The rollout of the tourist “contribution” came after Venice narrowly escaped being placed on the UNESCO danger list earlier this year because of the threat that overtourism was having on its delicate ecosystem
Interesting. I wonder what the benefit of that is. I guess maybe spreading the fuel burn across times when they are and aren’t in motion? Maybe it’s also quieter?
I believe it’s mostly because it allows you to use electric motors mounted on swiveling pods under the water line. The same thing with mechanical propulsion is tricky because of leaky shaft connections.
Fun fact, cruise ships almost universally have electric propulsion.
Also fun fact: they get the electricity by lugging around multiple fossil fuel powered generators.
Interesting. I wonder what the benefit of that is. I guess maybe spreading the fuel burn across times when they are and aren’t in motion? Maybe it’s also quieter?
I believe it’s mostly because it allows you to use electric motors mounted on swiveling pods under the water line. The same thing with mechanical propulsion is tricky because of leaky shaft connections.
But apparently there are more advantages:
https://www.marineinsight.com/tech/cruise-ships-powered/
That’s pretty neat
You can think of it as an electric transmission instead of mechanical gears.