MS Oasis of the Seas
International Waters
Measuring in at over 225,000 tonnes and 40 metres longer than the height of Eiffel Tower, MS Oasis of the Seas is a marvel of engineering. It is the largest cruise ship ever built with a price tag in excess of 2 billion euros. A vast network of international suppliers have combined to make the Royal Caribbean International ship a reality, with the common theme of quality underpinning the construction project which came to fruition at the end of 2009.
Making a splash in entertainment
A range of pumps were commissioned from Xylem Austria, part of Xylem Corporation, by the Distributor Hekes in Finland, the country where the ship was built. In the cruise line’s specification it was vital to choose a pump that exhibited total quality, with reliability and resilience assured. The Vogel pumps selected feature in the dramatic entertainment zone of the ship, the AquaTheater. Here a 1000-seat amphitheatre cradles a swimming pool by day and theatre for spectacular water shows by night. Behind the scenes 28 Vogel LSB pumps feed all of the effects, from water jets and wave splashes to a water screen with around 2000 nozzles.
The pumps vary in capacity from 30 to 240 mc/h, heads between 10 and 45 metres and motor power from 5.5 to 30kW. Manufactured in Duplex stainless steel and mechanical seals, the pumps can handle chlorinated or salt water, and the close coupled block design was chosen to minimise space used. This range of pumps can also be found in fire-fighting applications, water supply and industrial settings where chemicals are used.
The quality to perform time and again
The LSB pumps are equipped with ABB frequency drives which are controlled via a single computerised system to manage and run the water displays. With several complex and challenging displays per day the frequency drives ensure that the pumps work highly efficiently and keep wear and tear to a minimum.
Add to this the confidence borne of the 100-year history of the Vogel brand and it is no wonder that a similar suite of 28 pumps has been chosen to feature in sister vessel, MS Allure of the Sea, which will have her maiden voyage in 2010.