Carnival Cruise Line has previewed its new Fleet Operations Center (FOC) in Miami. The 35,000 square-foot facility is the largest and most advanced in the cruise industry. It’s designed to offer around the clock monitoring of the line’s 26 cruise ships.

The FOC’s most impressive features were on display at a ribbon cutting ceremony and interactive demonstration. They include a 74-foot-long video wall made up of 57 LED screens. The high-definition wall displays the status of all ships, including weather, itinerary updates, safety, engine and environmental updates.

State-of-the-art tracking and data-analysis provide real-time information about the status of each ship. Ports, logistics, guest operations and several other functions are monitored, as well.

Seating in the FOC is arranged in “pods” according to ship classes, to facilitate communication and teamwork.

“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 centre in the industry,” said Carnival Cruise Line president Christine Duffy. “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.”

Carnival built custom tools for the FOC, including proprietary software applications “Neptune” and “Argos.” Argos is a knowledge management tool which gathers information from thousands of data points to facilitate communication. Neptune analyzes navigational safety data. It enables efficiencies in nautical operations, procedural optimization and sustainability.

“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,” said Gus Antorcha, Carnival Cruise Line’s chief operating officer.

Carnival partnered with Constant Technologies, Inc., a design firm specializing in operations centres. The design of the FOC features an open concept floor plan with sustainable furnishings and ergonomic features such as blue ceiling lighting to decrease eye fatigue. Desks are sitting/stand ready and carpeting is made from recycled fishnets. The FOC also features multiple conference rooms that can be linked to the main LED wall. They are intended for use by support teams in the event of any incidents at sea.

The Miami facility is the third and largest in Carnival Corporation’s global FOC network. Additional facilities are located in Seattle and Hamburg.

Should the need arise, the Miami FOC can monitor the entire 103-ship fleet of parent company Carnival Corporation.