Main engine failure....?

Question

Hi,

you may have read some of my other questions regarding ships...i have another!

Im preparing a report on emergency actions on board the ships bridge, as an officer. Im after information regarding main engine failure including, What alarm goes off, the possible dangers and what an officers actions should be in this scenario.

I understand there are certain publications i can get this information from but i have limited access at the moment so any help you could give would be great!

Thanks in advance!

ta ra

Answer 1

It depends on what kind of ship you are on. On a steam ship, when you lose the plant, the ship goes dark. Emergency diesel generators will keep up comms, steerage, and running lights, but you are dead in the water until the chief gets the fires going again. On a motor vessel, If you lose the main, the generators still supply power to the ship, but no propulsion. As far as alarms are concerned, A ship will have a manned engine room the alarms will sound there, and the engineer on watch will notify the bridge of problems. in the wheel house, you may get a steering failure, a power failure, or emergency generator alarm. Your first action as the officer on watch is to call the Master. Next, switch steering modes to the Non Follow-up system. Make the appropriate calls, i.e. Securite for your ship, "Not Under Command" due to engine casualty, and position etc.. Also show the proper lights or day signals, Not Under Command, two balls in a vertical line, and at night two all around red lights in a vertical line. If you have plenty of sea room, and weather is decent, there is no immediate danger. But if in a narrow channel or fairway, with traffic, there is danger of collision, allision, and grounding. In this situation, the anchors come into play. If in heavy weather you want the plant as soon as possible, for obvious reasons, damage to the vessel, damage to the crew, loss of cargo, grounding on a lee shore, breaking up, sinking, capsizing, etc..

Answer 2

When the engines fail an alarm will sound on the bridge and in main engineering. Depending on where you are at the time the following options are open to you. If out to sea just drift until you can get the engines on line or encase of storms you might lower your anchors a few hundred feet this will point the ship towards the wind and give you a better ride. In a port your speed gives you rudder control the faster the water moves past your rudder the better it works. When the engine fails the ship slows down and you lose rudder control or steerage way. In this case blow your horn telling everyone your out of control lower your anchors quickly and put up the ship out of control flag until the anchors bite the bottom then you put up the ship disabled flag and notify the harbor master as to what happened and where you are. The is news footage of a ship with engine failure on the Mississippi river that hit the pier and crushed it. It was all caught on tape.

Answer 3

When ME fails the ship will stop. Depending on where you are is the main question. During maneuevering, you have back up systems that minimize possibilities for danger. Still can happen.
Thats why they have navigation rules. Dont put yourself in a tight spot. At sea, nothing to be alarmed of. Just fix the engine and get going again. Bad weather, you get broadside from losing steering and just be sure you are stable enough not to roll over.

Answer 4

Verify position and depth. If off shore, what are wind and currents. Check with engineer as to how soon engine can be brought on line. Determine the degree of peril, what is drift, sea conditions and future weather. Are you off soundings? if not anchor. Look into options of emergency services. There may be a power failure alarm, are generators working, emergency generator working?

Answer 5

well, no engines no steerage.. no power, not a lot of hope if youre in high seas or abaft the swell.

turn into the waves and start praying... now is not a good time to watch the titanic... look at the size of them conrods... (best bit of the film)

and youre quite right..i know bugger all about the sea..but i went on a cross channel ferry once...

Answer 6

When you hit the bridge engines fail seirens wail

Answer 7

a damaged motor mount will make the engine bounce round and a damaged transmission mount the transmission will bounce round. that,s various of funds for a mount ! verify the cost at vehicle zone.

Answer 8

contact engine room for verification, drop anchor, the boat is NOT under power, and therefore cannot steer, the vessel MUST be stablized, you must drop anchor !