Marine Engineering (Deck Officer Level)
Marine engineering at deck officer level tests the bridge–engine relationship: telegraph orders, steering gear checks, bunkering procedures and pollution-prevention equipment. You are not expected to overhaul machinery, but you must know the checks that protect the ship.
Bridge–engine communications
Use the engine telegraph clearly and confirm the reply. "Finished with engines" is given only when the master is satisfied. Know critical speeds and manoeuvring limitations. Before departure, test the telegraph, steering gear, alarms and communications. SOLAS V/26 requires the steering gear to be checked and tested within 12 hours before departure. Emergency steering drills are required at least every three months.
Bunkering
Bunkering starts with an agreed plan between chief engineer, master and supplier: grades, quantities, tank sequence, communication, overflow tank, drip trays and scuppers plugged. Agree emergency stop signals. Sample at the manifold and retain the bunker delivery note. MARPOL Annex VI limits sulphur to 0.50% m/m globally and 0.10% m/m in emission control areas. Changeover must be recorded.
Pollution prevention and auxiliary systems
Know the oily water separator 15 ppm alarm, the oil record book, the sewage treatment plant and the garbage record book. Fuel oil flashpoint must be not less than 60°C for SOLAS compliance. Boilers, purifiers and fresh-water generators have deck-relevant alarms that must be reported and logged.
Worked example: steering gear test timing
A vessel is scheduled to depart at 0600. When must the steering gear be tested, and what should the test include?
SOLAS V/26 requires the test within 12 hours before departure, so it must be completed after 1800 the previous day. The test should include full port and starboard movement, the rudder angle indicator, the steering gear power units, alarms, emergency power and bridge-to-engine communication. Record the test in the log. The three-monthly emergency steering drill is a separate requirement and does not replace the pre-departure test.
Traps
- Confusing the 12-hour pre-departure steering test with the three-monthly emergency steering drill.
- Bunkering without a written or agreed plan and emergency stop signal.
- Forgetting the 0.10% sulphur limit in emission control areas.
- Not retaining bunker samples and the delivery note.
- Ignoring the 15 ppm oily water separator alarm.
- Treating engine alarms as the engine room's problem rather than recording and reporting them.