Princess Star Engine Problems

[krufrank]

I just read that this weeks Princess Star cruise to Alaska got off to a rough start - engine issues.  They left Seattle late and then had to stop while out at sea.  I heard reports of scuba divers trying to fix engines  Anyone have an update?  I leave for Alaska on the Star on July 7th.  Thanks.

[oskidunker]

Star Princess is the actual name of the ship fyi. 

[Pierlesscruisers]

Yes, the Star has left late (around 8P M) the last 2 weeks due to work in that area. Has to do with thruster problems.  Please note that that DOES NOT affect the time that you need to arrive at the port for check-in. You should still assume that your departure time will be 4PM and you should arrive at the pier no earlier than 10 am or later than 2:30pm!

 

Tom

[Cruiserkenn]

Nice to know that this involves the thrusters.  We could always do tugboats without the thrusters🙂⛴⚓️🌅😌

 

Perhaps one of our engineers, who regularly comment here, could help us understand this issue better.  Thanks in advance!

[Colo Cruiser]

11 hours ago, krufrank said:

I just read that this weeks Princess Star cruise to Alaska got off to a rough start - engine issues.  They left Seattle late and then had to stop while out at sea.  I heard reports of scuba divers trying to fix engines  Anyone have an update?  I leave for Alaska on the Star on July 7th.  Thanks.

Was the engine room flooded?  TIA

[chengkp75]

19 hours ago, Cruiserkenn said:

Nice to know that this involves the thrusters.  We could always do tugboats without the thrusters🙂⛴⚓️🌅😌

 

Perhaps one of our engineers, who regularly comment here, could help us understand this issue better.  Thanks in advance!

Would that be me?

 

It sounds like they are having seal problems on one or more thruster, where oil will be leaking out into the sea.  Sometimes this is just a failure of the o-rings or seals, and sometimes it is from debris like fishing lines and nets becoming wrapped around the propeller and damaging the seal.  

 

I've done a repair like this in Hawaii, where we had the thruster torn apart by divers for the entire week cruise.  All of the large "bits" taken off, like the propeller blades and hub were chained into the thruster tunnel for the transits between ports, and I had to witness the video survey the divers made of how everything was secured down there before we could leave port.  The first thing done is to pump out the oil from the thruster and fill it with sea water, and when the repair is done, you displace the sea water with new oil.  It's pretty interesting that the bearings and things inside the thruster can be subjected to sea water for that long with no adverse affects, but that's what the manufacturer does (their tech rep is onboard for the repair, directing the divers).

[chengkp75]

9 hours ago, Colo Cruiser said:

Was the engine room flooded?  TIA

LOL.  Everything technical on a cruise ship is an "engine" problem, don't you know?

[cruisingpeople]

5 hours ago, chengkp75 said:

LOL.  Everything technical on a cruise ship is an "engine" problem, don't you know?

 

Isn't that the truth. 🤨

[cruisingpeople]

14 hours ago, Colo Cruiser said:

Was the engine room flooded?  TIA

 

Keith.... It had to be. Why else would they use scuba divers!!! LOL 🙂

[Cruiserkenn]

6 hours ago, chengkp75 said:

Would that be me?

 

It sounds like they are having seal problems on one or more thruster, where oil will be leaking out into the sea.  Sometimes this is just a failure of the o-rings or seals, and sometimes it is from debris like fishing lines and nets becoming wrapped around the propeller and damaging the seal.  

 

I've done a repair like this in Hawaii, where we had the thruster torn apart by divers for the entire week cruise.  All of the large "bits" taken off, like the propeller blades and hub were chained into the thruster tunnel for the transits between ports, and I had to witness the video survey the divers made of how everything was secured down there before we could leave port.  The first thing done is to pump out the oil from the thruster and fill it with sea water, and when the repair is done, you displace the sea water with new oil.  It's pretty interesting that the bearings and things inside the thruster can be subjected to sea water for that long with no adverse affects, but that's what the manufacturer does (their tech rep is onboard for the repair, directing the divers).

 

Yes!  I was hoping you would respond.  Thanks for the great explanation.

[satxdiver]

On 7/3/2019 at 4:56 AM, chengkp75 said:

Would that be me?

 

It sounds like they are having seal problems on one or more thruster, where oil will be leaking out into the sea.  Sometimes this is just a failure of the o-rings or seals, and sometimes it is from debris like fishing lines and nets becoming wrapped around the propeller and damaging the seal.  

 

I've done a repair like this in Hawaii, where we had the thruster torn apart by divers for the entire week cruise.  All of the large "bits" taken off, like the propeller blades and hub were chained into the thruster tunnel for the transits between ports, and I had to witness the video survey the divers made of how everything was secured down there before we could leave port.  The first thing done is to pump out the oil from the thruster and fill it with sea water, and when the repair is done, you displace the sea water with new oil.  It's pretty interesting that the bearings and things inside the thruster can be subjected to sea water for that long with no adverse affects, but that's what the manufacturer does (their tech rep is onboard for the repair, directing the divers).

 

Thanks for the explanation.  I also find it interesting that replacing the oil to stop the leak into the sea can be replaced with sea water which is corrosive does not present a serious problem.  Perhaps it is an issue of how long the sea water is left inside the thruster since corrosion does take some time.  

[chengkp75]

2 hours ago, satxdiver said:

 

Thanks for the explanation.  I also find it interesting that replacing the oil to stop the leak into the sea can be replaced with sea water which is corrosive does not present a serious problem.  Perhaps it is an issue of how long the sea water is left inside the thruster since corrosion does take some time.  

Pretty much what the Rolls-Royce tech rep told me.  It just goes against all my training.

[luvmygoldens]

We were on this sailing. Yes, it was a rough start left Seattle at 3:15 am. Divers were at the pier to fix the problem. No, we didn’t stop in the middle of the sea for repairs lol. Our only complaint was not being kept in the loop on what was going on. On a side note the captain did haul ass and we didn’t loose any time in port. It was a great cruise!

[Cruiserkenn]

Thanks for this update.  Glad the time in the ports was good.  

[viciouspixie14]

Yes, this ship left extremely late like 3am.... disappointing for sure.

[skynight]

Thank you chengkp75 for your post no. 6. So many things can go wrong, and so many complicated fixes at sea. Always enjoy your explanations.

[Riahnicole]

Hope it’s totally repaired before Nov 4 !!

[DrivesLikeMario]

It was just fine last week.  No problems whatsoever. 

[EmilyColwell]

1 hour ago, DrivesLikeMario said:

It was just fine last week.  No problems whatsoever. 

Thats perfect, was getting worried about my October booking.

Thanks!

[nukesubsailor]

On 7/2/2019 at 9:03 AM, krufrank said:

I just read that this weeks Princess Star cruise to Alaska got off to a rough start - engine issues.  They left Seattle late and then had to stop while out at sea.  I heard reports of scuba divers trying to fix engines  Anyone have an update?  I leave for Alaska on the Star on July 7th.  Thanks.

Interesting.  Those engines must have been outboards.

[nukesubsailor]

On 7/4/2019 at 8:19 AM, satxdiver said:

 

Thanks for the explanation.  I also find it interesting that replacing the oil to stop the leak into the sea can be replaced with sea water which is corrosive does not present a serious problem.  Perhaps it is an issue of how long the sea water is left inside the thruster since corrosion does take some time.  

Different metal alloys such as stainless steel,  Monel, or Inconel,  have a different resistance to sea water corrosion (chloride stress corrosion).  Still, if it were me, I would avoid sea water contact if there was any reasonable way to do so.

[nukesubsailor]

On 7/4/2019 at 9:11 AM, chengkp75 said:

Pretty much what the Rolls-Royce tech rep told me.  It just goes against all my training.

Maybe the Rolls-Royce tech is anticipating selling replacements for corroded parts sometime down the road.