Photos of Carnival's "extra" generators

[med9114u]

We were on the Conquest last month and they were not there anymore...

[Hotdog 52]

These portable generators are used in plants all the time, turnarounds and temp. installations. Probably there until one can be installed (built) inside the ship. That's my "speculation".:)

[Sevencruiser]

We were on the Fantasy February this year(2014) and had a power failure during a sea day. We were on Serenity deck and would have not even have noticed except for the net they put over the hot tub. But we DID notice the loud noise of the generator and black smoke from it, coming from a deck (or maybe two) below us where a generator had been started up temporarily.

[Branman]

Wouldn't these be hooked up through the bottom of the container? That would be a more permanent hookup for several months-to-years use; you could protect the hookups from weather and directly connect the replacement generator to the switching box used by the emergency generator.

 

Also, I wouldn't claim that they could be "for show." If they're not hooked up, then there's no reason to spend money renting a generator.

[uffdafla]

Last month on the Freedom, we did a B2B. Week one was the Cat logo. Week two Carnival logos were in place. They did have large cables on the lower starboard side of the container. These ran into a restricted area near the tail's vents. I couldn't get a picture of where they went.

[chengkp75]

Wouldn't these be hooked up through the bottom of the container? That would be a more permanent hookup for several months-to-years use; you could protect the hookups from weather and directly connect the replacement generator to the switching box used by the emergency generator.

 

Also, I wouldn't claim that they could be "for show." If they're not hooked up, then there's no reason to spend money renting a generator.

 

There's not a lot of room under the engine/generator skid, or around the sides, and there is only about 2-3" between the container bottom and the deck. Watertight cable glands and deck penetrations are routinely used on ships, and marine cables are weather resistant. If you look back at one of the original threads about this (too lazy to get the link) you'll see a square area at one end of the container that has a blue tarp around it. The tarp is just to hide the cables from sight, not to waterproof them or protect them from sunlight/water.

 

Also, since the reason these generators were installed is to power more hotel functions than the emergency generator does, there must be further disconnects and cabling than just to the emergency generator.

[chengkp75]

Last month on the Freedom, we did a B2B. Week one was the Cat logo. Week two Carnival logos were in place. They did have large cables on the lower starboard side of the container. These ran into a restricted area near the tail's vents. I couldn't get a picture of where they went.

 

That sounds like what I've seen on other ships, and what would be a proper install. Sounds like they are getting some connected, but taking their time about it. That's all I was interested in, since in late December, it had been several months since these had been placed onboard, and nothing had been done to connect them. It didn't appear that connecting them was a high priority for them, just getting the generator in view.

[funinthesun1964]

From the Pride, late October 2013

 

[uffdafla]

I can Email you my picture. I'm not sure how to post on CC

[RWolver672]

Just speculating here but we have a back-up generator for our house. I keep it in the garage. If the power goes out, I take it outside and hook the cable up to a plug that was installed on the outside of our house. I don't leave it hooked up all of the time. Maybe Carnival does the same. Only hook it up when they need it.

 

And before anyone says it, yes, there is a device in the main panel box that I can't run the generator power until the main is disconnected. Then I flip the breaker for the generator and am good to go.

Edited March 19, 2014 by RWolver672

[chengkp75]

Just speculating here but we have a back-up generator for our house. I keep it in the garage. If the power goes out, I take it outside and hook the cable up to a plug that was installed on the outside of our house. I don't leave it hooked up all of the time. Maybe Carnival does the same. Only hook it up when they need it.

 

And before anyone says it, yes, there is a device in the main panel box that I can't run the generator power until the main is disconnected. Then I flip the breaker for the generator and am good to go.

 

Like the analogy, but when comparing your 15-20kw generator to a 2-3Mw gen set, there are a whole different set of rules. The classification societies have requirements that cabling be secured to the ship's structure every 1/2 meter or so, and that deck and bulkhead penetrations be watertight, which generally means a couple of hours to open one up, stuff a 4" diameter cable through it, and then reseal. That kind of temporary "hook it up when needed" installation would not be acceptable to either class or IMO.

 

While I can't say how the new generators are connected to the ship's system, or what exactly they are powering (and they certainly are not going to provide A/C in the case of another Triumph, but may provide ventilation fans), it seems like Carnival is following its promise. However, it seems like after the initial flurry of setting the generators onboard for visual "proof" that they are committed to this, it has taken up to 6 months to actually get a temporary fix in place.

[Smart Arsenal Fan]

Very glad you weren't onboard the Triumph when they airlifted the spare generator(s).

 

"Stop! Take it back!! I don't see permanent secure cables and seals!!!" :eek:

 

 

If that is sitting on the Conquest this Sunday, and it is hookupable (sorry for me using technical terms) for an emergency, I will be happier than if there was nothing.

 

"Permanent" is better than "temporary" but

 

"Something" trumps "nothing".

 

;)

[hftmrock]

when no one was looking I get a great shot of inside the generator boxes. Here is the pic

[JinxyB]

 

From the Sensation in Jan

[chengkp75]

 

From the Sensation in Jan

 

Thanks, really hoping for someone who escorted the young'uns to the top of the slides with a camera for a close up, even an inadvertent corner of a photo. But just professional curiosity.

[Buck64]

Very glad you weren't onboard the Triumph when they airlifted the spare generator(s).

 

"Stop! Take it back!! I don't see permanent secure cables and seals!!!" :eek:

 

 

If that is sitting on the Conquest this Sunday, and it is hookupable (sorry for me using technical terms) for an emergency, I will be happier than if there was nothing.

 

"Permanent" is better than "temporary" but

 

"Something" trumps "nothing".

 

;)

 

I agree 100%. Something is better than nothing. Sometimes when we have a little knowledge of a subject, we become like Monday morning quarterbacks. I'm sure that CAT and Carnival know what they are doing. Carnival has too much at stake with these generators for them to just be for show. I'm sure that by being visible, they make the passengers feel more safe. Sorry I didn't use any technical terms. :D

[bernardch]

I actually have a very good picture of the generator taken from the mini-golf on the Valor from February showing the cabling coming out of the container and entering the ship. Probably from no more than 10-20 feet away. I took it specifically for a review I've yet to write. I'll post in this thread later tonight when I get home.

 

ChuckB

[chengkp75]

I agree 100%. Something is better than nothing. Sometimes when we have a little knowledge of a subject, we become like Monday morning quarterbacks. I'm sure that CAT and Carnival know what they are doing. Carnival has too much at stake with these generators for them to just be for show. I'm sure that by being visible, they make the passengers feel more safe. Sorry I didn't use any technical terms. :D

 

Was waiting for the flak for questioning Carnival.

 

Something airlifted to the ship in an emergency is one thing, a permanent (even if somewhat temporary, maybe 2-3 years before drydock) installation like this requires approvals from class, and flag state. These approvals are to ensure the safety of the passengers and crew, and since the generator is very close to public areas, the safety around high voltage equipment is paramount, particularly if this is designed (as advertised) as a standby power source, so that you cannot know when it may be placed in service, and the area roped off.

 

I think that I have been pretty fair and impartial with Carnival over their recent troubles in several threads here, defending the Triumph as a maintenance issue and not negligence (at least not proven to me, yet), but also questioning their training, which is supported by the USCG report on the Splendor.

Edited March 19, 2014 by chengkp75

[JinxyB]

Thanks, really hoping for someone who escorted the young'uns to the top of the slides with a camera for a close up, even an inadvertent corner of a photo. But just professional curiosity.

 

Funny you say that-the slides were broken most of my cruise. I asked someone why the slides were not open and they said the motor/pump was not working-too bad they couldn't use the generator to work the slides!

[debee1015]

This was on the Legend last October.

 

Sent from my SCH-I535 using Forums mobile app

[sjn911]

No, I don't work for CAT, but I am a marine engineer, and have used these boxed temporary generators before onboard ships.

And you have calmly helped us understand alot...thank you.:)

[sjn911]

No, I don't work for CAT, but I am a marine engineer, and have used these boxed temporary generators before onboard ships.

 

Was waiting for the flak for questioning Carnival.

 

Something airlifted to the ship in an emergency is one thing, a permanent (even if somewhat temporary, maybe 2-3 years before drydock) installation like this requires approvals from class, and flag state. These approvals are to ensure the safety of the passengers and crew, and since the generator is very close to public areas, the safety around high voltage equipment is paramount, particularly if this is designed (as advertised) as a standby power source, so that you cannot know when it may be placed in service, and the area roped off.

 

I think that I have been pretty fair and impartial with Carnival over their recent troubles in several threads here, defending the Triumph as a maintenance issue and not negligence (at least not proven to me, yet), but also questioning their training, which is supported by the USCG report on the Splendor.

Extremely fair and rather elegantly as philosophical as possible.

 

Truly anyone who is ugly here is embarrassing themselves.

[meatball_nyc]

Extremely fair and rather elegantly as philosophical as possible.

 

Truly anyone who is ugly here is embarrassing themselves.

 

 

I agree with you 100%.

Thank you.

 

 

 

~Robin

Norwegian Breakaway July 2014

Carnival Miracle 2010

Carnival Legend 2006

[bernardch]

Just interested, but up to December, I had seen photos of the generators ("CAT in a box") that Carnival had placed on the upper decks of their ships that still weren't connected to the ship's system. Has anyone got a recent photo of these where I can see if it is actually connected and usable, or whether they are still for show?

 

Thanks;

 

This was from our Carnival Valor cruise on February 9, just behind the funnel up on the mini-golf deck. Looks like 12 cables coming out of the container heading into the deck. If I had to estimate, I would guess the cable size is right around 1000MCM.

 

 

Chuck

[Mikel1733]

Extremely fair and rather elegantly as philosophical as possible.

 

Truly anyone who is ugly here is embarrassing themselves.

 

I agree. Thanks to chengkp75 for the interesting information you discuss and investigate.