Page 19 - Introduction to Marine Engineering

Ships and machinery 7

At the floorplate level around the main machinery are located various
main engine and ship's services pumps, an auxiliary oil-fired boiler and a
sewage plant. Three diesel alternators are located aft behind an acoustic
screen.
The 8.5m flat houses a turbo-alternator each side and also the
forced-draught fans for the main boilers. The main boiler feed pumps
and other feed system equipment are also located around this flat. The
two main boilers occupy the after end of this flat and are arranged for
roof firing. Two distillation plants are located forward and the domestic
water supply units are located aft.
The control room is located forward of the 12.3m flat and contains
the main and auxiliary machinery consoles. The main switchboard and
group starter boards are located forward of the console, which faces into
the machinery space.
On the 16.2 m flat is the combustion control equipment for each boiler
with a local display panel, although control is from the main control
room. The boiler fuel heating and pumping module is also located here.
The de-aerator is located high up in the casing and silencers for the
diesel alternators are in the funnel casing.

Operation and maintenance
The responsibilities of the marine engineer are rarely confined to the
machinery space. Different companies have different practices, but
usually all shipboard machinery, with the exception of radio equipment,
is maintained by the marine engineer. Electrical engineers may be
carried on very large ships, but if not, the electrical equipment is also
maintained by the engineer.
A broad-based theoretical and practical training is therefore necessary
for a marine engineer. He must be a mechanical, electrical, air
conditioning, ventilation and refrigeration engineer, as the need arises.
Unlike his shore-based opposite number in these occupations, he must
also deal with the specialised requirements of a floating platform in a
most corrosive environment. Furthermore he must be self sufficient and
capable of getting the job done with the facilities at his disposal.
The modern ship is a complex collection of self-sustaining machinery
providing the facilities to support a small community for a considerable
period of time. To simplify the understanding of all this equipment is
the purpose of this book. This equipment is dealt with either as a
complete system comprising small items or individual larger items. In
the latter case, especially, the choices are often considerable. A
knowledge of machinery and equipment operation provides the basis
for effective maintenance, and the two are considered in turn in the
following chapters.