Fast fatcs
Challenge• To ensure the smooth flow of 7,500 people on board the world’s largest cruise ship
Solution• Strong cooperation between KONE and customer during all phases of the project• Tailor made elevator and escalator solutions match the design of the ship• Innovative plug-in installation methods to help reduce construction time• Maintenance training for crew members
Oasis of the Seas5,400 passengers2,165 crew members16 passenger decks24 restaurants, 37 bars13 retail outlets72 meters above sea level361 meters long, 66 meters wide
KONE Solutions25 KONE MonoSpace® elevators16 KONE MiniSpace™ elevators2 KONE EcoMaster™ escalators3 easy-access (impaired mobility) platforms
A floating palace
Gone are the days when building cities was a land-based affair. When Royal Caribbean International launched Oasis of the Seas, the world’s largest floating hotel was introduced. The ship packs the entertainment punch of a bustling metropolis and includes attractions such as a water park, an ice-skating rink, a full-blown Broadway theater, and a real park with 12,000 plants.
Flowing cooperation
“This is probably the most testing context for elevators, with heavy traffic in all directions 24 hours a day,” says Robert Segercrantz, director for KONE Marine.
Smooth logistics on the 16-deck ship are a prerequisite, with elevators the key to everything. Guests can’t be put out by waiting long at any point. KONE Marine is highly experienced in providing solutions for cruise ships, as KONE is a market leader in the cruise ship segment.
“We have never thought about any other option than working with KONE,” says Harri Kulovaara, executive vice president at Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. “Oasis of the Seas is a technical masterpiece – a result of tremendous collaboration between wonderful minds.”
Design, of course, is a major aspect in a project like this. All solutions have to fit the overall look and feel of the ship.
KONE delivered a total of 41 elevators to the ship. Equipment is hoisted by the economically and ecologically advanced KONE EcoDisc® technology, using both space and energy efficient KONE MiniSpace™ and KONE MonoSpace® solutions. Elevator modes are synchronized with the guest communication system so that disembarking instructions, for example, are automatically displayed on the elevators’ LCD screens.
KONE also provided special-access elevators for guests with reduced mobility. Furthermore, two escalators were incorporated – rare equipment on ships. These help to speed up the flow of people, especially at the critical times of boarding and disembarkation.
Plug-in installation methods and customized maintenance
Elevators were pre-assembled inside the pre-manufactured shafts at the KONE factory, then brought in as modules to the shipyard, lifted into position and welded to place. KONE’s innovative plug-in solution enabled an early completion of the elevators; several of the elevators served the ship as logistics elevators already during the construction phase.
KONE is dedicated to customer care and puts safety first. The KONE Marine maintenance office located near Miami, Florida supplies cruise ships with regular preventive maintenance services and modernizations as well as annual safety surveys. To ensure that the equipment runs smoothly during every cruise out at sea, KONE also provides each ship’s crew with a tailored maintenance training program.