GMA CoC EOOW key terms

A class notation allowing the engine room to run without a permanent watch, provided automated alarms, fire detection and safety shutdowns are proven reliable and the bridge can monitor and call the engineer on duty.

A timed vigilance device in the engine room or on the bridge that requires periodic reset by the watchkeeper; failure to respond raises an alarm and may escalate to the duty engineer or chief engineer.

The formal transfer of responsibility between engineering watchkeepers, covering machinery condition, ongoing work, isolation status, fuel and water levels, outstanding defects and any instructions from the chief engineer.

The central monitoring and alarm panel that annunciates abnormal temperatures, pressures, levels and running states, usually with grouping, first-up indication, alarm logging and connection to the safety shutdown system.

An automatic protective action that stops or trips machinery when a critical parameter exceeds limits, for example low lubricating oil pressure or overspeed, to prevent damage or fire.

A mechanical or electronic device that cuts fuel or steam supply when a prime mover exceeds its maximum safe speed, protecting against runaway and catastrophic failure of rotating parts.

A control device that regulates engine or turbine speed by adjusting fuel or steam supply in response to load changes, maintaining the set speed within droop limits for parallel operation.

The division of electrical or propulsion load between paralleled generators or engines so each carries its proportionate share, achieved by speed droop, load-sensing governors or electronic power management.

Total loss of ship's electrical power, often from a generator trip or bus fault; recovery requires emergency generator start, sequential restart of essential auxiliaries and controlled reconnection of the main alternator.

An independent power source, usually diesel driven and located above the bulkhead deck, that starts automatically on main power failure to supply emergency lighting, steering, radio and fire pumps.

The distribution board fed by the emergency generator or an emergency bus tie, supplying essential services and separated from the main switchboard by fire-resistant routing and automatic changeover arrangements.

A load-shedding arrangement in which non-essential consumers are automatically disconnected in a set sequence when generator capacity is exceeded, preserving power to propulsion and safety equipment.

Removal of water, sludge and solid contaminants from fuel by settling tanks, separators and filters, protecting injection equipment and preventing combustion problems and fuel pump wear.

The controlled procedure for switching between heavy fuel oil and distillate, managing temperature, viscosity and gradual flow-rate changes to avoid thermal shock and injection pump seizure.

Maintaining fuel at the viscosity specified for the injection system, usually by heating heavy fuel to a set temperature at the engine inlet, ensuring correct atomisation and combustion.

A device that samples crankcase atmosphere and alarms when oil mist concentration rises, giving early warning of overheating bearings or piston seizure before an explosive crankcase condition develops.

Ignition of oil mist in a diesel engine crankcase, typically after a hot spot vaporises oil; prevention relies on mist detection, relief valves and correct lubrication and cooling.

Continuous or periodic measurement of main, crankpin and thrust bearing temperatures to detect overheating from lubrication failure, misalignment or overload before damage occurs.

Circulation of oil or water through internal piston passages to remove heat from the crown, maintaining ring and liner temperatures and preventing carbon build-up and cracking.

Controlled delivery of cylinder oil to the liner surface of a large diesel engine, forming a film that reduces wear and neutralises acidic combustion products; rate is adjusted to fuel sulphur and load.

Combustion of accumulated oil and carbon deposits in the scavenge air spaces of a diesel engine, detected by high temperature and pressure, requiring fuel cut-off, stopping and controlled cooling.

Chemical dosing and testing of boiler feed and boiler water to control scale, corrosion, alkalinity and dissolved oxygen, supported by blowdown and de-aeration of feedwater.

Deliberate discharge of boiler water to remove dissolved solids and sludge, either as continuous surface blowdown or periodic bottom blowdown, protecting against carryover and scale.

The arrangement of pumps, heaters, de-aerator and controls that supplies water to the boiler at the correct rate and quality, including automatic level control and standby pump changeover.

The machinery that moves the rudder in response to bridge orders, with main and auxiliary power units, overload protection and the requirement to restore steering within a short time after failure.

A periodic exercise testing emergency steering procedures, communication between bridge and steering flat, and the ability to operate the rudder by alternative means within the required time.

An instrument on the bridge and in the steering flat showing actual rudder position, independent of the control command, so the officer can verify that the ordered angle is achieved.

A written authorisation for hazardous or intrusive work that records isolation, precautions, gas testing, supervision and sign-off, ensuring only authorised persons work on identified equipment.

Physical disconnection or locking of electrical, mechanical and fluid energy sources with tags and verification, ensuring machinery cannot be started or pressurised while work is in progress.

Entry into a tank, void or compartment with restricted ventilation, requiring authorisation, atmosphere testing for oxygen and toxic or flammable gas, ventilation, standby person and rescue equipment.

A statutory record of oil and oily mixture operations, including bilge transfers, sludge disposal, fuel oil bunkering and machinery space discharges, open to inspection by port state control.

The international regulations preventing pollution by oil, governing machinery space discharges, oily water separator limits, sludge retention and the associated record-keeping and survey requirements.

Equipment that separates oil from bilge water so the discharged effluent meets the permitted oil content, typically monitored by an oil content meter linked to an automatic stopping device.

A statutory log recording garbage categories, quantities, retention, processing and discharge or landing ashore, supporting compliance with pollution prevention requirements for ship-generated waste.

Periodic inspection and certification confirming hull openings, closures, freeing ports and watertight integrity comply with the load line convention, with surveys timed to the certificate's validity.

Inspection by a recognised class society covering hull, machinery and systems against class rules, granting and maintaining class certificates and issuing conditions of class for any deficiencies.

The documented structure of policies, procedures, responsibilities and checklists required under the ISM Code, aimed at safe operation and pollution prevention, subject to internal and external audit.

Planned measures to contain flooding or fire and preserve stability and propulsion, including closing watertight openings, isolating compartments, assessing free surface effects and reporting to the bridge.

The condition of hull, bulkheads, doors and closures that prevents water passage between compartments, maintained by inspection, correct securing and closure of openings during operations.

Loss of effective metacentric height caused by liquid moving freely in a partly filled tank, raising the ship's centre of gravity and reducing stability during heel or flooding.