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Topic: azipods

topgun
First Class Passenger
Member # 928

posted 05-24-2003 03:25 PM

According to Grumple, Azipods are used because they makes it easier to park and they don't stir up the bottom as much.
Is this profound

Posts: 759 | From: Burlington ont,canada Cruise center of North America | Registered: Nov 1999 | IP: Logged

cruiseny
First Class Passenger
Member # 2928

posted 05-24-2003 04:14 PM

I don't know about stirring up the bottom but they are supposed to make the ship more agile in docking etc.

Incidentally does anyone know how the pods are going on SEVEN SEAS VOYAGER? I think they are supposed to be a new brand...

Posts: 4730 | From: New York, USA | Registered: Mar 2002 | IP: Logged

cruise man
First Class Passenger
Member # 3976

posted 07-03-2003 07:33 PM

yes azipods do make docking easier and the lower decks more stable when docking but there is one more big reason why they are so affective, they eliminate the need for stern thrusters ( which is the cause of vibration when the ship is docking ) one more thing about azipods is that they are more fuel efficient.

Posts: 27 | From: florida | Registered: Jul 2003 | IP: Logged

gohaze
First Class Passenger
Member # 586

posted 07-03-2003 08:03 PM

and the lower decks more stable when docking

I'm afraid you've got me there. What does it mean?
....peter

Posts: 1909 | From: Vancouver.BC | Registered: Sep 99 | IP: Logged

cruise man
First Class Passenger
Member # 3976

posted 07-03-2003 09:17 PM

this is to gohaze, this is hard to explain so try to keep with me. when you have the conventual prop and rudder you can only move the ship forwards and backwards with the expection of turning with rudders and different prop speeds, thus the reason for bow and stern thrusters. with that said, when using stern thrusters (and sometimes multiple thrusters in one direction, AND MUCH LESS POWERFUL THAN THE MAIN PROPS ) all the weight of the ship has to be moved but again with much less power which causes vibration which is what you are talking about. one other big reason why the ship vibrates is because the thrusters are moving the ship againsed the water sideways and when the ship is going forward by the main props the bow is cutting through the water. azipods can propel the ship in every direction with full power, so the vibration is eliminated when a ship has azipods . i know it is confusing but i hope you understand.

Posts: 27 | From: florida | Registered: Jul 2003 | IP: Logged

gohaze
First Class Passenger
Member # 586

posted 07-03-2003 09:29 PM

Tks....I'm fully aware of how to dock a ship having done it many times. But you still haven't explained what you said about lower decks being more stable. Why are they any different from any other decks?
.....peter

Posts: 1909 | From: Vancouver.BC | Registered: Sep 99 | IP: Logged

cruise man
First Class Passenger
Member # 3976

posted 07-03-2003 09:37 PM

ok gohaze let me see if i can be more specific. the lower decks vibrate more because they are the clostest to the thrusters, azipods, etc. and lower decks are more stable with azipods because azipods run smoother than thrusters.

Posts: 27 | From: florida | Registered: Jul 2003 | IP: Logged

gohaze
First Class Passenger
Member # 586

posted 07-03-2003 10:14 PM

OK...a little confusion here. What you are trying to say is that there is less vibration with azipods. That wasn't the case with the mermaids on the Celebrity ships - poor hull design.
As for manoevreability the vessels such as the Grand Princess class with twin screws and rudders plus the thrusters, all computer controlled can do just about anything the Master wants.

....peter

Posts: 1909 | From: Vancouver.BC | Registered: Sep 99 | IP: Logged

cruise man
First Class Passenger
Member # 3976

posted 07-03-2003 10:23 PM

hold on now your confusing me gohaze,
first of all yes what i am trying to say is there is less vibration with azipods, and with the celebrity ships you answered your own question, poor hull design and your confusing me with what your saying about the grand princess class ships, i dont get your point.

Posts: 27 | From: florida | Registered: Jul 2003 | IP: Logged

gohaze
First Class Passenger
Member # 586

posted 07-03-2003 10:46 PM

when you have the conventual prop and rudder you can only move the ship forwards and backwards.

I'm not quite sure how you think we managed to put ships alongside before the days of thrusters, azipods and computers, and then get them off again. And, there were other little things to contend with such as turbine ships with only 30% sternpower and very slow response.

The reason I mentioned the Grand class is because you stated that azipods can propel the ship in any direction, so can her arrangement and probably somewhat easier.

....peter

Posts: 1909 | From: Vancouver.BC | Registered: Sep 99 | IP: Logged

cruise man
First Class Passenger
Member # 3976

posted 07-03-2003 10:50 PM

thanks for clearing things up with the whole azipod, thruster thing.

Posts: 27 | From: florida | Registered: Jul 2003 | IP: Logged

Vaccaro
First Class Passenger
Member # 465

posted 07-04-2003 02:22 AM

The "lower decks are more stable" was indeed rather confusing but that's nice to see someone interested in the subject.

Regarding pods (all brands) and manoeuvrability subject, yes they do add quite a lot to the easiness and efficiency of the whole thing. They're much appreciated when lateral winds are strong and they add a good margin of security to the whole process.
But as Gohaze pointed out, you could quite "easily" do that before pods appear if the port's pilot is a normally skilled one. With adjustable pitch blades, you can even set them in a way (maximal pitch) they displace the water from one side to another at the stern, so the ship can almost move away from the quay perpendiculary (with a very slight forward or backward movement in fact and usually in conjunction with rudders and bow thrusters too), I've witnessed that hundreds of times.
As I wrote before, pods make that easier, more efficiently and are a real plus in case of difficult wind/current conditions.

We had a little talk about pods here three years ago.

[ 07-04-2003: Message edited by: Vaccaro ]

Posts: 1193 | From: France ...where the greatest liners ever are born, ...by far! | Registered: Feb 99 | IP: Logged

feargus
First Class Passenger
Member # 3982

posted 07-07-2003 03:18 PM

the big plus for azipods is not that they make it easier to sail, dock or undock the ship, it is the massive savings in internal space. all you have in the engine room are generators, no shafting and no gear boxes. the space usually occupied by having by these items is now 'money space', more cabins.

Posts: 249 | From: Halifax,Canada / Abu Dhabi, UAE | Registered: Jul 2003 | IP: Logged

gohaze
First Class Passenger
Member # 586

posted 07-07-2003 04:14 PM

I doubt it's cabins. More likely to be much needed ballast space in that position on a ship.
...peter

Posts: 1909 | From: Vancouver.BC | Registered: Sep 99 | IP: Logged

feargus
First Class Passenger
Member # 3982

posted 07-07-2003 05:55 PM

in that postion there has always been ballast. for the most part the double bottoms hold the ballast. the lost weight inside the ship is made up by the weight of the massive drive motors now hanging outside the ship.
another great saving is how the space inside the ship is now used. because you no longer have prime movers turning shafts inside the ship you can place the prime movers anywhere you want to within reason. having said that the princess new build does have a gas turbine situated in her funnel so you never know.

Posts: 249 | From: Halifax,Canada / Abu Dhabi, UAE | Registered: Jul 2003 | IP: Logged

Green
First Class Passenger
Member # 171

posted 07-08-2003 11:42 AM

Not overly technically minded, I was curious about the azipods - found this site interesting -

http://www.ship-technology.com/contractors/propulsion/brunvoll/index.html#brunvoll3

Posts: 2913 | From: Markham, Ontario, Canada | Registered: Jul 99 | IP: Logged

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