Carnival shows off cutting-edge Fleet Operations Center in Miami

The first facility of its kind in South Florida features a tracking and data-analysis platform that enables real-time information sharing between Carnival ships and specialized shoreside teams designed to support fleet operations.

Continuous monitoring of all ships

The Fleet Operations Center was unveiled Thursday during a ribbon-cutting ceremony and interactive demonstration of its most innovative high-tech features. The facility is anchored by a 74-foot-long video wall composed of 57 LED screens. The high-definition wall displays the status of all ships, including weather, itinerary updates, safety, engine and environmental updates.

Additionally, the status of ports, ship logistics, guest operations and a host of other functions are monitored. The 24/7/365 system will support the work of cross-functional teams, including technical, nautical, port and guest operations, environmental operations and compliance, occupational safety, technical services and other key areas.

Design encourages collaboration

Seating is arranged in open 'pods' aligned with Carnival’s ship classes to invite constant collaboration, integration and streamlined communication among these and other departments, bringing together all areas of expertise into shared spaces.

'In designing the FOC, we combined best practices from the military, government and industry to achieve a generational leap in facility design, sophisticated technology and utilization, creating the largest and most advanced fleet operations center in the industry,' Carnival president Christine Duffy said.

'Nothing is more important than the safety of our guests and crew, and this new facility enhances our already comprehensive approach to safety and operational excellence,' she added.

Carnival built custom tools for use and integration into the Fleet Operations Center such as the proprietary software applications Neptune and Argos.

At-a-glance situational awareness

Developed in-house, Argos is an always-awake knowledge management tool that harnesses information from thousands of data points and overlays rules-based decision making, predictive alerting and queuing into one visual dashboard. The result is at-a-glance situational awareness across the fleet which significantly improves communication from ship to shore, enhances safe passage of ships, improves operational efficiencies and supports overall environmental initiatives.

Neptune captures and provides analytics for dozens of distinct parameters for navigational safety from each ship, focusing on three strategic areas to optimize safety, efficiency and overall fleet performance.

Concerning nautical operations and safety, this includes the capability to see current radar visuals, stability conditions, automation, the Safety Management and Command System, and webcams from each ship, along with GPS location, routing, ship conditions and weather data.

The procedural optimization and efficiency area covers speeds, navigational data and engine conditions, while the sustainability area entails fuel and energy usage, emissions levels, water and waste management.

Increased operational efficiency

'The FOC brings together real-time information for decision-making. Integrated shoreside teams support our shipboard officers to act quickly and decisively while significantly increasing the operational efficiency of our ships,' Carnival COO Gus Antorcha said.

Carnival partnered with Constant Technologies, a design firm that specializes in building operations centers in the public and private sectors. The design includes an open concept floor plan with sustainable furnishings and ergonomic features such as the ceiling’s blue lighting, which minimizes eye fatigue, all sit/stand desks and carpeting made from recycled fish nets.

There are also multiple conference rooms linked via video screens to the main LED wall and available for use by support teams that would assist during any incidents.

Ability to act as FOC for any Carnival Corp. brand

The South Florida-based facility is the third and largest in Carnival Corp' & plc's global Fleet Operations Center network, complementing those in Seattle and Hamburg, where Neptune was first piloted. While the new location primarily is dedicated to Carnival Cruise Line, it includes the ability to monitor the entire 103-ship fleet among parent company Carnival Corp.’s nine operating lines and it can act as the FOC for any of them at a moment’s notice.