Diamond Princess (ship)

Diamond Princess docked in Hobart, Australia
History
Name: Diamond Princess
Owner: Carnival Corporation & plc
Operator: Princess Cruises
Port of registry:

2004-2014 Bermuda Hamilton, Bermuda

2014-present United Kingdom London, England
Route: Asia, Australia and New Zealand
Builder: Mitsubishi Heavy Industries
Cost: US$500 million
Yard number: 2181
Christened: 2004
Completed: February 2004
Maiden voyage: 2004
In service: March 2004
Identification:
Status: In service
Notes: [1][2]
General characteristics
Class and type: Gem class Cruise ship
Tonnage: 115,875 GT
Length: 290.2 m (952 ft)
Beam: 37.49 m (123.0 ft)
Height: 62.48
Draught: 8.53m
Decks: 13
Installed power: Wärtsilä 46 series common rail engines
Propulsion: Twin propellers
Speed: 22 knots (41 km/h; 25 mph)
Capacity: 2,670 passengers
Crew: 1,100 crew
Notes: [1][2]

Diamond Princess is a cruise ship owned and operated by Princess Cruises. She began operation in March 2004 and primarily cruises in Asia during the summer and Australia in the winter season. She is a subclassed Grand Class ship, which is also known as a Gem Class ship. Diamond Princess and her sister ship, Sapphire Princess, are the widest subclass of Grand-class ships, as they have a 37.5 m (123 ft) beam while all other Grand Class ships have a beam of 36 m (118 ft). Diamond Princess and Sapphire Princess were both built in Nagasaki, Japan by Mitsubishi Heavy Industries.

Construction

The ship's hull was originally christened Sapphire Princess. However, construction was delayed when fire swept through the original decks of Diamond Princess (presently sailing as Sapphire Princess) during construction. Because completion would be delayed for some time, her sister ship, which was also under construction, was changed to Diamond. The name swap helped to keep the delivery date of Diamond Princess on time.[3] She was the first Princess Cruises ship to be built in a Japanese shipyard and lacks the "wing" or "spoiler" across the rear which can be seen on Caribbean Princess.

Machinery

The diesel-electric plant of Diamond Princess has four diesel generators and a gas turbine generator. The diesel generators are Wärtsilä 46 series common rail engines, two of the straight 9-cylinder configuration (9L46), and two of the straight 8-cylinder configuration (8L46). The 8- and 9-cylinder engines can produce approximately 8,500 kW (11,400 hp) and 9,500 kW (12,700 hp) of power respectively. These engines are fueled with heavy fuel oil (HFO or bunker c) and marine gas oil (MGO) depending on the local regulations regarding emissions, as MGO produces much lower emissions but is much more expensive. The gas turbine generator is a General Electric LM2500, producing a peak of 25,000 kW (34,000 hp) of power and being fueled by MGO. This generator is much more expensive to run than the diesel generators, and is used mostly in areas, such as Alaska, where the emissions regulations are strict. It is also used when top speed is required to make it to a port in a short time period. There are two propulsion electric motors which drive fixed-pitch propellers and six thrusters used during maneuvering; three bow and three stern. The propulsion electric motors (PEMs), are conventional synchronous motors made by Alstom Motors. The two motors are each rated to 20 MW and have a maximum speed of 154 rpm. (Rated speed of 0-145 rpm.)

Ports of call

Prior to 2014, Diamond Princess alternated sailing north and southbound voyages of the glacier cruises during the northern summer months. In the southern summer, she sails from Australia and New Zealand, and cruises around Asia. Since 2014, she sails Japan cruises from Yokohama for Tokyo or Kobe in the northern summer season. [4]

For the 2016-17 season, she will sail roundtrip sailings in the northern winter months from Singapore replacing the Sapphire Princess.[5] Kota Kinabalu was added as part of its destination along with Vietnamese port of Nha Trang in December 2016.[6] Her Australia & New Zealand voyages from Sydney will be replaced by the Emerald Princess, but will resume these voyages for the 2017-18 season. [7]

Incidents

In February 2016, Diamond Princess experienced a gastroenteritis ("gastro") outbreak caused by norovirus sickening 158 passengers and crew on board, as confirmed after arrival in Sydney by NSW Health.[8] [9]

References

  1. 1 2 "Advanced Masterdata for the Vessel Diamond Princess". VesselTracker. 2012. Retrieved 24 April 2012.
  2. 1 2 "Diamond Princess Vessel Details and Current Position". Marine Traffic. 2012. Retrieved 29 April 2012.
  3. ↑ "Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Cruise Ship "Sapphire Princess" To Be Delivered to Princess Cruises" (Press release). Hideo Ikuno, Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd. May 26, 2004.
  4. ↑ "Princess Cruises Unveils 2015 Japan Cruise Program". Princess Cruises. Retrieved 15 July 2015.
  5. ↑ "Princess Cruises Debuts 2016-2017 Exotics Sailings". Princess Cruises. Retrieved 15 July 2015.
  6. ↑ Mark Elliott (2 December 2016). "Princess Cruises adds Kota Kinabalu to Asian season". Travel Asia Daily. Retrieved 3 December 2016.
  7. ↑ "Emerald Princess cruise ship to debut in Sydney: Another cruise giant to call Australia home". Traveller. Retrieved 15 July 2015.
  8. ↑ Kembrey, Melanie (2016-02-04). "More than 150 passengers and crew sick with gastro on board cruise ship". WA Today. Fairfax Media. Retrieved 4 February 2016.
  9. ↑ Brown, Michelle (2016-02-04). "Cruise ship hit by norovirus gastroenteritis docks in Sydney". ABC News. Australian Braodcasting Corporation (ABC). Retrieved 7 February 2016.
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