References | VULKAN Group

Flexible Couplings for a Floating Disneyland

Ship: Disney Dream und Disney Fantasy (cruise ships)
Shipyard: Meyer/Papenburg

The Challenge:

In August 2009, at the Meyer Werft GmbH shipyard in Papenburg, Germany, the Disney Cruise Line laid down the keel during a festive ceremony. VULKAN has received the contract to equip the four MAN engines of the cruise ship with RATO S couplings. Another ocean giant, the Disney Fantasy, which has been part of the fleet since 2012, also cruises using the RATO elastomer couplings.

Both ships have 1,250 cabins each, thus doubling the capacity of previous ships. The two cruisers are about 340 metres long and 37 metres wide, which is three times the size of a football field, and have 128,000 GRT.

The Solution:

The drive system of the Disney Dream is equipped with five MAN engines in the diesel-electric version: the engines drive the generators, which produce the required electricity, through the RATO S couplings. The marine drive is then operated via electric engines driving the propellers. Similarly, these generators supply all the other current collectors on the ship. Three 12V 48/60 CR engines with a power of 14,400 kW are fitted with RATO S 562Q couplings. For both 14V 48/60 CR engines, with a power of 16,800 kW, VULKAN supplies RATO S 562Y couplings.

The Advantages:

The elastomer coupling RATO S is torsionally flexible and can absorb axial, radial and angular offsets. It is ideally suited for using flexibly mounted machines (engines and gearboxes). Good tuning of torsional vibration behaviour of the drive system is achieved through the different available torsional stiffness and damping. The torsionally flexible part of the coupling may be configured as required in one or several rows. VULKAN's RATO couplings are available up to a nominal torque of 2,000 kNm.

Further information on products can be found here

VULKAN @ E-Ferry from EU-H2020 program

Innovative EFerry for island operation in Denmark is equipped with VULKAN components.

ÆrØ is an island in the south of Denmark. It has been a pioneering community for renewable energy projects since the 70s and 80s. The mayors have committed to making ÆrØ CO2 neutral before 2025. Wind turbines, district heating based on solar thermal, biomass and photovoltaics generate most of the island's needs for electricity and heat. So it is obvious to use this energy also for the island ferry service.

The project has been funded by the EU H2020 program (Research & Innovation Horizon 2020) since June 2015. It includes the design, construction and demonstration of an all-electric medium-sized ferry (Green Ship) for medium-haul services. This can travel in an environmentally friendly way and without CO2 emissions. It is therefore a 100% electric ship.

ÆRØ-Ferry will test the E-Ferry (commissioned July 2019, regular ferry service since 15.08.2019) over 2 years on the route Fynshav to Sœby (Aero island) and Sœby (ÆrØ island) to Faaborg. Furthermore ÆRØ-Ferry will test and validate the feasibility and economic viability of the concept to the industry and ferry operators. Particular attention will also be paid to reduced noise emissions into the water and air during port berthing, reduced wave action even at high speed, high safety standards, lightweight construction of the superstructure and main components, and extreme energy efficiency.

There are two separate propulsion systems installed:
E-drive motor - highly elastic VULKAN VULKARDAN F coupling - gearbox - Piening shaft system and fixed pitch propeller.

The newly developed VULKARDAN F5410 with clamping hub connection and classification according to DNV with ice class 1C is used. These were delivered as one of the first coupling designs in April 2017 and successfully installed in the plant The traction motors as well as the gearboxes are mounted elastically or hard-elastically.
During the seatrails and since commissioning, the couplings have been running without any complaints and meet the demands placed on them. VULKAN has thus made a further contribution to "green ship technology".

The e-ferry_logo_colour project will be presented at various events and will certainly attract attention for further new ferry constructions in short-sea traffic. We will continue to follow this project and are looking forward to the first operational results. Further information can be found at e-ferryproject.eu.

Technical data of the ferry:

installed power:	2x 750KW
Battery capacity:	4,3 MWh Lithium-Ionen
Length/width/draught	59,5m/12,8m/2,5m
Payload:	31 cars or 4 trucks plus 8 cars on the open deck, 147/196 passenger in winter/summer
Speed:	up to 14 knots
Range between charging periods:	2x 10.7 NM, 800VDC charging system