General Discussion
Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsWonder how much fuel Cruise lines consume annually, and how long they can continue in business.
Am I the only one who has been thinking about the impact of less oil/gas resources, thus higher prices,
and the effect on the transportation systems which have so much invested in continued use of fossil fuels.?
MADem
(135,425 posts)Modern cruise ships use either gas turbine or diesel electric engines as their power source for propulsion, as well as for the ship's systems. The larger the cruise ship, the greater the demand for electrical power. Some larger ships rely on two different power sources: one for propulsion and one exclusively for electrical power.
Aero derivative gas turbine engines generate heat that is converted from mechanical energy into electrical power. To achieve this, compressed air is ignited in a combustion chamber. The hot exhaust is forced over a turbine that spins to mechanically drive a shaft. This power can then be used to spin electrical generators. Diesel-electric engines work much the same way, yet use a direct drive system rather than a turbine. Output shafts are connected to electrical generators to produce electrical power.
Both engine types require fuel, and lots of it. For example, the QE2 consumes about 380 tons of fuel daily if it's traveling at a speed of 28.5 knots and carries enough fuel to sail nonstop for 12 days [source: Warwick]. Cruise ships usually fill up at various ports, using fueling barges like floating gas stations. They use a lower-grade diesel that tends not to burn as cleanly as road-going diesel-powered vehicles. No doubt when prices rise at the pump, cruise ships also feel the pinch.
dixiegrrrrl
(60,010 posts)RKP5637
(67,111 posts)dixiegrrrrl
(60,010 posts)where all you could see was a long wall of masts and sails.
I read that some of the anchored ships were sunk to provide a bed for extending the shoreline at the waterfront.
IDemo
(16,926 posts)like God intended.
RKP5637
(67,111 posts)Katashi_itto
(10,175 posts)On 4 November 2007, in a 60 Minutes profile, Perkins suggested the yacht cost more than $150 million, but less than $300 million, refusing to be more specific
Type: Luxury yacht
Displacement: 1,240 t (1,220 long tons; 1,367 short tons)
Length: 88 m (289 ft)
Beam: 12.6 m (41 ft)
Draught: 6 m (20 ft)
Propulsion: 2 × Deutz TBD 620
Sail plan: Full-rigged ship
Sail area 2,400 m2 (25,833 sq ft)
Speed: 19.5 knots (36.1 km/h; 22.4 mph)
Capacity: 12 passengers
Crew: 18
loli phabay
(5,580 posts)If I won the mega millions this I would definetly buy.
RKP5637
(67,111 posts)RKP5637
(67,111 posts)sails look sort of like 3 beer kegs in a row!
dixiegrrrrl
(60,010 posts)RKP5637
(67,111 posts)Katashi_itto
(10,175 posts)RKP5637
(67,111 posts)Katashi_itto
(10,175 posts)Maybe Darth Vader...
Katashi_itto
(10,175 posts)dixiegrrrrl
(60,010 posts)loli phabay
(5,580 posts)FarCenter
(19,429 posts)And then add in the energy costs of air travel to/from the ports.
In a few years when oil is $200 / barrel, the cruise ship industry will start to suffer.
As will leisure travel in general. Now that most of air travel is in 4 companies, expect no additions in capacity and a slow transition of existing capacity from leisure to business and luxury class travel as energy prices go up.
dixiegrrrrl
(60,010 posts)True, it is a floating condo for 300 very very very rich and select passengers, but when the cost to fuel it zooms...
callled ResidenSea
kelliekat44
(7,759 posts)maxsolomon
(33,345 posts)The US Navy? The USAF? YOU pay for their fuel.
Cleita
(75,480 posts)meant they had to burn something like coal or oil to make the steam. The designation on the ships names would read like "SS Look Out" meaning "Steam Ship Look Out". I wonder what they fuel the new ships with? I really don't know. It would be interesting if there was a way to run ships on steam again without the dirty fuel. Maybe a clever inventor could come up with a way to fuel steam ships with solar panels. Of course there is the old fashioned way, SAILS! But in this case the sails could be fueling the steam. I dunno, I am running off some silly stuff now.