Ensuring the safety of a ship is crucial for the well-being of the crew, the ship itself, and the environment. A ship is a complex system, and many factors contribute to maintaining a safe working environment. This blog explores the fundamental principles and practices that can prevent accidents, including fire, flooding, and loss of control of the ship. It also covers the safety of the engine room, one of the most critical areas for ship operation, and provides guidelines for ensuring safety in this vital part of the ship.
Establishing a proactive safety culture on board a ship is essential to preventing accidents and ensuring a smooth operation. The Chief Engineer plays a critical role in ensuring that everyone in the engineering team understands that safety should always come first. A clear understanding of safety practices will help establish a robust structure that can prevent incidents like fires, flooding, or loss of control of the ship.
The following general principles should be followed to ensure engine room safety:
Personal Protective Equipment (PPE): Personnel should always wear suitable PPE, including coveralls, safety shoes, safety helmets, safety goggles, hearing protection, and safety gloves. They should also carry a good quality, intrinsically safe torch at all times.
Right Person for the Right Job: Only personnel with the appropriate knowledge and skills should operate and maintain machinery. This policy extends to other activities like chemical handling, operating lifting gear, and changing filters.
Housekeeping Practices: Good housekeeping should always be maintained by following essential seamanship procedures.
Ship Movement Awareness: Personnel must always keep the ship's movement in mind when carrying out tasks like operating cranes, manually transferring oil, or climbing ladders.
Stair Safety: Engine room stairs can be steep, so personnel should take extra care, always hold handrails, and face the stairs when descending.
By adhering to these principles, the ship’s engineering team can significantly reduce the risk of accidents.
Personnel should be encouraged to report near-miss incidents, no matter how small or seemingly insignificant. A culture of openness and transparency can help identify potential hazards before they lead to serious accidents. All members of the engineering team should read and understand accident reports to learn from past mistakes. These reports should be readily available in key areas like the Engine Control Room (ECR) and crew dining rooms and should be regularly updated.
The International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS) provides the framework for safety regulations in the construction, equipment, and operation of ships. SOLAS 1974, the latest version of this convention, came into force on 25 May 1980. These regulations are essential for ensuring that ships operate safely, and compliance with them is non-negotiable for ship owners and operators.
One of the most significant risks in the engine room is fire. The engine room contains several hazards that could lead to dangerous fires if not carefully monitored. Common causes of fires in this area include:
Hot Surfaces and Flammable Substances: Hot surfaces, such as exhaust pipes and turbochargers, can easily ignite flammable substances like fuel oil and lubricating oil.
Electrical Faults: Faulty electrical systems, such as short circuits or improper insulation, can lead to fires.
Oil Mist and Vapours: Oil mist or vapours coming into contact with heated surfaces can ignite, leading to explosions inside engine crankcases.
Scavenge Fires: Hot gases can ignite oily residues in engine scavenge air spaces, causing scavenge fires.
Poor Maintenance: Inadequate maintenance of equipment, such as moisture and oil accumulation in starting air lines, can lead to explosions.
Improper Hot Work Procedures: Poor hot work procedures can ignite flammable materials in the workshop or engine room.
Preventing fires in the engine room is critical for ship safety. The following measures should always be taken:
Prevent Oil Leaks: Any oil leaks should be identified and repaired immediately to prevent fire hazards.
Shield Hot Surfaces: Insulate and shield hot surfaces like engine indicator valves, exhaust piping, and turbochargers from contact with fuel.
Effective Work Permits: Use an effective permit-to-work system for all maintenance work, including a comprehensive risk assessment.
Proper Cylinder Storage: Oxygen and acetylene cylinders should be stored away from the crew accommodation, engine room, and paint lockers.
Good Housekeeping: Maintain cleanliness in the engine room to prevent crankcase explosions, scavenge fires, and other accidents.
Despite the best preventive measures, fires can still occur. It is crucial to respond to a fire quickly and effectively. Key actions include:
Regular Testing of Fire Detectors: Test fire detectors regularly to ensure they are functioning properly.
Test Fire Pumps: Fire pumps, including emergency pumps, should be tested weekly.
Check Fixed Firefighting Systems: Regular inspection of firefighting systems ensures their operational readiness.
Ensure Clear Emergency Exits: Mark emergency exits clearly and replace any broken lights immediately.
Conduct Fire Drills: Regularly conduct fire drills and specific fire scenarios to practice emergency response procedures.
Loss of control over a ship's navigation or machinery can result in disastrous consequences. Blackouts, engine failure, or faults in the ship's automation or steering systems can lead to a complete loss of control. The following measures can prepare the crew for such emergencies:
Ensure Correct Start/Stop Procedures: Always post proper start and stop procedures next to each piece of machinery in the engine room.
Test Standby Machinery: Regularly test standby machinery, including engines, pumps, and compressors, to ensure they are in good working order.
Regular Blackout Drills: Hold blackout drills to familiarize the crew with procedures to revive a dead ship quickly.
Emergency Steering Drills: Conduct emergency steering drills in open seas to ensure personnel are prepared to switch to local control and change rudder angles.
By implementing these measures, the crew can be better prepared for a loss of control and respond efficiently in an emergency.
Flooding in the engine room is a serious emergency that can lead to a loss of power or propulsion. In some cases, flooding could even result in the loss of the entire ship. Common causes of flooding include:
Unattended Bilge Alarms: Bilge high-level alarms left unchecked can lead to water breaching tank tops.
Corroded Seawater Piping: Corrosion can lead to leaks in seawater piping, causing flooding.
Ruptured Branch Pipes: Ruptures in branch pipes connecting to sea chests or seawater overboard valves can lead to significant flooding.
Improper Maintenance: Poor maintenance, such as missing or unsealed tank-sounding pipe cocks, can lead to flooding.
Accidents (Collisions, Groundings): A breach in the engine room hull caused by an allision, collision, or grounding can result in flooding.
Inoperative Watertight Doors: Doors that are left open or are inoperative can allow flooding to spread throughout the ship.
While some flooding events, like those caused by accidents, are unavoidable, the engineering team can take steps to prevent flooding caused by inefficient bilge management. Recommended practices include:
Maintain Bilge Systems: Regularly inspect and repair any corrosion or leaks in bilge systems.
Regular Emergency Valve Testing: Test emergency bilge suction valves and other valves for bilge operation.
Inspect Sea Chest Lines: Ensure that all sea chest filters, coolers, and pipelines are in good working order.
Ensure Proper Operation of Watertight Doors: Test watertight doors regularly to ensure they close properly during emergency situations.
Watertight doors are essential for preventing the spread of flooding. However, improper use of these doors can result in serious injuries or even deaths. To ensure safety:
Never Cross Moving Watertight Doors: Personnel should never attempt to cross through a watertight door if it is moving and not fully open.
Manual Operation: When manually operating watertight doors, personnel should ensure that the door is fully open before passing through. Both control levers should be held in the open position while passing through.
Training for New Joiners: All new personnel should be trained on the proper use of watertight doors before being allowed to operate them.
The checklist, emphasizing the importance of these vital systems for ship safety. This list includes main parts that ensure proper functioning, but it is not exhaustive:
These components are crucial for the safety and operational efficiency of the vessel:
Fuel Oil and Injection System
Lubrication System
Crankcase
Indicator Diagrams
Cylinder Heads, Liners, and Pistons
Valves and Valve Gear
Charge Air Systems
Turbochargers, Air Coolers, and Scavenge Spaces
Precautions for Overheating of Bearings
Main Engine Alarm Management
Essential for the propulsion system and safe operation of the vessel:
Lubrication System
Safety Devices
Warming and Shutdown Procedures
Reduction Gearing
Maximum Power Underway
Critical for the vessel's steam generation and energy systems:
Boiler Lay-up
Soot Blowing at Sea
Soot Blowing into Port
Testing
Pressure Vessel Relief Devices
Feed Water System and Chemical Treatment
Combustion System and Operation
Boilers Operations in Maneuvering
Ensure the safety and proper functioning of electrical systems on board:
Safety Precautions
Operation
Alarms
Battery Systems
Hazardous Area Installations
Earth Faults and Insulation Testing
High Voltage (6.6KV)
Microwave Ovens - Inspection and Testing
Dry-Docking Precautions
Vital for managing heat transfer systems that affect engine and boiler operations:
Cleaning and Testing of Heat Exchangers
Methods of Marine Heat Exchanger Testing
General
Shell and Tube Type Heat Exchangers
Plate Type Heat Exchangers
Air Coolers
Pressure Testing of Heat Exchangers
General
Shell and Tube/Plate Type Heat Exchangers & Air Coolers
Ensures the auxiliary power systems are operating safely:
Lubricating Oil Purification
Auxiliary Engines Critical Alarms
Precautions if Auxiliary Engine Has Been Idle for Prolonged Period
Ship safety requires a holistic approach, with continuous attention to detail in areas such as fire prevention, flooding, and maintaining control of the ship's systems. The principles and practices outlined in this blog provide a foundation for ensuring a safe working environment in the engine room and beyond. By establishing a proactive safety culture, adhering to regulations, and practicing preparedness drills, ship operators can significantly reduce the risk of accidents and ensure the safety of both the crew and the vessel.
