Alaska Navy pilots concerned about the maneuverability of the Royal Princess in Alaska

The SEAPA (Association of Southeast Alaska Pilots) worries about the ability of a mega-cruise ship to maneuver in this state this season.

The association's marine pilots have tested the limits of four mega-ships – the Norwegian Bliss and his brother, the Royal Caribbean Ovation of the Seas and the Royal Princess Princess Cruises – which will travel to the southeast. of Alaska thanks to virtual reality.

While the Ovation of the Seas will be the largest vessel ever to visit Alaska, the marine pilots were far more concerned about Royal Princess.

"Overall, the simulations (for the Princess Royal) have created serious problems in wind and currents common to southeast Alaska," the pilots wrote in a report.

Apparently, the Royal Princess does not perform well at low speeds, especially with her standard propulsion system that uses propellers and rudders. Azipod propulsion is used in the other three vessels.

Keir Moorhead, an engineer who teaches at California State University's Maritime Academy, explained, "With a Azipod-type propulsion, the propeller is actually on a module located under the ship, and you can rotate it."

"At any time, you can rotate a 360-degree propeller to give you a push in any direction," said Moorhead, stating that this allows large vessels to maneuver in tight and lower places speed.

SEAPA suggests that Royal Princess does not attempt to cross Tongass Narrow, which is only 220 meters wide, at more than 15 knots of wind (although there is a speed limit of 7 knots in this area) . With little leeway to get to Ketchikan Harbor by this pass, the cruise ship could have problems.

Keith Taylor, Vice President Fleet Operations Princess Cruises, said, "While we appreciate the SEAPA (Southeast Alaska Pilots Association) efforts to date, we believe that the model used to evaluate this vessel needs to be refined. Three Royal class ships operate safely throughout the world, in many difficult sailing areas. "

Although it does not seem like Princess Cruises is too worried, everything is going well during Royal Princess's first visit to Southeast Alaska on May 13th.