The problem is that all of the thrust of the propeller is transmitted to the ship s hull by the circ

Propulsion pods may be the greatest thing thing that ever happened to cruise ships. Or maybe the worst, when they don t work, which is far too often.  A propulsion pod is an electric motor which drives a propeller mounted on a rotating pod which extends out from the bottom of the ship.  Because they can be made to rotate 360 degrees, national rent a car emerald club the pod replaces the traditional rudder and stern thrusters and does away with the need for long propeller shaft runs. They are more fuel efficient than conventionally mounted propellers, by around 6-9%, which given today s fuel costs is significant.  Two manufacturers dominate pod propulsion Rolls Royce who manufactures the Mermaid pod and ABB which manufactures the Azipod .
The problem is that all of the thrust of the propeller is transmitted to the ship s hull by the circular bearing that connects the pod to the ship the bearing that also has to rotate through 360 degrees. These bearing have been failing national rent a car emerald club far more frequently than they should. This is apparently what has happened on at least one of the three Azipods on the  Allure of the Seas.  Because RCCL detected excessive bearing wear, they initially slowed the ship to reduce the load on the bearing and then decided national rent a car emerald club to take the ship out of service.
This is by no means the first time that propulsion pods have knocked cruise ships out of service.  In 2000 the Carnival Paradise was pulled from service due to failed Azipods .  Carnival and Royal Caribbean have had greater problems with the Rolls Royce MerMaid pods.  In 2010, Royal Caribbean settled a lawsuit with Rolls Rolls over pod failures on the Celebrity Cruises Millennium-class ships. Celebrity is a subsidiary of Royal Caribbean. Rolls Royce reportedly paid Royal Caribbean $65 million for the failures.  In 2011, Carnival Cruise national rent a car emerald club Lines was awarded $24 million in a lawsuit with Rolls Royce over Mermaid pod breakdowns.
While the ABB Azipods have had fewer casualties than the Rolls Royce Mermaid pods, they have had their share of problems.  Last March, the Carnival Legend limped into port with Azipod problems.   And now, Azipods are sending Royal Caribbean national rent a car emerald club s  Allure of the Seas  into drydock. Propellers on shafts in front of rudders are looking better and better.
Of course my first thought on reading that line was; why aren t there more sailing cruise national rent a car emerald club ships? national rent a car emerald club You could save a lot of money by sailing when the winds are favorable and could pick routes with dependable winds. I know there are a few, but they seem to be specialty lines that cater to a small, elite clientele. national rent a car emerald club I d think there s a place for some mid-range sail-powered carriers. But I m definitely no businessman!
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