Page 12 - Introduction to Marine Engineering

Chapter 1

Ships and machinery

As an introduction to marine engineering, we might reasonably begin by
taking an overall look at the ship. The various duties of a marine
engineer all relate to the operation of the ship in a safe, reliable, efficient
and economic manner. The main propulsion machinery installed will
influence the machinery layout and determine the equipment and
auxiliaries installed. This will further determine the operational and
maintenance requirements for the ship and thus the knowledge
required and the duties to be performed by the marine engineer.

Ships

Ships are large, complex vehicles which must be self-sustaining in their
environment for long periods with a high degree of reliability. A ship is
the product of two main areas of skill, those of the naval architect and
the marine engineer. The naval architect is concerned with the hull, its
construction, form, habitability and ability to endure its environment.
The marine engineer is responsible for the various systems which propel
and operate the ship. More specifically, this means the machinery
required for propulsion, steering, anchoring and ship securing, cargo
handling, air conditioning, power generation and its distribution. Some
overlap in responsibilities occurs between naval architects and marine
engineers in areas such as propeller design, the reduction of noise and
vibration in the ship's structure, and engineering services provided to
considerable areas of the ship.
A ship might reasonably be divided into three distinct areas: the
cargo-carrying holds or tanks, the accommodation and the machinery
space. Depending upon the type each ship will assume varying
proportions and functions. An oil tanker, for instance, will have the
cargo-carrying region divided into tanks by two longitudinal bulkheads
and several transverse bulkheads. There will be considerable quantities
of cargo piping both above and below decks. The general cargo ship will