Marine Engineering and Systems
What the engineering paper tests
As a deck officer you need working knowledge of propulsion, auxiliary systems, fuel and steering, enough to detect faults, keep records and know what to report to the engine room.
Core rules
- Two-stroke slow-speed diesels drive most large ships directly; four-stroke medium-speed engines are common for auxiliaries and smaller vessels. Turbocharging raises charge air density, and scavenging clears the cylinder.
- Fuel oil: viscosity is controlled by heating before injection, flash point must be at least 60 degrees C for marine fuel, and sulphur content links to MARPOL Annex VI limits and scrubber use.
- Steering gear under SOLAS: two independent power units, and the main gear must turn the rudder from 35 degrees one side to 30 degrees the other in not more than 28 seconds with one unit running.
- Bilge system: oily water separator with 15 ppm alarm and automatic stopping, plus the Oil Record Book.
- Ballast Water Management Convention: approved treatment to the D-2 standard, Ballast Water Record Book, and exchange only where permitted.
- Boilers, purifiers and coolers need routine checks: low water level, fuel temperature, jacket water and sea water outlet temperatures are the first indicators of trouble.
Worked example
A steering gear drill is due. With one power unit isolated, the rudder is put hard over one side and timed to 30 degrees the other side. If it takes 40 seconds, the unit fails the SOLAS test and must not be relied on until repaired; the second unit is tested the same way, and the drill and the timings are recorded.
Traps that cost marks
- Timing the steering gear with both units running when the test requires one.
- Confusing flash point with fire point; flash point is the lower figure.
- Believing a scrubber changes the applicable sulphur limit rather than the emission outcome.
- Forgetting that ballast water records are separate from the Oil Record Book.