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»	Cruise Talk » Technically Speaking » Cruiseliners with 3 propellers

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Topic: Cruiseliners with 3 propellers

sslewis
First Class Passenger
Member # 3649

posted 01-25-2005 09:52 AM

It seems the perfect combination, apart from the ill-fated Olympic class!
Motorships usually have 2 propellers or 4 like the wonderful Dominion Monarch.
But 3 seems the ideal number, like the Voyager class!
Oranje and La Marseillaise had the distinction of being liners and cruiseships with 3 propellers.
I was wondering about the versatility of operation.
Could they sail on one propeller?
Did they use only 2 propellers on cruises between line voyages?
Voyager seems to have a fixed propeller and 2 azimuth for safety.

Posts: 2513 | From: Shipspotting Solent shores when weather allows.... | Registered: Feb 2003 | IP: Logged

lasuvidaboy
First Class Passenger
Member # 4527

posted 01-25-2005 12:15 PM

White Stars' Olympic was a huge success. Before and after WW1 she was a transatlantic favorite. She, like many ships had a few mishaps, but overall she was a reliable and a very popular ship her entire career. As for her near sisters, that is another story.

Posts: 7654 | From: Hollywood Hills/L.A. | Registered: Mar 2004 | IP: Logged

sslewis
First Class Passenger
Member # 3649

posted 01-26-2005 11:55 AM

Indeed!
What fascinates me with 3 props liners is that they should be able to operate on two or just one propeller.
As a model maker, I can run the boat with a single prop til I can afford the others!

Posts: 2513 | From: Shipspotting Solent shores when weather allows.... | Registered: Feb 2003 | IP: Logged

mikiebaccarat
First Class Passenger
Member # 1026

posted 01-26-2005 03:05 PM

The Olympic, Titanic, and Britannic had 3 propellers. and an unusual engine configuration. The two wing props were driven by conventional reciprocating steam engines; the centre prop by the newer steam turbine. By contrast the Mauritania, Kusitania and Aquitania of rival Cunard had 4 props driven by the newer and faster steam turbines. Because of their 3 prop configuration the Oltmouc class had an extremely small rudder immediately abaft the centre prop giving them a much greater turning circle which proved disasterous for the Titanic and frequently gog the Olympic in trouble,

Posts: 53 | From: Kingston,ON,Canada | Registered: Jan 2000 | IP: Logged

sslewis
First Class Passenger
Member # 3649

posted 01-27-2005 06:50 AM

Yes, the Olympic class wasn't very manoeuvrable, hitting warships, sucking liners, disturbing the ice environment and sinking Nantucket lightship!
They were like poorly driven tankers!
They unusal engine arrangement was quite advanced, as the steam from the Triple expansion engines was recycled for the central turbine!
This means the central turbine only gave a boost at high speed, but could not be used alone.
So I wonder if the outboard engines only were used in cruising mode for economy?
The combination of 1 2 or 3 propeller would have been possible on ships like Oranje(Angelkina Lauro), La Marseillaise(Arosa Sky, Bianca C)?

Posts: 2513 | From: Shipspotting Solent shores when weather allows.... | Registered: Feb 2003 | IP: Logged

desirod7
First Class Passenger
Member # 1626

posted 01-27-2005 06:54 AM

The center prop could not reverse either which meant a lot of drag when full astern.

Had Titanic not sank the Olympic class would have been long forgotton.

Posts: 5727 | From: Philadelphia, Pa [home of the SS United States] | Registered: Oct 2000 | IP: Logged

lasuvidaboy
First Class Passenger
Member # 4527

posted 01-27-2005 01:06 PM

quote:
Originally posted by desirod7:
The center prop could not reverse either which meant a lot of drag when full astern.
Had Titanic not sank the Olympic class would have been long forgotton.

I agree David, the only ship of that era (that did not sink) that a few people remember is Mauretania of 1907.

Posts: 7654 | From: Hollywood Hills/L.A. | Registered: Mar 2004 | IP: Logged

Ernst
First Class Passenger
Member # 5369

posted 01-28-2005 09:28 AM

The less propeller, the higher the efficiency. So one propeller would be utmost efficient, but there are limitations like:

- material proerties
- cavitation
- redundancy: Relying on one propeller only might not be an good idea for a ship carrying passengers.
- the draft
- concernign the manouvrability of the vessel two might be better than one in some situations

So what about three: I don`t find that very elegant....especially the Voyger Class designs is somehow clumsy....why do they have the obstructiong pod infront of the mid propeller? (in the hull) Why not operating it like the ohter pods with the propeller facing forward?

Posts: 9746 | From: Eindhoven | Registered: Jan 2005 | IP: Logged

sslewis
First Class Passenger
Member # 3649

posted 02-01-2005 12:59 PM

Ernst,
The Voyager class's middle propeller remains fixed in case the side pods fails.
In order to have a center prop, the hull would have a tunnel like the ROC single prop cruiseships, so the water can be sucked more efficiently.
This cost more money, and the Voyager is a compromise.
Single prop container ships of the same size have a different hull design though.

Posts: 2513 | From: Shipspotting Solent shores when weather allows.... | Registered: Feb 2003 | IP: Logged

Ernst
First Class Passenger
Member # 5369

posted 02-01-2005 01:08 PM

quote:
Originally posted by sslewis:
Ernst,
The Voyager class's middle propeller remains fixed in case the side pods fails.
In order to have a center prop, the hull would have a tunnel like the ROC single prop cruiseships, so the water can be sucked more efficiently.
This cost more money, and the Voyager is a compromise.
Single prop container ships of the same size have a different hull design though.

Well it`s a cheap to build solution. But why not at least an adjustable pitch propeller?

Posts: 9746 | From: Eindhoven | Registered: Jan 2005 | IP: Logged

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