There are a number of moving parts and machines on a ship that is necessary to keep it moving. Learn about the different types of engines you will find, including main propulsion plant and auxilliary power generators. Also learn about the onboard electrical systems crucial to carrying out basic functions such as control, communication and navigation. These are all essential elements in Marine Engineering.
Ships come in various descriptions and have hundreds of thousands of components, but there are a few parts that are common to all ships. In this guide, you can learn about how the basic parts of ships have evolved over the centuries.
Numerous different ships systems and controls being maintained by engineer officers are used on all types of vessels today. These consist of engine room systems such as lube oil, fuel oil, and seawater, along with deck officer’s roles such as cargo recording and navigation.
Marine fuels and fuel handling are a common part of a ship’s engineers routine from taking on bunkers to ensuring the fuel is kept at optimum temperature, and as free from contaminates as possible, for use in the main engines or boilers.
The invention of the diesel engine in 1893 has been attributed to Rudolf Diesel, a German mechanical engineer and inventor. This was an innovative internal combustion engine that was the fore-runner of today’s marine diesel engines used in ships worldwide.
Resurfacing of bronze rudders and propellers is required after the boat has been subjected to the ravages of seawater immersion. This causes several types of corrosion that along with flow induced damage leave the components badly pitted, necessitating a spell on the slips to remove them for repair.
Measuring the contents of a tank is a job which most mariners hate to do. For this reason, many gauges and devices have been produced for reducing the man hours of mariners. Read here to learn about the common different types and their construction with detailed pictures of each.
The article discusses expressions that are generally useful for determining the various factors involved with fluid flow through nozzles and orifices. The practical relevance is also demonstrated through an experiment.
Marine diesel engines and engine rooms have changed a bit since I was a young engineer at sea in the 1960’s. Nowadays modern engines are designed to be more economical and emit fewer toxic exhaust gas fumes.
Learn about the techniques of controlling NOx emissions in modern day ships and what companies are doing to ensure that pollution to the environment due to NOx is reduced.
Electrical Propulsion systems are not new to the marine industry. However, the system was limited to passenger vessels and some hi-tech research vessels. Recent trends and developments in power electronics have paved way for more advanced and modern trends in electrical propulsion.
Emission from ships exhausts account for a 2-3% of all global CO2 emissions, along with quite sizeable amounts of SOx and NOx emissions. However, the International Maritime Organization (IMO) has capped the NOx in exhaust emissions and reduced the sulfur content in HFO used by ships main engines.
Decarbonization of aux engines such as power generators aboard ships is a part of routine engine maintenance. It involves the removal of the cylinder heads and valve gear, pistons and rings, allowing the inspection of the liner and removal of the accumulation of carbon from these components.
Do you know what role the valve gear plays in a typical steam engine, whether a marine or non-marine application?
A U tube manometer is a device normally utilized for measuring pressure in different fluids or gases. Typical uses of this important device under various situations are discussed here through illustrations.
The Pathfinder Marine Diesel engine was a 50hp 1.6 liter VW industrial diesel engine formerly used in the VW Rabbit truck, where it gave a reliable economic service. It became a very popular engine with the fishing boats of Canada; some of these boats are still reliably propelled by a Pathfinder.
RORO or Roll On Roll Off is a cargo-handling method for loading and unloading heavy equipment onto cargo barges and ships without using cranes. RORO has many advantages over the LOLO, or Lift On Lift Off, method.
Cold start smoke problems are not uncommon to Volvo Penta marine engines. The problem can be diagnosed and alleviated by a process of engine checks, eliminating potential causes. The obvious causes such as a lazy starter or weak batteries should be tackled first and are easily checked.
Offshore oil or natural gas drilling using self-installing platforms use suction piles rather than conventional methods of pile-driving into the seabed, making the installation of offshore structures quicker and environmentally friendly, and enables the structures to be easily removed or relocated.
Turbochargers provide an important function on a marine two-stroke diesel engine by supplying scavenge air. The turbocharger turbine is rotated by the exhaust gasses from the engine, driving a compressor on the same shaft. Pyrometers are fitted at locations in the engine exhaust gas streams.
Marine engine firing order is designed to distribute the engine power on the crankshaft bearings evenly. It should also be the optimum firing order to ensure the least engine vibration through balancing the power output along with consideration given to torsion and axial characteristics.