Purely mechanical curiosity, but does the little duck flipper attachment (Magic) work

[lmhall2000]

I was watching the 're-imagination' video on the Magic the past year...they attached this huge 'duck' thing to the front of the ship to help with stabilization?

The only time I was seasick was on the Wonder in really rough waters off California's coast...I'm just curious if that huge attachment really does stabilize the ship? Can you feel it more in the forward rooms or is it an all over effect for the ship..just thought for them to make that kind of major attachment to the ship, surely it has great benefits?

 

[DISNEY FANTASY]

The duck tail gives greater stability to the ship, and spreads the load and yes works.

It's not a flipper but a tail, and having been on the Magic pre and post it's addition we had a very smooth ride this summer, now that also can be the paint they out on the hull or the stabilisers or just lucky on the weather. But it seemed to all work.

However I prefer azipods on other cruises that give a far better smooth ride.

 

[lmhall2000]

However I prefer azipods on other cruises that give a far better smooth ride.

What the hoo is an azipod?? Sounds alien! All this intrigues me!

 

[DISNEY FANTASY]

What the hoo is an azipod?? Sounds alien! All this intrigues me!

RCL and other ships use them.

Azipod is the registered brand name for ABB Group's range of electric podded propulsion units. Developed in Finland jointly by the shipbuilding company Masa-Yards and ABB, Azipod is a marine propulsion unit consisting of a fixed pitch propeller mounted on a steerable gondola ("pod") which also contains the electric motor driving the propeller.

 

[lmhall2000]

RCL and other ships use them.

Azipod is the registered brand name for ABB Group's range of electric podded propulsion units. Developed in Finland jointly by the shipbuilding company Masa-Yards and ABB, Azipod is a marine propulsion unit consisting of a fixed pitch propeller mounted on a steerable gondola ("pod") which also contains the electric motor driving the propeller.

Why would Disney not opt for these? More maintenance? Or is it relatively new and weren't available when the Magic/Wonder came out? My friend was on the RCL Freedom of the Seas a few weeks ago and they said one propulsion unit had gone out, so they missed a port and had to lurch back to port...wondering if they're 'newish' maybe the technology needed to be tested a bit more?

 

[DISNEY FANTASY]

Why would Disney not opt for these? More maintenance? Or is it relatively new and weren't available when the Magic/Wonder came out? My friend was on the RCL Freedom of the Seas a few weeks ago and they said one propulsion unit had gone out, so they missed a port and had to lurch back to port...wondering if they're 'newish' maybe the technology needed to be tested a bit more?

I do not think they were an option for the Magic and Wonder but would have been fir Dream and Fantasy, so it was choice, my understanding Captain Tom didn't like them.

Any system can fail, these are normally reliable and smooth running, RCL like them and there ships to run very smoothly.

 

[truck1]

Why would Disney not opt for these? More maintenance? Or is it relatively new and weren't available when the Magic/Wonder came out? My friend was on the RCL Freedom of the Seas a few weeks ago and they said one propulsion unit had gone out, so they missed a port and had to lurch back to port...wondering if they're 'newish' maybe the technology needed to be tested a bit more?

I do not think they were an option for the Magic and Wonder but would have been fir Dream and Fantasy, so it was choice, my understanding Captain Tom didn't like them.

Any system can fail, these are normally reliable and smooth running, RCL like them and there ships to run very smoothly.

The Azipods were options during the Magics build. DCL went with prop shaft instead.

An Azipod is basically taking all of the running gear, engine, props shaft and makes it one compact unit. The unit swivels 360 degrees, and takes up less space then the traditional drive shaft unit that DCL prefers. In the pods case, it takes up significantly less room then the traditional.

Heres a pic:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Azipod

One of the problems with an azipod unit, is that there are several lawsuits out against the manufacturers over unreliability. This came up extensively when the Magic was being built. Carnival, and several of its subsidiaries including Cunard got hit hard with pods that failed prematurely. Repeatedly. Even though a fix was sent out and the new pods were supposed to incorporate that fix. (and no Im not a pod hater)
RCL and NCL are others.

Another issue is maint. Its easier to maintain the traditional drive assemblies then pods. Theres simply less moving parts.

Another is the number of pods needed. Using the Queen Mary as an example, there are 4 pods under her stern. Compared to 2 rudder shaft assemblies on the Dream Class. The 2 classes are relatively close in size.

Allure of the Seas is another victim so to speak. She has one that's been running on limited speed for several months if not longer.

This is a partial list that I know of, that has or had pod problems that caused premature drydocks,issues or repeated issues:
Carnival Legend
Queen Mary II
Adventure of the Seas
Carnival Paradise
Celebrity Millenium
Allure of the Seas
Pride of Hawaii/Norwegian Jade
Radiance of the Seas
Freedom of the Seas (right out of the builders yard)
Carnival Elation

Whats interesting to note, is that there are 2 pods makers
Rolls Royce and ABB. Both have issues, so its not isolated to 1 design or maker.

 

[lmhall2000]

Fascinating!!! I am all for technological advances, heck, I bought into the Prius...but also remember the dismal attempt to put diesel in Oldsmobile Station Wagons...I just don't want to be the first to 'try' out new technology...my guess is when they started marketing the azipods, they might have made a pretty attractive purchase plan since the ships would be guinea pigs...hope they get it worked out...admire the wisdom of the men at the helm who contribute to these decisions..I think for the most part, Disney ships are fairly consistent!

 

[toontoy]

Azipods are more maintenance prone and also fail more often.

RCI is having issues with Allure again and Freedom and a couple other ships that use them.

Having been on ships that use them and use a direct drive system. I prefer the direct drive. It seems the ship runs smoother and is not prone to problems

 

[xlxo]

Also... does the attachment make the Wonder longer so it no longer fits in the Panama Canal?

 

[Karlzmom]

It is my understanding that Wonder is the only boat that WILL fit through the canal right now. She was on the Pacific Coast/Alaska in 2014 and will be again in 2015. The canal is currently being upgraded, and after the new locks open the larger boats will also be able to fit, so perhaps Wonder will get "reimagined" at that time.

 

[truck1]

Azipods are more maintenance prone and also fail more often.

RCI is having issues with Allure again and Freedom and a couple other ships that use them.

Having been on ships that use them and use a direct drive system. I prefer the direct drive. It seems the ship runs smoother and is not prone to problems

Yes from what Ive seen pods seem to be more maint prone then traditional prop rudder shafts. From some of what Ive seen, one of the suppositions on the premature failures ( and that includes bearings wearing prematurely, seals failing allowing oil into places its not supposed to be etc. ) is that because of they way the pods are designed, an extreme amount of pressure is placed in a small part of the bearings, instead of being spread around as with bearings on a traditional shaft for example. This also is dependent on which way the pod is positioned and how much power is on the pod at the time. But for the most part, the pressure is in a small area of the wear ring.


Repeated problems with the same pod or ship isn't uncommon. Its one of the reasons Carnival at my last count has gotten more then 100 million dollars back for 3 different lines of their ships. I want to say its Holland that has 2 or 3 spare pods for their ships. When 1 fails, the affected ship goes to drydock, and the affected pod is removed and replaced with the spare. The ships regular pod is rebuilt and when she goes back for her reg dry dock, they swap them back. This saves them about a weeks worth of emergency dry dock and canceled cruises. Unless all of the spares are under ships. Then all bets are off.

 

[truck1]

Also... does the attachment make the Wonder longer so it no longer fits in the Panama Canal?

Assuming that they did put the duck tail on the Wonder, technically she would be to big for the existing locks. However, DCL could ask for a 1 or 2 time special exemption to transit the existing locks with a Ducktail. But Im with the majority in that assuming the Wonder gets all of the Magics upgrades, shell get a tail some time after the new locks are completed.

The reason that the Magic got a duck tail is because of all of the extra weight and height they added to her upper deck and a change in the SOLAS/IMO/ alphabet soup regs. Basically the center of gravity rules changed and the Magic, exceeded them with the new additions. So, to fix that they added the tail to her that put her cog back into compliance. A side benefit is that it saves fuel.

 

[truck1]

I was watching the 're-imagination' video on the Magic the past year...they attached this huge 'duck' thing to the front of the ship to help with stabilization?

The only time I was seasick was on the Wonder in really rough waters off California's coast...I'm just curious if that huge attachment really does stabilize the ship? Can you feel it more in the forward rooms or is it an all over effect for the ship..just thought for them to make that kind of major attachment to the ship, surely it has great benefits?

The Ducktail is actually on the stern. The part that's attached to the bow, and is painted a grey, and look kind of like a big q tip, is called a bulbous bow. Basically its a wave breaker and helps break the surface tension of the water, to help the ship move easier threw the water (hence a savings in fuel) and also helps set the ships wake up to reduce stresses on the hull of the ship. The Magic class has had them since she was made. Just about every ship I can think of, from aircraft carriers, to cruise ships, to freighters, to even mega yachts have them.


The Ducktail at the stern, adds buoyance to the stern which helps keep the ship stabile in rolls from side to side, and also keeps the stern from sinking too deep, which reduces drag, which reduces fuel consumption which saves money.

This link from Scott Sanders blog has some good pictures of the bulbous bow, and the new duck tail.

http://disneycruiselineblog.com/201...e-transformation-in-cadiz-is-almost-complete/

This one, is Hollands Nieuw Amsterdam.

http://cruises.about.com/od/cruiseshippictures/ig/Cruise-Ships/HAL-Nieuw-Amsterdam.htm