Europe (ship, 1999)
 The Europa in the port of Hamburg
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The Europa is a cruise ship owned by the Hapag-Lloyd Kreuzfahrten GmbH shipping company . She is now the sixth ship to bear this name and the only cruise ship in the world that has been awarded the “5-star plus” category twelve times in a row by the British cruise guide “Berlitz Complete Guide to Cruising & Cruise Ships”.
history
New construction and commissioning
In November 1997, Hapag-Lloyd commissioned the Finnish shipyard Kvaerner Masa Yards in Helsinki to build a comparatively small cruise ship that was to be put into service as Europa in 1999 and to replace the predecessor ship of the same name . The contract was awarded to this shipyard because German companies would not have been able to deliver the ship on time due to their order situation. The Finnish engineering office "Deltamarin" supported the shipyard and shipping company in the technical management of the project with construction number 495 . The interior was designed by the Norwegian naval architects Petter Yran and Björn Storbraaten. The official keel laying of the Europa took place on June 26, 1998; the first sections of the ship were brought into the construction dock on November 17, 1998 . On March 4, 1999, the float and transfer to the equipment quay took place . After the successful test drives, the Europa was handed over to Hapag-Lloyd on September 9, 1999. On September 15, 1999, the ship was christened in Hamburg by Gabriele Frenzel, wife of the then CEO Michael Frenzel.
Remodeling
During its service life, the Europa was rebuilt several times. After about a year, changes were made to the suites and the wellness area. The casino on deck 4 was closed due to a lack of acceptance and converted into a gallery. In 2004, more extensive measures were carried out at Blohm + Voss . A fitness area was arranged in front of the chimney . In addition, the "Sansibar", a golf simulator and stowage areas for inflatable boats were set up on the two upper decks .
On the 10th anniversary of its commissioning, the Europa in Dock 10 by Blohm + Voss in Hamburg was extensively renovated and modernized. The suites were redesigned, the penthouses were rebuilt and maintenance work was carried out on the lifeboats and drive.
Further conversions took place at the end of 2015. Among other things, the stabilizers were converted to use vegetable oil.
commitment
After a short guest cruise as part of the ship's christening , the Europa left for her maiden voyage on September 17, 1999 , which led from Hamburg to Málaga . The ship is now used for cruises all over the world. The world tour, carried out in 2010/2011, took 159 days from Dubai via Southeast Asia , Oceania , Hawaii , the American west coast , the Panama Canal and the Atlantic to Lisbon . Since the Europa is relatively small compared to other cruise ships, it can also go to destinations that are off the classic routes (e.g. the Amazon region ).
Incidents
Due to a defect in one of the four main engines, the Europa was brought to a shipyard in Singapore on April 6, 2010 for a planned period of three weeks . The fuselage had to be opened to install the new engine. However, when the 85-ton engine was installed, it was badly damaged. As a result, the planned stay in the shipyard was extended and several cruises were canceled. The Europa was operational again in mid-June 2010 .
Machine system and drive
The Europa is equipped with a diesel-electric machine system. Four in-line diesel engines (two 8-cylinder and two 7-cylinder engines) from MAN B&W drive generators from ABB at a speed of 514 revolutions per minute , which develop a total of 28,900 kVA of electrical power. They supply the entire ship with electrical energy. The power generation is controlled depending on the load, the motor-generator units are switched on or off depending on the energy requirement. In order to guarantee operational safety, the machine system is technically and spatially divided into two independent groups. The operation of the engine and propulsion system is fully automated and monitored from the engine control room on deck 3.
As one of the first cruise ships that was Europe with two hanging under the hull azimuth thruster type ABB - Azipod equipped. In each nacelle there is an electric motor that drives a 4-blade fixed propeller with a diameter of 4.50 meters. The propellers are aligned forwards in the direction of travel (pull propeller) and rotate at up to 160 revolutions per minute. As the gondolas can be rotated 360 °, the electric motors are supplied with power via slip rings . Previously, the shipyard had only equipped the Elation ( hull number 491) and Paradise (hull number 494) cruise ships with this technology for the US shipping company Carnival Cruise Lines . In contrast to these ships, however, the hull of the Europa was designed and optimized for this type of propulsion from the start.
To aid maneuvering in ports and at low speeds, two transverse thrust systems from the Norwegian manufacturer Brunvoll with an output of 800 kilowatts (approx. 1,090 hp) each are installed in the bow of the ship . In order to reduce rolling and pitching movements in rough seas, the Europa has a pair of fin stabilizers, each with an area of 11 square meters, which were manufactured by the Italian Fincantieri shipyard.
The fresh water treatment on board takes place via two steam generators and a reverse osmosis system.
Cabins and on-board facilities
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The Europa’s 204 cabins are exclusively suites with separate living and sleeping areas, two of which are handicapped-accessible. They are divided into ten price categories. Depending on the size, location and furnishings, a distinction is made between “Suite”, “Veranda Suite”, “Penthouse Deluxe Suite”, “Penthouse Grand Suite” and “SPA Suite”. Each passenger will receive their own email address on board during the cruise . The space ratio of the Europa is 70.8 GT / passenger.
The public areas of the ship are primarily located on the "Europe Deck" within the hull. From the seven-story atrium amidships, two panoramic elevators can be used to reach the upper decks. In the front area of the “Europa Deck” is the “Europa Lounge”, which is used both as a show stage and a concert hall. The three restaurants of the Europa are arranged in the stern, the bars and “Gatsby's” (formerly “Clipper Lounge”) amidships. The wellness area is located on the "Sport Deck". The ship's main pool ("Lido Pool") is one of the largest of its kind on cruise ships. It is 15 meters long and 5 meters wide and, together with the pool bar, forms the center of the “Lido deck”. The pool can be covered and then used as a stage. In the front area there is the “Club Belvedere”, the library and an auditorium for lectures and film screenings. The “Sansibar” is located in the rear of the “Bellevue deck”. It was created in collaboration with the restaurant of the same name on the island of Sylt . A nudist area has been set up on the “Peil Deck” .
The Europa is also equipped with 13 rigid inflatable boats (so-called “ Zodiacs ”), which are used for landings and special excursions .
See also
literature
- Andreas Dölling: MS Europe . Liner21 / HR Business Solutions GmbH, 2005. ISBN 978-3-937848-03-7
- Matthias Politycki : Around the world in 180 days: the log book of Mr. Johann Gottlieb Fichtl , mare buchverlag, Hamburg 2008. ISBN 978-3-86648-080-3
Web links
- MS EUROPA - your most beautiful yacht in the world. Hapag-Lloyd Cruises, accessed on January 13, 2018 .
Individual evidence
- ↑ a b c d e f g h i Register entry, Germanischer Lloyd AG ( Memento of the original from April 5, 2013 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link was inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. , accessed May 25, 2010
- ↑ Publications. Retrieved February 28, 2018 .
- ↑ a b Only “MS Europa” gets “five-star plus” , Welt Online , September 27, 2010
- ↑ http://www.bild.de/reise/traumreisen/kreuzfahrtschiff/ms-europa-bestes-schiff-20232924.bild.html , September 2, 2011
- ↑ http://www.hl-kreuzfahrten.de/blog/brush-up-fuer-die-schoenste-yacht-ms-europa-im-neuen-glanz/8915/
- ↑ World tour 2010/2011 ( Memento of the original from August 6, 2010 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link has been inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. , PDF from May 25, 2010
- ↑ "MS Europa" defective: cruises canceled. n-tv , January 28, 2010, accessed May 6, 2010 .
- ↑ Damaged in the shipyard: "MS Europa" trips canceled. n-tv , May 3, 2010, accessed May 6, 2010 .
