Repairs delay voyage of Discovery

One of the four Fiat C4210SS engines, rated at 4,500hp each, was already out of commission when the

Discovery

left on her previous cruise ten days earlier and during the voyage further problems arose with a second engine.

The four engines, delivering a total output 18,000hp, are individually clutched and geared in pairs to the two shafts driving four blade Kamewa controllable pitch propellers. This design enables one or more engines to be shut down and declutched as required.

The company’s CEO Rob Bryant said, ‘The Discovery experienced a problem with one engine in the Spring. The repairs to this engine were undertaken when the ship was in service and we expected this engine to be functioning properly again very quickly.

‘Unfortunately we have recently suffered a further problem in a second engine. Whilst the ship is safe to operate on its two remaining and serviceable engines, it can only do so with an impact on the vessel’s maximum cruising speed [of 18 knots]. The directors and staff would like to extend their apologies to all customers affected. This is a unique situation for Voyages of Discovery and we very much regret that it has been necessary to take this action.’

The ship remained alongside at Harwich International Port for 11 days, although it did have to be towed out to anchor in the Bawdsey Anchorage for a few days when two large cruise liners required the cruise terminal berth. It eventually sailed for Bergen.

Discovery has an overall length of 168.74m with a beam of 24.64m and draught of 7.49m. There are eight passenger decks. The ship is fitted with Denny Brown AEG D type fin Stabilisers (3.9 x 1.8m) producing 90% roll reduction at 18 knots. The generators are also Fiat, with three Type B 308 ESS sets at 1,200kw each and one Fiat Type B 306 ESS set at 900kw.

It carries enough fuel for 10,000 nautical miles at cruising speed and has potable water making capacity of some 250 tons/24 hours with three flash evaporators and a reverse osmosis plant. Two auxiliary boilers combined with two exhaust gas boilers produce approx 7,500kW of steam for onboard services.

By Graeme Ewens