Celebrity Millennium

Millennium is the first cruiseship to have in-suite internet access and to incorporate gas turbine technology. Millennium flies the Liberian flag and has Lloyd's Register and Det Norske Veritas classification. Millennium sailed five varied European itineraries between July and October 2000, before being redeployed in the Western Caribbean from November 2000. Propulsion Millennium is equipped with a pair of GE Marine Engines' LM2500+ aeroderivative gas turbines and a single steam turbine instead of the traditional four or five diesel engines on a cruise ship. These three prime movers each drive an AC electric generator. This system, the GE combined cycle gas turbines and steam turbine integrated Electric Propulsion System (COGES), supplies power to two electrically driven podded propulsion units, Mermaids. These have been developed by Cegelic-Kamewa and each one comprises a speed-controlled AC synchronous propulsion motor located in an azimuthing pod and driving a FP propeller. As each pod can be rotated horizontally through 360 if required, the need for rudder shaft lines, stern thrusters, steering gear bossing and brackets is eliminated. A steam turbine recovers heat from the exhaust, providing energy for heating water and for other electrical needs. According to Celebrity, the gas turbines that burn clean distillate fuel significantly reduce exhaust emissions. The engine technology used has been a factor in Millennium being the first ship built to Det Norske Veritas' voluntary class notation, Clean Design. Celebrity was also awarded ISO14001 certification in February 2000 after a fleetwide environmental audit.

Reason According to Admiral Angelos Argyropoulos, senior vice president of Marine Operations for Celebrity Cruises "There have been no significant maintenance issues and the quarterly inspections have taken only eight hours, with the assistance of GE." Since Millennium entered service in the summer of 2000, Celebrity Cruises reports no forced outages of the LM2500+-based combined gas turbine and steam turbine integrated electric drive system (COGES).

The gas turbines continue to meet the guaranteed consumption of cleaner-burning Marine Gas Oil (MGO).No longer are the benefits of the GE gas turbine engines just theoretical. Celebrity Cruises' is experiencing the reality of these advantages onboard the world's first gas turbinepowered ship: No boiler maintenance or fouling due to MGO burn. Significantly lower NOx and SOx emissions. Lower levels of noise and vibration that enhance the comfort of all guests.Millennium carries a relatively lightweight GE LM2500+ spare gas generator for use during general, onboard overhaul/repair work or for an unexpected engine change-out. This allows for high reliability and high availability of the COGES arrangement, due to rapid repair of modular components, and ultimately maximum in-service time for the ship. lower costs of exploitation (lower and easier maintenance) reduction of nocive emissions (partially because gas oil instead of fuel; -80% oxide of azote and -90% oxide of sulphur). gain of volume and weight considerable (especially combined with Azipods; about 900 tons and 50 pax cabins + 20 crew's cabins have been added).