Where Are The Engines On A River Cruise Ship?

The heaviest weights of a ship are typically located at its lowest possible deck, and engines are usually mounted above the keel. Engine rooms on cruise ships are large and require their own space, often located on the lowest decks. Newer cruise ships often have engine rooms located on the aft and lower decks, not fully at the back but closer to midship.

Engineers can store engines on cruise ships in various locations, such as the engine room on the lower decks, between the midship and the aft. The ships propulsion is diesel-electric, with one azimuth thruster at the bow and a Silent Drive System separating the engines from passenger staterooms. Viking River Cruises ships, known as Longships, have three decks plus a top-floor sun deck, designed for the Seine River with a redesigned hull and revamped engines.

Engineers typically store engines near the bottom of the ship due to their heavy nature and usually towards the aft of the ship. Most power-driven vessels have engines located aft, as close to the propellor as possible. The closer you get to lower decks and the aft of the ship, the closer you are to the engines and a little more noise when sailing.

In May 2018, Zeppelin Power Systems business unit delivered its 250th Caterpillar engine for use in a Viking River Cruises longship. A ship must naturally work harder when sailing against the current, and the stronger the current, the harder the engines work, which may translate to increased noise during sailing.