Cathelco Systems Protect Cruise Ships of the Future

When the first of Royal Caribbean’s new generation of Quantum class cruise ships is launched this year, Cathelco equipment will be protecting the hull and seawater pipework systems.

The Quantum of the Seas and Anthem of the Seas can each accommodate more than 4,000 guests in RCCL’s largest and most advanced staterooms. At 348 metres in length and with 16 passenger decks, the new ships will offer the very latest in entertainment and recreational facilities. 

Both vessels are being built at the Meyer Werft yard in Papenburg where the Quantum of the Seas is currently under construction in the building dock. The first ship is due for delivery in the autumn of 2014 with the Anthem of the Seas to follow in the spring of 2015.

The Cathelco pipework anti-fouling systems will protect a total of 20 seachests on each vessel serving extensive shipboard equipment including freshwater evaporators, reverse osmosis systems, air conditioning chillers and sea water cooling pumps. The AF system will also protect a number of fire fighting pumps and their associated pipework.

“The flow rates through the seachests serving the air conditioning system are up to 4,730 cubic metres per hour. For these seachests we are supplying pairs of our largest copper and aluminium anodes measuring 1100mm in length and 140mm in diameter”, said Carlo Soddu who has been closely involved in the project at Cathelco.

The ships are also being supplied with Cathelco impressed current cathodic protection systems (ICCP) which will safeguard the hull surfaces against corrosion. 

The 250 amp forward system will have an arrangement of two 125 C-Max disc anodes and reference electrodes wired to a thyristor control panel and mounted port and starboard. The more powerful 350 amp aft system will have two 175 amp C-Max disc anodes and reference electrodes. C-Max anodes are compact, lightweight and have the advantage of being diver changeable for easy replacement without drydocking.

Cathelco are also supplying ICCP systems for two cruise ships for Carnival and Holland America Line which are being constructed by the Italian shipbuilder Fincanteri. 
The 99,000 grt Holland America Line vessel will be capable of accommodating 2,660 passengers, while the 135,000 grt Carnival Cruise Lines ship will have a capacity of 4,000 people.

The Holland America ship is scheduled for delivery in late 2015, whilst the new Carnival Cruise ship will enter service in the winter of 2016.

Both ships will have 200amp forward ICCP systems and 400 amp aft systems using arrangements of C-Max diver changeable disc anodes and reference electrodes.
It is likely that these vessels will be the first cruise ships to be installed with the latest Cathelco Quantum ICCP control panels which have the advantages of easy control/ monitoring and comprehensive data logging. They also provide greater connectivity enabling data to be displayed remotely or integrated with the ship’s computer systems.