Loss of Electrical Power…Possible Cause of Costa Concordia Tragedy?

[FarCenter]

Most modern cruise ships are unique from other ships such as tankers, containerships, and most warships, in the fact they do not have rudders. These vessels use high voltage (11KV or 6.6KV) electrically-powered motors located outside the hull which turn the propeller. Because they are fed by electricity, and not by a drive shaft originating from inside the hull, these motors are able to pivot (or azimuth) in any direction, eliminating the need for a rudder. This also makes them highly efficient and eliminates the need for tugboats while entering or leaving port.

Reports indicate that the captain of the Concordia, Commander Paolillo announced that the ship was experiencing electrical problems at the time of the grounding. Considering that the ship was leaving port, and the engines are driven exclusively by electric power, a loss of power to the engines may have resulted in a complete loss of steering.

http://gcaptain.com/loss-electrical-power-costa-concordia/?37470

Amazing pictures of wreck, including one showing a huge rock embedded at the end of the gash in the bottom of the hull!

also from the same site, maps showing the track

http://gcaptain.com/cruise-ship-costa-concordia-sinks/?37456

[gateley]

1. Interesting -- didn't know that. Wouldn't there be backup power/electricity for such

a problem? Or did they have too much faith in the system?

Amazing photos.

[FarCenter]

2. You would think that there would be redundancy in the system

However, another news story described a "harmonic" failure of the diesel generators where vibrations could be set up when they were all running at the same speed and the vibrations could cause a general failure.

[yardwork]

3. I don't know. Why did they go between those two little islands?

It looks like the straight track they were on was deliberately taking them among a bunch of small islands. Why do that? I don't know anything about this, which is why I'm asking.