Random Cruise Ship Activity

[Carib]

I was just browsing MarineTraffic, as you do, and noticed three very large cruise ships (delightful objects that they are), all doing <4 knots, with seemingly nonsensical tracks, at the same time in a similar area.

Carnival Breeze is practising loop the loops after departing from Portland a couple of days ago before heading back to Weymouth. Majesty of the Seas has made it from Dover in a relatively straight line before going into a spin SW of the Needles, while Queen Victoria's navigator needs a bit of practice on Poole to Weymouth passage planning.

Are they idling around at sea to save port fees?

 

[pvb]

Are they idling around at sea to save port fees?

They probably just need to run the engines for a while to charge the batteries...

 

[prv]

Are they idling around at sea to save port fees?

Absolutely, although I'd expect them to be mostly anchored rather than turning pirouettes (I can't see your images so I don't know exactly what you're describing).

Pete

 

[chubby]

yes! there have been cruise ships anchored off Weymouth, Bournemouth and Sandown bays and they have to keep all their systems fired up and they do seem to potter about to exercise the engines. apart from mooring fees there is probably not enough dock space for them all alongside and they are accused of causing pollution by running their generators in port: I understand they are not set up to plug into shore supply. this is in contrast to the carriers alongside in Portsmouth but they are often alongside for weeks compared to cruise ships which normally turn round quickly and have special shore supplies.

 

[Carib]

They probably just need to run the engines for a while to charge the batteries...

Excellent!

 

[Bajansailor]

Carib, your three attachments are not showing up.
Edit - now they are showing up!

We currently have 9 cruise ships based here - at one stage we had 14.

One is alongside in the harbour, five are at anchor, and 3 are stooging about offshore.
They should be visible on this Marinetraffic snapshot -

MarineTraffic: Global Ship Tracking Intelligence | AIS Marine Traffic

 

[mjcoon]

They probably just need to run the engines for a while to charge the batteries...

And/or empty their holding tanks?

 

[Carib]

And/or empty their holding tanks?

At least there won't be much in them at the moment...small blessings!

 

[RichardS]

At least there won't be much in them at the moment...small blessings!

Have you seen the number of crew on those ships? That's one hell of a lot of sh1t.

Richard

 

[ProDave]

On another similar thread, someone suggested they need to go to sea to run the watermakers.

 

[Bajansailor]

On another similar thread, someone suggested they need to go to sea to run the watermakers.

Quite possibly - although if they are alongside a dock somewhere they will invariably buy water from the shore terminal, as this is easier / cheaper than desalinating sea water.

 

[Rappey]

carriers alongside in Portsmouth

Apparently been lots of complaints about the noise they make... Im a mile away and on a quite night they are loud ! Thats before we get into the pollution aspect..
How can they not have a shore supply when it was known they would be needing it?
The border force or whatever they are called also gets many complaints from various locations because its running its generators at night when along side.
A power failure when plugged in though can ruin their evening !
some youtube guy who is crew on a cruise ship stated that 110persons was the minimum crew needed.. with only 110 on board it was a lonely experience as it was hard to bump into anyone..