Saturday, March 24, 2018, At sea to Singapore

On our way to Singapore Diane and I had a chance to visit the control room for the propulsion systems.

The second engineer (environmental) and third engineer (propulsion) with second engineer's wife, who was visiting on board for two weeks.  The second engineer's primary duties are water production, waste management, and fuel loading.  

Water production involves use of Reverse Osmosis system to make fresh water from sea water.  The water is cleaner and purer than most US municipal systems.  The amount of fresh water needed for over fifteen hundred people is significant.

Waste management includes sanitizing grey and black water waste (clean it up) before dumping it into the ocean.  When we passes over the Great Barrier Reef we were asked to be judicious with water because they were not permitted to dispose of waste water for the days we sailed over.

Non-water waist disposing includes plastic, paper, used oils, and sludge collection and off-loading at various ports of call.

The engines can burn two types of fuels:  Heavy fuel oil and diesel.  Heavy fuel oil is less expensive than diesel and requires preheating to 160 degrees for full combustion.  The fuel tanks capacity is about one-quarter million gallons.  The cruise ship only needs to be refueled every 10 to 15 days. 

 The third engineer closely monitors engine parameters.

Monitors on engine room.

There are four propulsion engines:  Two primary V-12 and two straight nine in-line pistons.  The engines all turn electric generators used to propel an electric motor at the end of each of two propeller shafts.

The number of engines required at any one time is determined by the speed required to make the next port.  The cruise ship can do 20 knots (22 mph) with all four engines running but the best fuel consumption is achieved around 15 knots, which can be achieved with one of each size engines running.

We will arrive at Singapore around 8 AM tomorrow.