Seven Seas Voyager, the new 50,000-gt cruise ship under construction at T. Mariotti Shipyard in Genoa, Italy for Radisson Seven Seas, will be among the first ships to house the new Dolphin podded propulsion system jointly developed by
STN Atlas Marine Electronics and John Crane-Lips.
The vessel, which is scheduled for a 2003 delivery will boast podded propulsors delivering 2 x 7,000 kW at 170 rpm. Main features include integration of a powerful electric drive into a hydro-dynamically optimized pod below ship, resulting in a directly-driven propeller.
Extensive CFD analyses and model tank tests have led to the development of a pod shape with enhanced efficiency and maneuvering characteristics.
The Dolphin system has been developed for power ranges extending from 3 MW to more than 19 MW and is suitable for a variety of vessels designed for high speed and good maneuverability operation. The standard drive of the fixed-pitch propeller includes and air-cooled six-phase synchronous motor; gears, shaft systems, rudders and stern thrusters forming part of conventional electric drives are not required.
In addition to Dolphin, the focus of the delivery by STN Atlas and John Crane-Lips for Seven Seas Voyager also includes a complete propulsion system with synchro-converters, control and joystick system, diesel alternators and a high-voltage distribution assembly with propulsion and main transformers as well as bow thrusters.