Etfe foil cushion technology for cruise liners

Abstract

AIDA Cruises, the German-Italian subsidiary of the American shipping company Carnival Corporation, has one of the world’s most modern and most environmentally friendly fleets of cruise liners. The name AIDA suggests visits to other cities and countries, dream holidays, relaxation and experiencing nature on the very highest level. The AIDAprima and its sister ship the AIDAperla are two new Hyperion Class cruise liners that have now entered service. Both ships were built at the Mitsubishi Heavy Industries ltd. (MHI) shipyard in Nagasaki, Japan. The total area of the ETFE roofs on both ships is about 4,000 sqm. Three-layer, transparent ETFE foil cushions span over the pool and leisure areas of the activity decks with their “4 Elements” and “Beach Club” centrepieces. Movable roof sections enable the areas of the “4 Elements” to be opened to the sky. Vibrations from the ship’s engines, acceleration forces due to the motion of the ship, high wind loads some 50 m above sea level, the marine climate with its corresponding salt concentrations plus the different climate zones place tough demands on the materials and combinations thereof as well as the structural design and the detailing. ETFE foil roofs in shipbuilding are new, which is why the necessary engineering solutions represent a huge challenge.