analyze pedestrian traffic, and this data is shipped in time period to 300 interactive boards round the ship.
4. Norwegian iConcierge App – With Norwegian’s revolutionary smart phone app, iPhone, iPad and robot users can shortly be ready to build feeding and shore excursion reservations, review folios, and check regular activities throughout their Norwegian Epic cruise. Norwegian iConcierge will be the industry’s 1st mobile app that lets guests realize and communicate with different sensible phone users via voice and text message. Currently, the free app is offered completely for guests sailing on board Norwegian Epic, however can shortly be extended across the fleet.
5. “Royal Connect” smart Phones and Wristbands – Guests aboard the world’s largest cruise ships, Oasis of the Seas and attract of the Seas, will rent a Royal Connect mobile device to stay track of family or colleagues aboard.
The Royal Connect system uses frequence Identification Technology (RFID)-enabled tags in wristbands and an iPhone that pinpoints tag locations on its map show. The sensible phone user also can send alerts to those carrying the wristbands.
6. iPads creating Waves - Here are many ways in which cruise lines are integrating tablets to reinforce the guest experience:
iPad-based menus increase the distinctive preparation experiences in Celebrity’s Qsine restaurant. Guests faucet menu item icons for descriptions, videos, or to create their own cocktails. Qsine restaurant is found on Celebrity Eclipse, Celebrity Silhouette, and “Solsticized” Celebrity Summit and Celebrity infinity.
Interactive wine menus on iPad tablets build selecting the proper glass of wine straightforward at Vintages Tapas and bar on Royal Caribbean’s Oasis of the Seas and attract of the Seas.
iPads in Cabins – Royal Caribbean’s new revitalized Splendour of the Seas is the 1st cruise ship to supply Apple iPads in each cabin to be used throughout the ship. With a touch of the screen, your attendees will access daily events and activities, review personal itineraries, monitor their aboard accounts, read restaurant menus, and access the net. The iPads are going to be added to 5 additional Royal Caribbean ships over succeeding 2 years.
iPad Courses – Celebrity’s iLounge offers eighteen custom-created categories to assist guests expand the school skills on Apple products – as well as iPad. Crystal Cruises additionally offers multiple level iPad courses in their complimentary Computer University @ ocean enrichment program.
7. Royal express Guest Kiosks on attract of the Seas – attract of the Seas‘ special kiosks within the Royal Promenade offer complimentary guest services. Your attendees will read, print or e-mail their personal folios and calendars, build specialty eating house reservations, and what we actually love – make sure flight reservations and print out airline boarding passes.
8. Video postcard Booth on attract of the Seas – set up a group event on attract of the Seas, and your attendees will star in their own video postal card !It’s fun and free – produce a 60-second video or icon postal card and email or post to social network pages, right from the booth.
9. Carnival‘s 5D Theater – Royal Caribbean introduced 3D movies on Oasis of the Seas; currently Carnival offers a sensational new expertise on Carnival Breeze – “Thrill 5D Theater”. Watch 3D-formatted films with special effects like spurting water and bubbles; whereas different gizmos tickle your legs, blow air on your neck, and poke you in your seat (I’m not making this up!). What’s the fifth dimensio n? The seats themselves – they vibrate and shift.
10. Disney|Walter Elias Disney|film maker|filmmaker|film producer|movie maker} “virtual portholes” – Disney Dream’s within staterooms feature a “Magical Porthole” that gives guests a real-time read outside the ship, provided by high-definition cameras placed on the outside of the ship. Another magical surprise: every few minutes, an animated film maker character flies or swims by.
11. Disney “Enchanted Art” –Disney Dream additionally options interactive art items throughout the ship. These paintings are literally animated footage that come back to life once passengers fill in front of them. grasp what’s even additional magical? every spellbound art piece incorporates automatic face recognition technology to form certain it won’t play the same sequence twice.
12. Crystal Cruises Fast-track Embarkation: By utilizing a brand new barcode on every guest cruise ticket} and a brand new ticket scanning system,Crystal’s “Fast-Track Check-In” eliminates 100 pc of ship arrival procedures in port terminal waiting areas, transitioning guests from dock security to the elegant comfort of Crystal Symphony and Crystal Serenity lounges.
Environmental Breakthroughs
Energy-saving technology additionally creating waves within the trade include:
LED and compact fluorescent lighting – many cruise lines are creating the switch, as well as Carnival Cruise Lines. Compact fluorescent and led bulbs put in across the fleet can potentially save concerning $100,000 annually in energy costs per ship.
Shore power installations – additional ships are currently plugging into shore-side electricity, that permits them to pack up diesel engines to cut back pollution.
Solar panels – Celebrity and Royal Caribbean are putting in solar panels on its newest ships for powering onboard parts like led lights and elevators
Reverse diffusion for water – In might 2012, MSc Cruises’ Divina can introduce a revolutionary reverse diffusion system for water production that consumes 400th less power.
Ubiquitous Wi-Fi access and crystal clear telephone reception confounded are currently expected – particularly from company meeting and incentive planners and participants.
Wi-Fi access on Silversea shipNorwegian isn't the sole cruise line implementing leading-edge technology. Royal Caribbean International has proclaimed that Wi-Fi bandwidth are increased on all ships throughout a huge improvement program. other big business players together with Celebrity Cruises, Carnival Cruise Lines, and relative newcomer disney Cruise Line are making waves with new technology.
And it’s not just the big guys. Luxury and ultra-premium cruise lines together with Silversea, Regent seven seas Cruses, and Crystal Cruises supply pervasive, high-quality wireless access throughout their little and mid-sized ships.
Today’s cruise ships are outfitted with the newest high-tech product and services – in passenger areas, furthermore as behind the scenes. Here’s a glance at some of the good technology innovations designed to form your cruise expertise smoother, greener, and even more superb.
1. Royal Caribbean’s Wayfinder –– There’s a reason Royal Caribbean’s Wayfinder system has won multiple awards for technology excellence – it’s awesome! aboard activities, real time updates, and customised directions and routing are at guests’ fingertips with plasma and liquid crystal display touch-screen signs throughout Oasis of the Seas and attract of the Seas. The interactive assemblage are going to be integrated on different Royal Caribbean ships throughout the ongoing “Royal Advantage” upgrade program.
2. Automatic face recognition Technology – high-resolution passenger photos taken at leaving are used for security and connected to cabins keys. And that’s not all – no additional searching through rows of icons displayed in the ship’s photo gallery to find your portraits. automatic face recognition code types through thousands of passenger photos taken by ship photographers, identifies (tags) you and uploads your photos to a customized digital album.
3. Shape Recognition Cameras. Don’t worry about long lines at the buffet on the 5,412-passenger attract of the Seas – your attendees can ne'er have to wait to be sitting at any of the twenty four feeding venues, because of biometry. form recognition cameras count and analyze pedestrian traffic, and this data is shipped in time period to 300 interactive boards round the ship.
4. Norwegian iConcierge App – With Norwegian’s revolutionary smart phone app, iPhone, iPad and robot users can shortly be ready to build feeding and shore excursion reservations, review folios, and check regular activities throughout their Norwegian Epic cruise. Norwegian iConcierge will be the industry’s 1st mobile app that lets guests realize and communicate with different sensible phone users via voice and text message. Currently, the free app is offered completely for guests sailing on board Norwegian Epic, however can shortly be extended across the fleet.
5. “Royal Connect” smart Phones and Wristbands – Guests aboard the world’s largest cruise ships, Oasis of the Seas and attract of the Seas, will rent a Royal Connect mobile device to stay track of family or colleagues aboard.
The Royal Connect system uses frequence Identification Technology (RFID)-enabled tags in wristbands and an iPhone that pinpoints tag locations on its map show. The sensible phone user also can send alerts to those carrying the wristbands.
6. iPads creating Waves - Here are many ways in which cruise lines are integrating tablets to reinforce the guest experience:
iPad-based menus increase the distinctive preparation experiences in Celebrity’s Qsine restaurant. Guests faucet menu item icons for descriptions, videos, or to create their own cocktails. Qsine restaurant is found on Celebrity Eclipse, Celebrity Silhouette, and “Solsticized” Celebrity Summit and Celebrity infinity.
Interactive wine menus on iPad tablets build selecting the proper glass of wine straightforward at Vintages Tapas and bar on Royal Caribbean’s Oasis of the Seas and attract of the Seas.
iPads in Cabins – Royal Caribbean’s new revitalized Splendour of the Seas is the 1st cruise ship to supply Apple iPads in each cabin to be used throughout the ship. With a touch of the screen, your attendees will access daily events and activities, review personal itineraries, monitor their aboard accounts, read restaurant menus, and access the net. The iPads are going to be added to 5 additional Royal Caribbean ships over succeeding 2 years.
iPad Courses – Celebrity’s iLounge offers eighteen custom-created categories to assist guests expand the school skills on Apple products – as well as iPad. Crystal Cruises additionally offers multiple level iPad courses in their complimentary Computer University @ ocean enrichment program.
7. Royal express Guest Kiosks on attract of the Seas – attract of the Seas‘ special kiosks within the Royal Promenade offer complimentary guest services. Your attendees will read, print or e-mail their personal folios and calendars, build specialty eating house reservations, and what we actually love – make sure flight reservations and print out airline boarding passes.
8. Video postcard Booth on attract of the Seas – set up a group event on attract of the Seas, and your attendees will star in their own video postal card !It’s fun and free – produce a 60-second video or icon postal card and email or post to social network pages, right from the booth.
9. Carnival‘s 5D Theater – Royal Caribbean introduced 3D movies on Oasis of the Seas; currently Carnival offers a sensational new expertise on Carnival Breeze – “Thrill 5D Theater”. Watch 3D-formatted films with special effects like spurting water and bubbles; whereas different gizmos tickle your legs, blow air on your neck, and poke you in your seat (I’m not making this up!). What’s the fifth dimensio n? The seats themselves – they vibrate and shift.
10. Disney|Walter Elias Disney|film maker|filmmaker|film producer|movie maker} “virtual portholes” – Disney Dream’s within staterooms feature a “Magical Porthole” that gives guests a real-time read outside the ship, provided by high-definition cameras placed on the outside of the ship. Another magical surprise: every few minutes, an animated film maker character flies or swims by.11. Disney “Enchanted Art” –Disney Dream additionally options interactive art items throughout the ship. These paintings are literally animated footage that come back to life once passengers fill in front of them. grasp what’s even additional magical? every spellbound art piece incorporates automatic face recognition technology to form certain it won’t play the same sequence twice.
12. Crystal Cruises Fast-track Embarkation: By utilizing a brand new barcode on every guest cruise ticket} and a brand new ticket scanning system,Crystal’s “Fast-Track Check-In” eliminates 100 pc of ship arrival procedures in port terminal waiting areas, transitioning guests from dock security to the elegant comfort of Crystal Symphony and Crystal Serenity lounges.
Environmental Breakthroughs
Energy-saving technology additionally creating waves within the trade include:
LED and compact fluorescent lighting – many cruise lines are creating the switch, as well as Carnival Cruise Lines. Compact fluorescent and led bulbs put in across the fleet can potentially save concerning $100,000 annually in energy costs per ship.
Shore power installations – additional ships are currently plugging into shore-side electricity, that permits them to pack up diesel engines to cut back pollution.
Solar panels – Celebrity and Royal Caribbean are putting in solar panels on its newest ships for powering onboard parts like led lights and elevators
Reverse diffusion for water – In might 2012, MSc Cruises’ Divina can introduce a revolutionary reverse diffusion system for water production that consumes 400th less power.
Tag :
CRUSE SHIP
RUDDER WEAR DOWN
This refers to the measurements taken generally during a docking period to indicate excessive wear in the steering gear system particularly the rudder carrier. The significance of this is that for ram systems excessive wear can lead to bending moments on the rams. For rotary vane systems it can lead to vane edge loading.The readings taken are offered for recording by the classification society.
Trammel
This takes the form of an 'L' shape bar of suitable construction. When the vessel is built a distinct centrepunch mark is placed onto the ruder stock and onto a suitable location on the vessels structure, here given as a girder which is typical. The trammel is manufactured to suit these marks As the carrier wears the upper pointer will fall below the centrepunch mark by an amount equal to the wear down.
Rudder Clearance
Pads are welded to the hull and rudder. A clearance is given ( sometimes referred to as the jumping clearance). As the carrier wears this clearance will increase.
Steering gear Clearance
Direct measurement can be taken from the steering gear assembly. Shown below is one example, here the clearance will be seen to reduce as the carrier wears and impact his has on the system can be directly judged
Rudder wear down measurement:(Ram type Steering Gear )
At sea:
1)Jumping clearance or bouncing clearance,measured between swivel block and upper ram fork end. (lmit is 19mm)
2)Wear down clearance,measured between swil block and bottom ram fork end. (limit is 12-19mm)
At docking:
1)Bouncing clearance: measured betwen top ofrudde and jmpng bar.
2)Wear down clearance: beween the bottom of rudder and reference mark.
1)Jumping clearance or bouncing clearance,measured between swivel block and upper ram fork end. (lmit is 19mm)
2)Wear down clearance,measured between swil block and bottom ram fork end. (limit is 12-19mm)
At docking:
1)Bouncing clearance: measured betwen top ofrudde and jmpng bar.
2)Wear down clearance: beween the bottom of rudder and reference mark.
REASON OF TURBOCHARGER DAMAGE
Diesel Engine Exhaust Turbocharger Failure
Turbochargers are among the foremost technologically advanced engine element aboard ship. impeller blades of a medium sized turbocharger often rotate at the maximum amount as 400 revolutions per second. The outer edges of the rotor blades therefore move at 1.5 times the speed of sound.
In the method, the turbocharger digests contaminated exhaust gases of up to 700 degrees centigrade. Thus, the turbocharger may be a terribly sensitive piece of high-speed machinery incessantly serving in harsh conditions and underneath extreme strain. Being on the receiving end of gas flows, turbocharger damages are typically caused by the failure of varied upstream elements.
Turbochargers are among the foremost technologically advanced engine element aboard ship. impeller blades of a medium sized turbocharger often rotate at the maximum amount as 400 revolutions per second. The outer edges of the rotor blades therefore move at 1.5 times the speed of sound.
In the method, the turbocharger digests contaminated exhaust gases of up to 700 degrees centigrade. Thus, the turbocharger may be a terribly sensitive piece of high-speed machinery incessantly serving in harsh conditions and underneath extreme strain. Being on the receiving end of gas flows, turbocharger damages are typically caused by the failure of varied upstream elements.
(1) Diesel engine inlet pressure to reduce main reasons:
(a) the compressor of the filter contamination.
(b) the impeller and vanes diffuser contamination.
(c) the supercharger turbo memory have more carbon deposit, spin resistance increase.
(d) the inter-cooler contamination, increased intake resistance.
(e) turbine exhaust not clear, this is because the pipe blockage, deformation caused by rotor speed rise is not high.
(f)supercharger outlet pressure drop suddenly, it is because of bearing damage caused by.
(2) Compressor surge main reasons:
(a) diesel engine emergency cut-off or sudden unloading (urgent throttle back).
(b) the atmospheric temperature changes cause surge. In the summer of the supercharger with test, in winter could happen surge, this is because the temperature change make working point change and cause.
(c) compressor contamination, especially vanes diffuser contamination.
(d) a engine plant 2 sets of supercharger, Shared a piece of inlet manifold, when a cylinder does not work, can lead compressor surge.
(3) Diesel engine inlet pressure is too high. Generally speaking, the inlet pressure is too high in the supercharger itself is not the problem, but by the engine of the cause, the main reasons are:
(a) the vent valve leakage.
(b) because of engine fuel injection timing inappropriate or other causes for combustion period is too long, to drive a turbine heat increase, speed up, inlet pressure increase.
(4) Produce continuous abnormal sound: this kind of failure is due to the majority of rotor and shell as a result of the collision. Due to the rotor and shell assembly clearance is small, if installation misadjustment or bearing serious damage, then hitting.
(5) The lubricating oil temperature is too high (above 105 ℃) of the main reasons:
(a) the turbine oil, gas seal damage, high temperature gas into the oil chamber.
(b) the bearing damage.
(6) Oil leakage: compressor seal close to the edge of the impeller is low pressure area, easy to produce the oil leakage fault. Main reasons are:
(a) the lubricating oil return not free. The reason has return line congestion, return line sectional area is too small, pipe joint gasket inner hole diameter less than return line; Diesel engine in the crankcase oil level higher than standard, cause oil return difficult; Diesel engine crankcase ventilation blocking or cylinder seal bad, gas expell, make the crankcase internal pressure rise.
(b) the compressor end O ring damage or material ageing and lose sealing effect.
(c) turbocharger oil inlet pressure is too high. Normal pressure is 0.25 ~ 0400000 mpa, if pressure is higher than 0.6 million mpa, from exhaust muffler nozzle will find from the supercharger turbo end leakage oil.
(d) ring not installed correctly or damage.
Tag :
TURBINE,
TURBOCHARGER
ULTIMATE GREEN SHIPS
14 Technologies to Make the Ultimate Green Ship
The Shipping business is departure no stones right-side-out so as to contribute towards a greener marine atmosphere. At each producing and body levels, the maritime business is taking advantage of the newest technologies to make sure that new ships contribute as low as attainable to the world pollution.
Designing a Ship in present times has become a difficult task for currently a ship must be totally complied with new environmental rules and rules. some benchmark technologies have already been developed to achieve the final word goal of building a “Green ship” which might not solely suits the new environmental rules and rules however would additionally leave least attainable carbon foot-prints.
We have compiled a listing of 13 new technologies that if used along would lead to the ultimate green Ship of the longer term. they're as follows:
1. No Ballast System: Ballast water convention by International Maritime Organization focuses on reducing the transit of sediments and small organisms of one territory to a different through the ballast of ships. so as to forestall this condition, plans of constructing a “No Ballast Ships” is underneath progress. A no ballast ship or similar system will drastically cut back this downside.
2. LNG Fuel for Propulsion: it's same that LNG fuel is that the way forward for the Shipping business. LNG fuel helps in reduction of pollution from ships, and a mixture of LNG fuel with fuel can cause economical engine performance, leading to fuel saving.
3. LNG Fuel for Auxiliary engine: Auxiliary engines on ships square measure main sources of power. what is more {they are|they're} one in all those machines that are continuous running aboard vessels. LNG fuel for such engines will drastically cut back pollution from ships.
4. Sulphur Scrubber System: It’s not much attainable to phase-out usage of standard fuels in ships and thus reducing sulphur or SOx emission from the exhaust could be a answer that will be used extensively within the future. this could be achieved by putting in associate exhaust gas scrubber system whereby the sulphur is washed out from the exhaust gas of the engine leading to reduction of SOx up to ninety eight passed by with alternative harmful particles.
5. Advanced Rudder and mechanical device System: A simple mechanical device and efficient rudder system will cut back the fuel consumption up to 4 the worries leading to less emission. Advanced styles of mechanical device and rudder systems are developed to not solely cut back the fuel consumption however additionally improve the speed of the vessel.
6. Speed Nozzle: Speed Nozzles are typically utilized in little provide vessels and tugs to supply power to the ships. along side new style options of cargo ships, they will improve the propulsion potency of the ship by saving power up to approx five the concerns.
7. Hull Paint: Another vital issue that may increase the fuel consumption of a ship and thus emissions is rising hull properties. Applying correct paint at correct hull space will cut back the resistance resistance of the ship leading to 3-8% of fuel savings.
8. Waste Heat Recovery System: this technique is already in use for quite your time currently, however creating it a lot of economical will cut back the fuel consumption of the ship drastically up to 14 july of the whole consumption. The waste heat from the exhaust gases is used to heat and generate steam that successively is used for heating storage area, accommodation, heating oil etc.
9. Exhaust Gas Recirculation: during this system, Roman deity emissions from the engine is reduced by recirculation of exhaust gas from engine cylinder with scavenge air that lowers the temperature of the combustion chamber. Some a part of the exhaust air is re-circulated and intercalary to scavenge air of the engine that reduces the oxygen content of the scavenge air along side temperature of combustion cylinder. With this methodology nox reduction of up to 80th is achieved.
10. Water in Fuel: The addition of water in fuel simply before its injection into the combustion chamber will cut back the temperature within the cylinder liner. associate economical system for this could lead to nox reduction of up to 30-35%.
11. Improved Pump and Cooling Water System: associate optimized cooling water system of pipes, coolers and pumps may end up in slashed resistance to the flow. this may cause savings of up to twenty of electrical power of the ship and fuel consumption up to 1.5 %.
12. Sail and Kite Propulsion System: Sail and Kite system once used along side the traditional system will cut back the fuel additionally as nox, SOx and greenhouse emission emissions by thirty fifth. browse a lot of regarding these inexperienced propulsions system here.
13. Fuel and photovoltaic cell Propulsion: The cell propulsion utilizes power from a mixture of fuel cells, star cells and battery systems. This helps in reduction of GHG emission to an excellent extent. browse a lot of regarding these propulsion systems here.
14. sandwich plate System (SPS): it's a method of composting two metals plates by bonding it with polymer stuff core. This avoids usage of steel which needs further stiffening thus makes the structure lightweight weight and fewer vulnerable to corrosion. This technology will undoubtedly play an honest role in inexperienced ship usage method as SPS feature includes superior in commission performance and reduced through life maintenance.
Tag :
GREEN SHIPS
WATER MIST IN LARGE MACHINERY SPACES
Water mist systems are extensively used as fire protection of machinery spaces onboard passenger ships, and have almost taken over as fire extinguishing systems after IMO standardized such systems. Water mist systems are documented through full scale fire testing of the manufacturers' solutions. In practice it has been shown that in spaces with a ceiling height above approximately 10m it is necessary with more water mist nozzles to extinguish low seated fires. The IMO-method that describes the test procedures requires that all nozzles are mounted at ceiling level, and gives no opportunity to extrapolate results from fire tests to spaces with higher ceiling heights.
Conventional merchant vessels have large machinery spaces with ceiling heights above 10m. Therefore it is still common to install CO2-systems in these ships, since no alternative extinguishing systems are approved for this application area. Until now several manufacturers of water mist systems have documented that it is possible to extinguish fires in machinery spaces with height up to 10m and a volume exceeding 3,000m3. A research project initiated by IWMA (International Water Mist Association) resulted in a change of IMO's regulations. That means that the test results will be valid also for spaces up to twice the tested volume, but there was not given any possibility to increase the ceiling height.
If it can be shown through testing that water mist systems have sufficient ability to fight fires in larger machinery spaces, such systems will challenge and replace CO2-systems. In practice this means that fire extinguishing can start immediately after a fire has been detected. Today the start of extinguishing may be delayed with 10-15 minutes because CO2 represents a toxic hazard to persons in the machinery space. The CO2 cannot be released before people are evacuated from the engine room and all air supply is stopped and all openings are closed. Every minute with a fire in the machinery space increases the damage to equipment and cables; it has been indicated that the damage increases with €12,000 per minute.
Water mist systems can be released immediately after fire detection, and will quickly cool down the machinery space. Most fires will be extinguished after 10-15 minutes. In addition water mist systems have become popular among engineers and crew because they, besides being possible to use without hazard to people, are easy to test regularly. Water mist systems on passenger ships are often tested every week, and are simultaneously used for cleaning the machinery space. The costs connected to refilling the water reservoir are negligible in contrast to replacement of CO2-bottles after release of a CO2-system.
SINTEF NBL is now working to start projects that can open up for use of water mist system in large machinery spaces, and for this purpose we have the possibility to utilize our large test hall. The test hall is over 20m high and has a total volume of approximately 14,000m3.
Conventional merchant vessels have large machinery spaces with ceiling heights above 10m. Therefore it is still common to install CO2-systems in these ships, since no alternative extinguishing systems are approved for this application area. Until now several manufacturers of water mist systems have documented that it is possible to extinguish fires in machinery spaces with height up to 10m and a volume exceeding 3,000m3. A research project initiated by IWMA (International Water Mist Association) resulted in a change of IMO's regulations. That means that the test results will be valid also for spaces up to twice the tested volume, but there was not given any possibility to increase the ceiling height.
If it can be shown through testing that water mist systems have sufficient ability to fight fires in larger machinery spaces, such systems will challenge and replace CO2-systems. In practice this means that fire extinguishing can start immediately after a fire has been detected. Today the start of extinguishing may be delayed with 10-15 minutes because CO2 represents a toxic hazard to persons in the machinery space. The CO2 cannot be released before people are evacuated from the engine room and all air supply is stopped and all openings are closed. Every minute with a fire in the machinery space increases the damage to equipment and cables; it has been indicated that the damage increases with €12,000 per minute.
Water mist systems can be released immediately after fire detection, and will quickly cool down the machinery space. Most fires will be extinguished after 10-15 minutes. In addition water mist systems have become popular among engineers and crew because they, besides being possible to use without hazard to people, are easy to test regularly. Water mist systems on passenger ships are often tested every week, and are simultaneously used for cleaning the machinery space. The costs connected to refilling the water reservoir are negligible in contrast to replacement of CO2-bottles after release of a CO2-system.
SINTEF NBL is now working to start projects that can open up for use of water mist system in large machinery spaces, and for this purpose we have the possibility to utilize our large test hall. The test hall is over 20m high and has a total volume of approximately 14,000m3.
Tag :
MAIN ENGINE