Carnival Opens Second Shoreside Operations Center

Carnival Corporation has expanded what it claims is the commercial maritime industry's first and most technologically advanced fleet operations center with the opening of a new facility in Seattle. 

The company's first Fleet Operations Center is located in Hamburg, Germany, and both centers provide real-time support for its 102-ship fleet. A third center, in Miami, will be added later this year.

The proprietary system captures thousands of data points and provides real-time analytics for 28 distinct parameters for navigational safety from each ship. The shore-based analytics system will automatically generate alerts to help provide support in addressing any potential safety or weather-related issues across the fleet. It focuses on optimizing safety, efficiency and overall fleet performance:

•    Nautical Operations & Safety – including the capability to see real-time radar visuals, stability conditions, automation, the safety management and command system, and webcams from each ship, along with GPS location, routing, ship conditions and weather data.

•    Procedural Optimization & Efficiency – including speeds, navigational data and engine conditions.

•    Sustainability – including fuel and energy usage, emissions levels, water and waste management.

Using cloud-based technology from Microsoft, the new system, dubbed Neptune, has been in use at in Hamburg since October 2015. Carnival Corporation has been piloting the system with its European cruise line brands in Hamburg and Southampton, England. Based on the system's success, the company will continue rolling out the system this year to further increase the monitoring capability of its ships sailing in the U.S. and Caribbean, through its Fleet Operation Centers in Miami and Seattle.

Moving forward, the system's ability to process and analyze big data in real time will enable Carnival Corporation and its brands to do predictive analysis.