Gorham Chantilly 4-Piece Sterling Silver Flatware Place Set, Service for 1

Dolica PS-240 Portable Photo Studio Kit

Dolica PS-240 Portable Photo Studio Kit



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Friday, September 14, 2012

Cruise Ships For Sale

Cruise Ships For Sale


We all know that cruise ships are great getaway on the high seas. But did you know that cruise ships in all shapes and sizes are available for sale? Depending on your budget, you could buy a cruise ship for a steal at million, or the price can rise into the millions. The price depends on the size of the ship, passenger aMenities and its condition. The metal used in building the ship is important too, because rust would prove to be a negative selling point.

Cruise Ships For Sale

Cruise Ships For Sale

Cruise Ships For Sale


Cruise Ships For Sale



Cruise Ships For Sale

Most cruise ships have staterooms, public rooms, cabins, scullery (pantries), dining halls, entertainMent areas and swimming pools. Space for retail outlets such as bookstores, gift, souvenir shops and hAir salons, may or may not be present depending on the cruise ship. A spa, health and fitness club, and sports bar are also built into most of the cruise liners. Sanitary facilities should be examined closely in all cabins and public areas to know what basic aMenities are available.

The scullery usually is equipped with all necessary appliances including ovens (conventional, convection and microwave), stoves, toasters, refrigerators, coolers, pots and pans and all the ingredients to provide the guests with the best meals during their journey.

Passenger observation decks are on most cruise ships to allow passengers to enjoy the beauty of the sea while the ship is on the move. Most of the cruise ships also come equipped with a casino housing gaming tables like blackjack, roulette, poker, dice and slot machines. There is usually a satellite connection for televisions provided in all the mega liners to entertain guests.

Some of the most important aMenities on a cruise ship are located in the pump room, chiller room and office rooms. Other important cruise ship information would include the security available for guests and their valuables, provisions to store perishables, makes and models of engines; space allocated for engines, generators and the rudder rooms. New cruise ships come with electrical fittings, heavy machinery such as the engines, other machinery such as those used for steering the ship, deck machinery, Air compressors, fire, bilge and other necessary pumps in the pump rooms -- all the equipment required for securing and mooring the ship.

Last but not least, the cruise ship must be equipped with lifesaving equipment, as well as first aid kits to handle any emergencies. Fire extinguishers with hoses and spanners, lifebuoys, life floats, rescue boats, distress signals such as flares, common bandages, medicine chest etc., form the major part of the emergency paraphernalia.

Before buying a cruise ship, the buyer needs to do some homework to make sure that the condition of the ship is acceptable, as well as all technical matters pertaining to the ship's ability to function properly.

There are excellent websites on the Internet that provide details about various cruise ships on sale. Browsing through these will give you a good idea of the price range and amenities to look for in a cruise before signing on an agreement.

Cruise Ships For Sale

Truck and Trailer Equipment - Attaching a Semi Trailer to a Road Tractor

Truck and Trailer Equipment - Attaching a Semi Trailer to a Road Tractor


A common question asked by people outside of the trucking industry is: "How is a road tractor connected to a semi-trailer?" The attachMent between these two pieces of transportation equipMent is made by two connecting devices. One is the "fifth wheel" that is mounted on the rear frame of the road tractor. The other is called the "kingpin", which is located on the front end of the truck trailer. Here is a brief explanation.

Truck and Trailer Equipment - Attaching a Semi Trailer to a Road Tractor

Truck and Trailer Equipment - Attaching a Semi Trailer to a Road Tractor

Truck and Trailer Equipment - Attaching a Semi Trailer to a Road Tractor


Truck and Trailer Equipment - Attaching a Semi Trailer to a Road Tractor



Truck and Trailer Equipment - Attaching a Semi Trailer to a Road Tractor

What is a Fifth-Wheel?

Originally, a fifth wheel was a steering mechanism resembling a wheel that enabled the front axle of a horse-drawn wagon to rotate when making turns. Around 1910, John C. Endebrock invented a device for coupling trailers to motor vehicles. In its initial use, trailers were towed by Ford Model "T" passenger cars. This coupling scheme required three Men to hook to and unhook the trailer from the automobile. In 1918, Endebrock designed a new coupling devise that allowed a single driver to easily connect the tractor and the trailer. The new fifth wheel design used a jaw with a spring locking device mounted on the fifth wheel plate that was attached to the tractor frame.

Today, the fifth wheel serves as a coupling device that attaches a road tractor to a semi-trailer. A fifth wheel is a heavy metal disc with a "V" shaped slot. It is attached horizontally to the chassis above the rear axles of the road tractor. The "V" slot is located at the rear and it contains a locking device. The fifth wheel mechanism used to connect tractors and trailers today is very similar to Endebrock's design from the early twentieth century.

What is a Kingpin?

A kingpin is a heavy metal cylindrical pin that is located underneath the front end of the trailer. The kingpin is the mechanism on the trailer that locks it to a road tractor. It is typically positioned between 18" to 48" from the trailer nose. A greased metal grid plate surrounds the kingpin. This grid plate allows the fifth wheel to slide underneath the trailer. When the tractor is backed into the nose of a trailer, the fifth wheel pivots and slides underneath the trailer's grid plate. The fifth wheel then locks onto the trailer's king pin.

When coupled to the kingpin, the fifth wheel enables the semi trailer to rotate at the point where the fifth wheel and kingpin are joined. The rotating attachment allows the tractor-trailer combination to make turns and provides stability and maneuverability on the road. When the load is delivered, the driver disconnects the tractor from the trailer by rolling down the trailer's Dolly legs. He then pulls a lever to disengage the fifth wheel locking mechanism and drives the tractor away from the trailer.

For more information about semi-trailers, see American Trailer Exchange

Truck and Trailer Equipment - Attaching a Semi Trailer to a Road Tractor