Siemens Supplies Propulsion for Saga Cruises Newbuild
Siemens announced it has been awarded a contract to equip the first new build cruise liner for the British based operator Saga Cruises under contract to Meyer Werft in Papenburg.
The awarded package includes a SISHIP eSiPOD propulsion system as well as a power and distribution plant. This new cruise ship to be delivered in the summer of 2019 will be 236 meters long and 31.2 meters wide with a gross tonnage (GT) of 56,850 and will offer capacity of 999 passengers. The contract includes an option to equip one additional cruise liner potentially due for delivery in 2021.
According to Siemens, the major benefit of the SISHIP eSiPOD is its high overall efficiency resulting from the combination of a compact, hydrodynamically optimized design and an efficient permanent-excited synchronous motor. The propulsion motor is integrated into a pod shaped housing located outside the ship’s hull and enables full 360 degree steering angle. With the combination of the SISHIP eSiPOD and Siship Drive MV solution, Siemens is able to provide a perfectly balanced integrated propulsion system for this cruise ship with improved propulsion efficiency and maneuverability. In addition, the low-noise and low-vibration operation of the propeller motors make them particularly suited for the high demands of the customers in the yacht, passenger and cruise ship segment.
The reliable power supply of the ship is guaranteed by the integrated power plant system Siship Power MV. This comprises four generators with a total electrical output of 21 megawatts. The NxAIR medium-voltage switchgear takes care of efficient and safe power distribution. The power and propulsion plant is internally controlled and monitored by the Siemens integrated protection systems such as the Power Plant Protection (PPP), Generator Power Adaption System (GPA) and Propulsion Control System (PCS). The integrated Siemens Siship solutions help to increase the overall efficiency and reliability of the cruise ship, reduce fuel consumption and thus drive down operating costs.
Matthias Schulze, Executive Vice President Siemens Marine, said, “This contract enables us to position our new highly efficient generation of pod propulsion systems firmly within the cruise ship segment. Surely we do hope that this meticulously engineered and innovated design will open the door to securing additional orders in the future.”
Siemens is also responsible for project managing, engineering and commissioning of the entire diesel-electric propulsion system.