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Topic: New Ship question

RonR3
Just Boarded
Member # 5543

posted 11-21-2006 05:13 PM

I have seen that when ships leave their "birth place" they travel backwards for a while until they get to a certain spot...ie..the ocean. Why is this? Why must they do this? Can't they travel easier if not better forward when gpoing to their port? For example on the homepage of this site, they show a NCL ship going backwards top its first place. This really peeks my curiousity. Thanks.

Posts: 3 | From: NH | Registered: Mar 2005 | IP: Logged

kaiser
First Class Passenger
Member # 3370

posted 11-22-2006 04:57 PM

Welcome aboard RonR3.

I'm not actually sure of what you mean by their "birth place"... I'm assuming that you mean when a ship is being built and is launched or floated out from her building berth or sails from her fitting out berth.

I know that when a ship is launched from land on a slipway (rarely done nowadays, if ever), she goes stern first so that she slows down easier than if going bow first. As for ships sailing backwards from a shipyard after completion, there is I believe a yard in Germany that builds cruise ships that is on a river. As the river is too narrow for the ship to be turned around, it will sail (or be towed) backwards until the river widens.

I think ...

Regards, Kaiser

[ 11-22-2006: Message edited by: kaiser ]

Posts: 212 | From: Vancouver, B.C. | Registered: Sep 2002 | IP: Logged

RonR3
Just Boarded
Member # 5543

posted 11-22-2006 05:07 PM

Thanks for the response. If you go here you will see a picture of the NCL ship doing what I said...going backwards....and they state that in their caption...maybe it is the river is not wide enough fora turn...never thought about that in this manner...

[ 11-27-2006: Message edited by: joe at travelpage ]

Posts: 3 | From: NH | Registered: Mar 2005 | IP: Logged

Linerrich
First Class Passenger
Member # 4864

posted 11-22-2006 05:27 PM

Kaiser is correct--the Meyer Werft newbuilds at Papenburg are built inside huge buildings and 'backed' out. They must be towed backwards for about 27 miles down the Ems River until they reach the open waters of the North Sea and can turn around.

Rich

Posts: 4210 | From: Miami, FL | Registered: Jul 2004 | IP: Logged

Ernst
First Class Passenger
Member # 5369

posted 11-22-2006 05:39 PM

I guess what you mean is the transfer of the ships built at the renowned Meyer Werft in Germany on the Ems river to the open sea.

I read that the idea came orinally form German authorities. Going astern has several adavantages. At lower speeds the rudder is less efficient - and having the bow thruster at the back seems to be more practical - and I guess the course stability is not so good a lower speeds - so pulling the ship is the more stable configuration. Also, the propellers move water under the ship when going astern - which is nice as the river is sometimes very shallow.

If I remember right, the Radiance class ships were the first ones where this has been done this way.

Link to Meyer Werft

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

recab
First Class Passenger
Member # 1677

posted 11-27-2006 04:33 AM

The ships sail backward down the River Ems from Papenburg because of shallow waters and the flow from propellers minimize the draft. Also, they are not towed but use their own propulsion during the transfer. A tug is at each end only for safety.

Posts: 730 | From: Aland, Finland | Registered: Nov 2000 | IP: Logged

Globaliser
First Class Passenger
Member # 4153

posted 11-27-2006 04:57 AM

IIRC, there are points along the river at which the amount of water under the keel is pretty much a matter of inches. So the effect of motoring backwards - in effect, using the propellers to shovel water under the keel - helps to improve the safety margin. Every inch counts. (But then, doesn't it always?)

Posts: 1869 | From: UK | Registered: Sep 2003 | IP: Logged

lasuvidaboy
First Class Passenger
Member # 4527

posted 11-27-2006 02:55 PM

When QM was being towed down the Clyde after being completed, she had most of her lifeboats removed to reduce her draft for her journey down the shallow river. She was also nearly lost when she hit the bottom of the river and held firm.

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

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