Celebrity Solstice goes to top of the class

The sheer extent of the energy saving initiatives on board Celebrity Cruises’ latest newbuilding sets it apart from most other vessels delivered in recent times

On 24 October this year, Meyer Werft in Germany delivered the 122,000gt post-Panamax cruise ship Celebrity Solstice to Celebrity Cruises. After a transatlantic voyage, the ship was officially named in Florida on 14 November, and has subsequently been deployed on Celebrity’s eastern Caribbean cruise routes.

Classed by DNV, and flying the Maltese flag, Celebrity Solstice is the first of a series of five sisters that the Papenburg yard is building for Celebrity. Celebrity Equinox and Celebrity Eclipse will follow in 2009 and 2010 respectively, while the fourth and fifth as yet unnamed vessels will see service in 2011 and 2012.

Celebrity Solstice is justifiably considered to be one of the most ‘eco-friendly’ vessels of its type. According to Meyer Werft, energy consumption of will be around the same as the yard’s 2001-built Radiance of the Seas – a ship which is approximately 30 per cent smaller.

The proportionate reduction in energy consumption has been achieved in a number of ways. Optimised hydrodynamics through a new hullform is certainly a key factor. Celebrity Cruises’ chief executive officer, Dan Hanrahan, has recently explained that whereas most of the company’s ships have been created from the ‘top down’, with passenger space configured first, then the hull constructed to match that space. With Celebrity Solstice, the owner designed the hull first, aiming to create the most fuel efficient form possible, and then built on top of it. “The tactic was a balancing act, and it added time to the construction process, but we hope that fuel efficiency will make the hull cost effective in the long run,” he observed.

In particular, Mr Hanrahan pointed out that on Celebrity Solstice, the shape of the aft section causes water to be drawn more naturally into the propellers. This in turn creates a slight reduction in the amount of energy needed to power the ship.

The ship was designed by Meyer in close co-operation with the owner and was optimised by means of extensive computer calculations and model tank tests. According to Meyer’s spokesman, Peter Hackmann, “Thanks to slender outlines, the ship features very low fuel consumption and has outstanding manoeuvring and seakeeping capabilities; it also has low noise and vibration levels.”

Lighting is a major source of energy consumption on cruise ships, and this issue has been tackled in a comprehensive way by the designers. Celebrity has been using LED lighting for several years, and this type has been found to offer significant savings compared to halogen lamps. For Celebrity Solstice, the owner, yard and the German company Osram have worked together to develop ship-specific LED lamps that are expected to be even more energy efficient (see box story, page 22).

Another feature of Celebrity Solstice is the fact that it has around 216 solar panels divided into five areas on board. The power generated, supplied to a grid, will be enough to operate more than 7000 LED lights. According to Mr Hanrahan, the solar panels are not yet able to deliver significant cost savings, but their inclusion on the ship is an attempt at ‘future proofing’. “There is no payback now, but should solar panels become cost efficient enough in the future, the ship will already have the infrastructure in place,” he points out.

In another energy saving project, Celebrity has joined forces with 3M to create a window coating that is designed to deflect incoming heat, and thereby reduce the air conditioning requirement. It has been suggested that this coating may have the added benefit of extending carpet life by protecting it from sun damage.

The HVAC system, supplied by the Dutch group Imtech, has been designed to be extremely energy efficient and features frequency controlled pumps and fans, also complex controls which can minimise energy consumption. Furthermore, a new type of cooling water system makes it possible to optimise the use of the waste exhaust heat generated by the propulsion plant within the HVAC system.

To reduce fuel consumption Celebrity Solstice has also been coated with International Paint’s Intersleek 970 fluoropolymer foul release product, which is proving to be an increasingly popular choice for cruise newbuildings. In all, it is estimated that the total weight of paint applied on the ship is around 320 tonnes.

The influence of environmental factors is also to be seen in the propulsion plant selected. Celebrity Solstice is equipped with four 16-cylinder Wärtsilä 46 series main engines, having a combined power of 67,200kW. This quartet is arranged in a diesel-electric power plant driving alternators generating 11kV current and supplying all propulsion and electrical requirements.

The Wärtsilä engines are equipped with common-rail fuel injection, designed to ensure that the engines produce no visible smoke at any power level. They also meet the latest international regulations governing NOx emissions.

Celebrity Solstice further features two 20.5MW Azipod propulsors. These have been supplied by ABB, and as they are able to turn through 360 degrees, they give the vessel a high degree of manoeuvrability. ABB also delivered the medium voltage generators, main switchboards, frequency converters, transformers and bow thruster motors.

It is anticipated that passengers and crew on Celebrity Solstice may consume around 2.18 million litres of drinkable water daily. Potable water is produced by two Hamworthy multi stage flash evaporators, each with a distillate daily capacity of 750m3. These evaporators are designed to be highly efficient and will largely be powered using energy derived from diesel engine exhaust heat. Celebrity Solstice also features a reverse osmosis water purification plant, which again incorporates an energy recovery system.

“Good communication between shipyard, shipowner and Hamworthy early on in the project resulted in an optimised heat recovery system connecting the diesel engine jacket water system with the evaporators,” comments Arno Haase-Camper, managing director of Hamworthy Serck Como. “The thermal efficiency of the MSF evaporators, rated at less than 150 kWh/tonne of distillate, is excellent in comparison to the more usual 190 kWh/tonne.”

Technology on board is also geared towards maximising the use of available water, and to reduce wastage. The HVAC system, for instance, has features that enable condensed water to be collected, which can then be utilised in the laundry.

As well as being a very environment friendly vessel, Celebrity Solstice is also designed to be extremely safe. According to Meyer Werft, this is the very first cruise ship built to the new IMO damage stability rules which come into force in 2009. These guidelines are intended to ensure a high degree of survivability in the event of damage. The yard also highlights the fact that the vessel is fitted with complex alarm and safety systems and that fire safety in the engineroom fulfils the highest regulatory standards.

Celebrity Solstice has been divided into seven fire sections, to ensure than any incident is containable. The vessel is equipped with six passenger tenders and 16 lifeboats as well as two fast rescue boats. Furthermore, the ship has four marine evacuation systems (MES), incorporating rescue chutes which provide a quick and safe means of evacuating passengers in the event of an emergency.

The integrated bridge system is of the Nacos 65-5 type and was delivered by SAM Electronics. Configured to provide safe navigation in all operational circumstances, this system features five multipilot stations, two chartpilots and two trackpilots. Furthermore, the vessel is equipped with two SAM Log4683 units and a VDR430 voyage data recorder.

All systems on board are controlled through an integrated automation package (IAS) supplied by L-3 Valmarine. The covers machinery automation, HVAC automation and emergency shutdown systems. The layout is designed to be decentralised with a high degree of redundancy and operates through a diverse network of workstations. In total, there are around 14,000 sensors and actuators on board.

Passenger accommodation is to a high standard, in line with Celebrity’s brand image. Around 90 per cent of cabins are outboard and most have their own balconies. Cabins are available in 10 different classes and configurations. At the top end of the scale are the Penthouse and Royal Suites, which occupy 110m2 and 54m2 respectively and which have their own living, dining and bedrooms, as well as bathrooms with jacuzzis. All cabins are en suite and are equipped with colour TVs, phones, fridges, individual AC units and Internet connections. There are also 26 cabins designed for disabled guests.

The public areas feature the wide range of entertainment and dining facilities that one has now come to expect on modern cruise ships. The Solstice Theatre, which spans decks 3 to 5, offers seating for 1,095 guests, and has been designed so that all tiers offer a good view of the stage.

The main restaurant, the Grand Epernay, has seating for 1,429 guests and is one of the largest rooms on board, extending over two decks. The passengers enter via stairs made from glass, and one of the highlights of the restaurant’s design is a wine tower made from steel and glass, and a chandelier with a 10m diameter.

Aside from this restaurant, there are nine other restaurants and cafés, as well as 16 bars, a disco and casino. The restaurants are catered for by 10 separate galleys and 11 pantries. The main galley is on decks 3 and 4, and there is a crew galley on deck 2, as well as a bakery on deck 4.

All areas in which food is prepared have been configured to meet the latest US Public Health (USPH) standards. To speed up the process of taking on stores while the ship is in port, the cool stores and other food storage areas have been designed so that they can be accessed by electric pallet trucks.

On Deck 14 is the Sky Observation Lounge, described as a meeting place for those who like to dance. Close by is a conference centre that can seat up to 142 persons.

Those that like retail therapy are well catered for on Celebrity Solstice. There are 16 shops to meet all requirements.

Within the Solarium and Aqua area on Deck 12 there is an indoor pool and a number of jacuzzis. The pool area has a roof which can be used to offer protection during periods of bad weather. Also on Deck 12 is an extensive fitness centre, offering a range of services from massage to acupuncture.

Amongst the most distinctive features of the vessel in terms of its passenger facilities is the Lawn Club, which has real, growing grass on a 2,130m2 lawn. This uses a type of grass – Agrostis Stalonifera – which has been developed especially for the vessel. In this area can also be found the Patio on the Lawn, the Sunset Bar, the Hot Glass show, and places where passengers can play boccia and croquet.

Passenger movement through the vessel is facilitated by a package of lift equipment supplied by Kone. This includes four standard units, of the MonoSpace design, eight scenic type lifts with MiniSpace technology and nine lifts for service and crew transfer purposes: eight of these are of the MonoSpace type and one is a MiniSpace type unit. In addition, Kone has supplied an easy access lift for those with impaired mobility and a dumbwaiter.

One of the most innovative features of the technology supplied with the Kone lifts is the computerised control system which has boarding and luggage modes. This ensures optimum operation when passengers are embarking and when luggage is being taken to cabins (PST October/November 2008).

Celebrity Solstice is the first in a new class. However, it is also evident that the vessel is ‘top of the class’ as far as energy saving and safety are concerned, while also setting high standards of passenger comfort and enjoyment on board. PST