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GE Provides Critical Updates Onboard the Dawn Princess

GE marine logo

Published Dec 12, 2016 10:08 AM by The Maritime Executive

• GE to Replace Existing Controllers with the New Generation PECe Digital Propulsion Controls for Carnival Group’s Dawn Princess/Pacific Explorer Cruise Vessel

• The Decentralized Architecture of the PECe Digital Propulsion Control Makes the Entire System Compact, Thereby Reducing Its Installation Costs While Improving Operational Safety

• GE’s Real-Time Simulator Will Facilitate Updates to be completed within the Dry-Dock Period of 12 Days

In the cruise industry, safety of the vacationers onboard the cruise vessel is of paramount importance and breakdown of a vessel would be a cause of concern for any cruise operator.

GE (NYSE: GE) has been one of the pioneers in the cruise industry when it comes to providing reliable and robust marine solutions. Back in 1994, GE’s technology helped powered the 856-foot-long, 77,441-ton, Dawn Princess cruise vessel. Decades later, and building upon the long-standing relation with Carnival cruise, GE will once again partner with Carnival Corporation to update the propulsion controls for Dawn Princess during its exciting transition to Pacific Explorer, operating under P&O Cruises Australia. The updated decentralized controls of the new system will reduce the installation costs of the system while enhancing redundancy and operational safety of the vessel.

After providing the first digital controls (Syconum range) in 1993, which was a technology breakthrough for its time, GE’s Marine Solutions will update the cruise vessel with the latest generation of digital controllers (PECe Range).

Commenting on the deal, Greg Jackson, P&O Cruises Australia (Carnival Corporation) said, “GE has been our long-term partner with whom we have partnered on a number of vessels in the past. We have always been impressed by the quality of solutions provided by GE and remain confident that their new propulsion controllers will live up to our high standards.”

GE will be concluding extensive shop tests at its Belfort Center of Excellence (CoE) using its real-time simulator where a digital model of the vessel can be created. Thanks to this, the planned upgrades can be verified for operational excellence in advance to facilitate faultless execution within the dry-docking period of 12 days.

“We are delighted to be partnering once again with Carnival Corporation, providing upgrade services to one of the largest cruise operators in the world. Their trust in our solutions over the years speaks volumes of the quality of our offerings to the cruise industry,” said Tim Schweikert, president and CEO, GE’s Marine Solutions.

During the upgrade, Visor remote control will also be upgraded to have a better diagnostic system, which will help with remote troubleshooting and unplanned downtime reduction.

GE will also provide technical assistance during the first cruise after dry docking.

The products and services herein described in this press release are not endorsed by The Maritime Executive.