Topic: Dissapointed at Ocean Star (Read 31276 times)

zach8892 · « **on:** March 28, 2008, 15:17:40 »

I am dissapointed at the ocean star for 2008 i do not like the pods that much it is not a fun as it used to be with reagular controls does anyone agree?

Bottman · « **Reply #1 on:** March 28, 2008, 17:30:13 »

Nope! I love this propulsion system very much.

NathanC · « **Reply #2 on:** March 28, 2008, 17:33:55 »

I can't wait for the Ocean Star. And it is more realistic having thrusters. Real cruise ships like the QM2 and Freedom of the Seas have this kind of setup.

Bottman · « **Reply #3 on:** March 28, 2008, 17:43:57 »

Well, yes and no! The latest newbuilds for Carnival don't have pods, same for some of the huge Costa and MSC cruise liners, which are under construction now. But others will have...

kev749 · « **Reply #4 on:** March 28, 2008, 18:30:54 »

i agree the is a pain to drive now it work better in 2006 it just seem to go where it whats to do not use it no more and what happend to the rader scanners no longer trun

Bottman · « **Reply #5 on:** March 28, 2008, 18:35:20 »

I disagree, the "Ocean Star" is pretty good to manoeuvre. Well, in fact you need to exercise a little bit more with her, but then it's real fun. I'm using precision steering and three keys per each pod plus numpad for their thrust with perfect results!

Try harder!

beechjetkid17 · « **Reply #6 on:** March 28, 2008, 18:37:20 »

i do believe there is a thread explaining how to use the azipods for the ocean start

you should try the search function

Dan

JHB · « **Reply #7 on:** March 28, 2008, 22:29:51 »

They are simple to use now. You just need to practice some on Free Roaming and you will soon find out how to use them.

Admiral-of-the-fleet · « **Reply #8 on:** March 29, 2008, 00:52:21 »

Pods are the future in all commerical shipping!!! There the most manouvarble propulsion possible with the option to spin a ship the size of the Queen Mary 2 in its own length or moving it side ways on to a dock. Fantastic way of doing things and no harder to use than a rudder i feel with a lot more options! Ocean stars fast becoming a fav on my list primarily because of the azipods!

Agent|Austin · « **Reply #9 on:** March 29, 2008, 02:44:51 »

Most cruise ships have azipods. Mine did. They are very fun and easy because you can make the ship go any direction, I don't see why we didn't go to mexico sideways. No need for tugs or anything.

Dom · « **Reply #10 on:** March 29, 2008, 22:00:05 »

Quote from: Agent|Austin on March 29, 2008, 02:44:51

Most cruise ships have azipods. Mine did. They are very fun and easy because you can make the ship go any direction, I don't see why we didn't go to mexico sideways. No need for tugs or anything.

Would be interesting, unfortunately it would take absolutely ages to get there!

condor ferries · « **Reply #11 on:** March 29, 2008, 22:17:21 »

Well I can see where zach 8892 is coming from, I have just got the SS08 Add-on and I ssume some updates have been done for the likes of the POR etc which I can now get 80 degrees ROT whereas the supposedly more manouverable Ocean Star still only gives me a max ROT of 45! $:-\$

Captain Spencer · « **Reply #12 on:** March 29, 2008, 22:27:16 »

Quote from: Agent|Austin on March 29, 2008, 02:44:51

Most cruise ships have azipods. Mine did. They are very fun and easy because you can make the ship go any direction, I don't see why we didn't go to mexico sideways. No need for tugs or anything.

Do you personally own a cruise ship then? I possess a VLCC myself, most enjoyable

Agent|Austin · « **Reply #13 on:** March 30, 2008, 01:05:03 »

Quote from: CaptainSpencer on March 29, 2008, 22:27:16

Do you personally own a cruise ship then? I possess a VLCC myself, most enjoyable

The cruise ship I was on... (I got to go in the bridge)

Cloud · « **Reply #14 on:** March 30, 2008, 03:31:07 »

Quote

Pods are the future in all commerical shipping!!!

Pods are definately a neat propullsion system, but I wouldn't say they are the future of all commercial shipping. They have their benefits, and they definately have drawbacks too. One huge drawback is reliability and maintenance, as many of the initial cruiselines that installed pods have found out. In fact Royal Caribbean/Celebrity Cruises took major legal action against Rolls-Royce/Alstom because of all the downtime and lost cruises due to maintenance issues directly associated with pods installed on their vessels.

Pods are also expensive, and some vessel types like large tankers and bulkers don't need manueverability, they just need the greatest efficiency at the lowest capital cost.

As for the Ocean Star configuration in the game; it would be nice to also have an alternative choice of something like 2xCPP mains, twin independant rudders, 3 bow thrusters, 2 stern thrusters or something similar anyway.

Cheers

yuh93 · « **Reply #15 on:** March 30, 2008, 05:28:39 »

Are they the same thing as on the red eagle ferry?

Agent|Austin · « **Reply #16 on:** March 30, 2008, 05:35:45 »

Quote from: yuh93 on March 30, 2008, 05:28:39

Are they the same thing as on the red eagle ferry?

Close but no.

mvsmith · « **Reply #17 on:** March 30, 2008, 06:42:30 »

The Red Eagle has Voith-Schneider propulsion, which is very different from azimuthing screws.
There are many topics that explain how VSPs work and how to maneuver the Red Eagle.
Marty

AriesDW · « **Reply #18 on:** March 30, 2008, 07:45:10 »

Aftr a brief orientation to the new precision set up I find myself very pleased with piloting the new Ocean Star. I would liked to of seen some over all model improvements, however, all in all I am very pleased!

Alex Brown · « **Reply #19 on:** March 30, 2008, 15:34:30 »

I also like the Ocean Star, but find myself battling with the handling when in close quarters due to the pods not doing what you're telling them to do.

For example lastnight I was trying to manouver myself into a small harbour up by Southampton... eventually it resulted in a sinking. If I am going ahead, say at 3knots or so and want to slow down, you assume that you can either use transverse arrest, or point the pods astern and apply power. In my case though, the arrest doesn't make a difference at all, and pointing the pods aft makes the ship go faster forward (say upto 5 knots) for around 15 seconds or so before it starts slowing down, eventually going astern - if you're working with a small gap ahead, that's then too late and <bang>. Also, I don't think the bow thruster should be as powerful - it produces more power than the pods by the feel, and certainly at speeds over 20knots it shouldn't be as effective as it is on the steering.

Knowing that the pods handle the Bugsier pretty well (apart from transverse arrest http://www.towingsolutionsinc.com/technology-escort_tugs.html (same problem)), it's just a shame the same doesn't apply to the Ocean Star

-Alex

JHB · « **Reply #20 on:** March 30, 2008, 15:35:43 »

Whats arrest?

Bottman · « **Reply #21 on:** March 30, 2008, 16:13:21 »

Guess, Alex means the thrust. However, it's of course possible to slip sideways with the "Bugsier 2" and the tug mentioned at your link has another prop arrangement than the "B2" with two azimuth thrusters at the stern and a towing rope connected to the bow. Those are the two standard arrangements for modern tugs, propulsion and towing winch almost at the opposite end of the vessel.

I have never seen what you are telling about the acceleration of the "Ocean Star". Did you work with the arcade steering or with precision steering?

Cheers

Bottman · « **Reply #22 on:** March 30, 2008, 16:42:26 »

Hello again,

I have made two screenshots, showing the general thruster arrangement for a side step with "B2" and a very short video. As you may see there, you have to fine tune thrust and thrust direction a bit to find the correct setting. I have done both at the original tug last summer, the use depends on how many thrust you need sideways and if you are under towing conditions or not.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wUYGvnBwRZc

Admiral-of-the-fleet · « **Reply #23 on:** March 30, 2008, 17:06:53 »

Quote from: Cloud on March 30, 2008, 03:31:07

Pods are definately a neat propullsion system, but I wouldn't say they are the future of all commercial shipping. They have their benefits, and they definately have drawbacks too. One huge drawback is reliability and maintenance, as many of the initial cruiselines that installed pods have found out. In fact Royal Caribbean/Celebrity Cruises took major legal action against Rolls-Royce/Alstom because of all the downtime and lost cruises due to maintenance issues directly associated with pods installed on their vessels.

Pods are also expensive, and some vessel types like large tankers and bulkers don't need manueverability, they just need the greatest efficiency at the lowest capital cost.

Yep.... definatly right! I meant future of Shipping with "talking cargo" though!!

Dead right about the maintinance as well.... If Your remember the QM2 having all sorts of problems even having to cut short voyages because of problems with the bearings inside of the azipod. The freedom of the seas having the same problem having to dry-dock in hamburg prior to its sea trials, and so on. But i think its the same with all new, revolutonary concepts, they have there pros and cons- the cons i expect will be ironed out in the near future but for now, i think that azipods are a fantastic new propulsion system which is.... mabye not with the Ocean star, way more manouvarable than a standard rudder and while they may not be suited to all ships they certainly have a place in a large number of modern cruise ships.

Bottman · « **Reply #24 on:** March 30, 2008, 17:20:16 »

For all those who want to know more about that discussion I recommend the February issue of The Naval Architect with a study about azipods and their reliability compared to conventional shaft propulsion.

Author Topic: Dissapointed at Ocean Star (Read 31276 times)

NathanC

mvsmith