Cruise ship engines are what make the entire vessel move, and as such, they are vitally important pieces of technology. Cruise ships rely on either diesel or gas turbine propulsion systems to travel from port to port. These propulsion systems use fuel sources such as diesel oil, bunker oil, heavy fuel oil, and natural gas.
Diesel Engines
Cruise ships that use diesel engines have a prime mover that is responsible for rotating the propeller shaft. The prime mover can be either a slow-speed two-stroke engine or a medium-speed four-stroke engine.
Slow-speed two stroke engines burn fuel at a lower rate than four stroke engines for the same amount of power output and require less maintenance. Meanwhile, medium-speed four stroke engines provide better fuel efficiency at higher speeds and are more reliable than two stroke engines.
Gas Turbine Engines
Gas turbine propulsion systems are also used in some cruise ships and work by using an air compressor to force large amounts of air into combustion chambers where it is then heated and mixed with fuel before being ignited by spark plugs. The resulting hot gases are then expelled out of the exhaust nozzle at high speeds, which creates thrust and propels the vessel forward. Gas turbine propulsion systems are more efficient than diesel engine systems but require more maintenance due to their highly complex design.
Conclusion:
Cruise ship engines play a critical role in propelling vessels from port to port. Diesel engines rely on either slow-speed two-stroke or medium-speed four-stroke prime movers, while gas turbine propulsion systems use an air compressor to generate thrust for movement forward. Both types of propulsion system have their own benefits and drawbacks that must be carefully weighed when selecting an engine for a cruise ship vessel.