sunchaser
Guru
- Joined
- Apr 9, 2008
- Messages
- 10,289
- Location
- usa
- Vessel Name
- sunchaser V
- Vessel Make
- DeFever 48 (sold)
Weebles question is not an idle one. Simple drive systems, well designed fuel flow layout, adequate spares and redundant engines are the oft used insurance.
But failures indeed happen, even to the best of well designed and superbly crewed vessels. 27 months ago we were on the Queen Mary 2. She has 4 Wartsilla diesels and two gas turbines. Total connected HP is about 120,000. All engines drive generators which in turn drive 4 external pods with electric motors. The switch gear is to say the least, impressive.
At 1:00 AM one morning the vessel went dead in the water. All except the emergency lights went out. Our trusty IPad with Navionics said we were drifting at about 1.5 knots with the Gulf Current. Numerous assurances came over the speakers saying all was OK but stay in our cabins. This stoppage lasted for about an hour then all came back on and away we went.
The cause for the stoppage was failure of one of the primary transformers. A spare (very large) was on rails nearby keeping warm ready to be slid into place. The QM2s drive system has not been reliable. Rolls Royce has paid tens of millions to Cunard to attempt fixes, not totally successful.
Thus the onboard crew is ready and prepared for the next one. Well, maybe I better buy that spare macerator pump which has been on my spares list for awhile.
But failures indeed happen, even to the best of well designed and superbly crewed vessels. 27 months ago we were on the Queen Mary 2. She has 4 Wartsilla diesels and two gas turbines. Total connected HP is about 120,000. All engines drive generators which in turn drive 4 external pods with electric motors. The switch gear is to say the least, impressive.
At 1:00 AM one morning the vessel went dead in the water. All except the emergency lights went out. Our trusty IPad with Navionics said we were drifting at about 1.5 knots with the Gulf Current. Numerous assurances came over the speakers saying all was OK but stay in our cabins. This stoppage lasted for about an hour then all came back on and away we went.
The cause for the stoppage was failure of one of the primary transformers. A spare (very large) was on rails nearby keeping warm ready to be slid into place. The QM2s drive system has not been reliable. Rolls Royce has paid tens of millions to Cunard to attempt fixes, not totally successful.
Thus the onboard crew is ready and prepared for the next one. Well, maybe I better buy that spare macerator pump which has been on my spares list for awhile.
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