AUXILIARY EQUIPMENT & SYSTEMS FOR MARINE ENGINE DRIVERS

A well found vessel has equipment sufficient for the trade and seas that she embarks
upon. Modern engineering is very reliable, often incorporating fail safe mechanisms and
sophisticated non serviceable components. Expert service engineers can be required to meet a
manufacturers warrantee. Licensed installers (LPG, electrical, and refrigeration systems) may
be required by National regulations. However, the Marine Engineer remains on the spot,
responsible to ensure that the vessel is ready, and if systems fail, to repair them sufficient to
reach a safe haven.

A basic understanding of maths and science, including calculation, how heat and pressure
change material, how forces stress materials and how momentum and gravity affect motion
will assist the reader. Engineers use these principles to understand why machinery works and
to interpret the signs and symptoms of malfunction. Reference information can be found in
the online dictionary at:

The equipment and systems described may not be exactly match that fitted on your vessel.
Your manufacturers operating manuals must be consulted in practical tasks. Ensuring a safe
work practice and applying OH&S is paramount. This includes using the correct tool for the job,
use of personnel protective equipment, (loose clothing can become entangled in moving parts)
and maintaining a tidy workplace.

Chapter 1: Safe practice

1.1 The standards

An historical perspective

To ensure safe vessels that would enjoy low insurance rates and higher resale value seafaring
nations in the past developed Classification Societies to keep registers (lists of approved safe
vessels). Those remaining today still determine rules (specifications) for construction,
equipment and maintenance for each vessel class (the trade and sea area of operations).

For a new vessel, a classification society such as those above will approve the design plans and
check the quality of materials and workmanship of all stages of the construction process at
what is called the Initial Survey. Seafarers are additionally protected by their assignment of the
vessels load line to show minimum freeboard (preventing overloading) appropriate to the
intended sea area and by mandatory minimum safety equipment. To ensure maintenance to
the survey standards, regular ongoing thorough examinations are scheduled, called Periodic
Surveys.

Subsequently, concern from nations that unregistered and unsafe foreign ships could sink in
their home waters, blocking their ports and polluting their seas resulted in forming
the International Maritime Organisation as a forum to promote sea safety. The IMO now
encourages conformity in their Conventions that include:

Safety of life at sea conference (SOLAS)

Loadlines conference (LOADLINES)

Marine pollution conference (MARPOL)

Standards of training and certification of watchkeepers (STCW)

International Safety Management Code (ISM)

These conventions, the Worlds best practice, are supported in domestic legislation in the
jurisdictions of the Commonwealth of Australia and its States and Territories.

COLOURS OF UTILITIES USED IN - AUSTRALIAN STANDARDS 2000

Water - Emerald Green Fire lines - Signal Red

Steam - Silver Grey Air - Arctic Blue

Oil - Golden Brown Gas - Light Beige

Hazardous - Golden Yellow Acids /Alkalis- Violet

(Services).

Electricity - Light Orange Communications - White

Other fluids, including drainage pipes, bilge lines - Black