In the engine room English is not decoration — you need it to read a checklist, discuss a fault with the superintendent, order a spare and work safely. Here is a detailed breakdown: equipment, tools, actions, faults and reports.
Engine room
- Main engine (M/E) / auxiliary engine (A/E) — the propulsion and support engines.
- Generator / alternator / shaft generator — electrical power sources.
- Boiler / economizer — steam generation / exhaust-gas boiler.
- Purifier / separator / clarifier — fuel and oil cleaning.
- Pump / compressor / cooler (heat exchanger) — fluid and air machinery.
- Air bottle (receiver) / filter (strainer) — starting air / filtration.
Systems
- Fuel oil (FO) / diesel oil (DO) / lube oil (LO) — heavy fuel / diesel / lubricating oil.
- Fresh water / sea water cooling — the two cooling circuits.
- Bilge system / ballast system — drainage / trimming.
- Starting air / control air — for starting / for controls.
- Exhaust gas / scavenge air — outgoing gas / charge air.
Engine parts
- Piston / cylinder liner / cylinder head — the combustion parts.
- Crankshaft / connecting rod / bearing — the moving assembly.
- Valve (inlet / exhaust) — the gas-exchange valves.
- Injector / fuel pump — the fuel delivery.
- Turbocharger / gasket / O-ring / seal — boosting and sealing.
Tools
- Spanner (wrench) / socket / ratchet — the basics.
- Torque wrench / Allen key — controlled tightening / hex bolts.
- Screwdriver / pliers / hammer — general hand tools.
- Grinder / drill / feeler gauge / micrometer — cutting and measuring.
- Grease gun — for lubrication points.
Verbs
- To overhaul — strip and recondition. To dismantle / to assemble — take apart / put together.
- To tighten / to loosen / to replace / to renew — the fitting verbs.
- To top up / to drain / to bleed the air — fluid handling.
- To calibrate / to adjust — set correctly.
- To take clearance / take readings — measure gaps / record values.
Troubleshooting
- Leak / leakage — the fuel pump is leaking.
- Overheating / high temperature — abnormal heat.
- Low pressure / high pressure — pressure faults.
- Vibration / abnormal noise / knocking — mechanical symptoms.
- Blackout — total loss of electrical power. Scavenge fire — a fire in the scavenge space.
- Worn out / cracked / seized — the wear states.
- Spare part / requisition — the part / the order for it.
Engine watch
- UMS (Unmanned Machinery Space) — unattended running mode.
- Engine room log / round — the record / the inspection walk.
- Alarm / trip / shutdown — warning / protective action / emergency stop.
- Standby / manoeuvring — readiness / bridge-controlled manoeuvres.
Safety
- Permit to work — the work authorization. Enclosed space entry — the confined-space procedure.
- Lockout / tagout — isolating machinery before work.
- Hot work / PPE — welding-type work / personal protective equipment.
Reporting a fault (template)
"The number two generator is overheating. The cooling water outlet temperature is high, and I can hear abnormal noise. I suspect the cooler is fouled. Request permission to stop it and clean the cooler."
Ordering a spare (requisition)
"We need to order two fuel injectors and one set of cylinder head gaskets for the main engine, maker MAN B&W, before the next port."
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