What are the responsibilities of the First Engineer on board a ship?

The First Engineer is under the leadership of the Chief Engineer. He is responsible for the following.

1.Day-to-day running of the Engine room.

2.Management of the Engine department personnel.

3.Safety matters in the Engine room.

4.All maintenance and repair jobs on board ship.

5.The main engine and its auxiliary equipment, steering gears, emergency equipments in engine room, etc.

6.Making and implementing the PMS (Planned Maintenance System)

7.Requisition for, receipt and control of spare parts and stores.

8.Supervision of the jobs of engine crew.

9.Keeping watch from 0400 to 0800 and from 1600 to 2000 except for UMS operation.

10.Other works designated buy the C/E.

Describe the procedure for staring a fresh water generator, boiler, emergency generator?

1.fresh water generator:

i.Check the valves to make sure that they are in the normal position;

ii.Open the sea water valves of condenser and supply sea water to heating chamber;

iii.Start the sea water ejector pump to draw out the vacuum until the heating chamber vacuum reaches 93% (about 700 mmHg);

iv.Open the water heating valves and keep the heating chamber temperature around 45 degrees Centigrade;

v.When the condensed water reaches a certain level, start the distilled water pump, and keep its pressure no less than 0.2MPa.

vi.Start chemical liquid feed pump.

2.automatic boiler:

i.Check the water level to make sure there is normal volume of water inside;

ii.Open the vent valve on top of the boiler (if it is first time to raise pressure from cold condition);

iii.Confirm the boiler water supply pumps are in “Auto” condition;

iv.Switch on the power supply;

v.Put the boiler control switch in “Auto” position.

vi.Automatically start the boiler, close the air vent valve while the boiler steam pressure reaches 0.02 MPa;

vii.Confirm the boiler can auto stop while it pressure reaches “high limit” (e.g. 0.7MPa);

3.manual boiler:

i.Check the water level to make sure there is normal volume of water inside and put the feed water pump in “Auto” position;

ii.Open the vent valve on top of the boiler (if it is first time raise pressure from cold condition);

iii.Put the draft fan in “Manual” position, and make preventive blow to avoid any possible explosion,

iv.Put the fuel oil pump in “Manual” position;

v.Ignite fire by pressing the manual button, if the fire “On”, put the button in “Normal” position;

vi.When the steam pressure reaches to 0.1 MPa, close the air vent valve;

vii.After making sure that everything is in order, the normal burning can be done to make the steam pressure reach required level.

4.emergency generator:

i.Check the lube oil level in the crankcase and fuel oil level in the tank all in normal level;

ii.Check to see if there is any leakage;

iii.Check the air pressure if the generator is the air-started model; or check the battery voltage to see whether it is normal if the generator is of the battery start model;

iv.Also make sure there aren’t any obstacles around the machine.

v.Put the test switch in “Manual” position, and manually start it after making sure above-mentioned items in order;

vi.If you use “Auto test” model, or “Black out” model to test the emergency generator, you must inform bridge duty officer and Chief Engineer. And you cannot carry it until you get the permit from both of them. Otherwise, you must wait;

vii.“Auto test” must be carried out once every month. “Blackout” test must be carried out once every 3 months.

注意：大管轮应该对这些主要辅机设备的启动程序了如指掌。

When main engine stops after running a while, what are the possible causes?

The following reasons may lead to the problem:

1.Some of the high injection pumps are sticked;

2.There is no fuel oil because valve is not open or the fuel pump is not running; 

3.Lube oil pressure is too low, or control air pressure is too low etc.

What is the purpose of taking lube oil samples for analysis?

1.By analyzing the lube oil sample, we want to know whether the lube oil meets the stipulated standards in viscosity, TBN (total base number), flash point, water contents, mechanic impurities etc.. If impurities (i.e. metals) are found, it means something wrong with the bearing and crankshaft. If the viscosity is lower than the standard, it may mean that fuel oil may have leaked into the lube oil system.

2.Too much fuel oil in the lube oil system can lower the flash point of the lube and also may lead to possible explosion.

3.The important figure is TBN.  If the TBN is lower than the standard, it means the loss of the anti-acid ability and this will lead to the moving parts corrosive in the near future.

What are the things you need to take note during the handover (before you sign off)?

The outgoing First Engineer shall prepare a set of handover notes for the incoming First Engineer and shall ask the incoming First Engineer be familiar with the note contents. One copy of the handover notes with their signatures shall be given to the Chief Engineer for file. In general，the handover procedure shall include the following:

1.A tour of the engine room, with view of the engines, documents and equipments;

2.Discussion on current and future engine and machine’s operation problems, spare part requirement;

3.Information on the maintenance work and program;

4.Dry dock repair list, if there is any;

5.Discussion on the junior engineers or crew’s capacity and personalities;

6.Survey status and requirements;

7.Store and spare part order and requisition;

8.Current status of the ship’s safety equipments and machines;

9.Safety and environment protection procedures and any special requirement by the company and in some areas in the world;

10.Disciplinary procedures and management practice in the Engine department;

11.Any other matters that the outgoing First Engineer thinks necessary and important.

12.After the handover, the two First Engineers should sign all the Handover Checklist as evidence and for files.

注意：大管轮也是船上特别是轮机部非常重要的职位，上下船的交接班非常重要。