Search found 900 matches

by Big Pete
Sat Apr 27, 2019 12:22 am
Forum: The Workshop
Topic: Confined Space Death on the Rise
Replies: 3
Views: 4353

Re: Confined Space Death on the Rise

A very sad truth.
I think it is solid evidence that despite the introduction of STCW etc the standard of Seafarer training is declining rather than improving.
B.P.
by Big Pete
Thu Feb 14, 2019 12:52 am
Forum: The Workshop
Topic: Dirty/brown/orange colour cooling water
Replies: 28
Views: 31381

Re: Dirty/brown/orange colour cooling water

I agree that it has to be something to do with the overhaul and it very much sounds as if exhaust gas is blowing into the cooling water. You say that the water level goes up when you start the engine, does it go down again when you stop it? This is what you would expect if Gas was leaking in. If the...
by Big Pete
Wed Feb 06, 2019 8:32 am
Forum: The Workshop
Topic: Dirty/brown/orange colour cooling water
Replies: 28
Views: 31381

Re: Dirty/brown/orange colour cooling water

The temperatures are far too cold, you could have cracked the castings running them that cold and you may be getting gas blow from the cylinders into the water. I had cracked heads on one ship with MaK Medium speeds, we didn't lose any water, but when the power came up (and the cylinder pressures) e...
by Big Pete
Mon Jan 28, 2019 3:18 am
Forum: The Workshop
Topic: Engine cannot start
Replies: 36
Views: 39080

Re: Engine cannot start

When I was a Junior Engineer, back in the 70's, I joined a ship called the Strathleven, (ex Middlesex, ex Jellunga) that had been built in 1953 with twin RSG Sulzers. Before I joined, the Third on watch had heard a knocking noise from one cylinder and gone to get a screwdriver to use as a stethoscop...
by Big Pete
Wed Jan 09, 2019 10:02 am
Forum: The Workshop
Topic: Engine cannot start
Replies: 36
Views: 39080

Re: Engine cannot start

Oh Merlyn!

Trike has been long banned, very nasty stuff.

BP
by Big Pete
Mon Jan 07, 2019 12:47 am
Forum: The Workshop
Topic: Premature pipe failure
Replies: 8
Views: 8445

Re: Premature pipe failure

I recently had an email from an old Cadet of mine and he told me that he was on a Diesel Electric PSV, and they had found that the Electromagnetic field from their 3 phase 690 Volt power cables was inducing a circulating voltage in the pipework! Which I had never heard of before, might be relevant.
BP
by Big Pete
Fri Jan 04, 2019 10:07 am
Forum: The Workshop
Topic: Dirty/brown/orange colour cooling water
Replies: 28
Views: 31381

Re: Dirty/brown/orange colour cooling water

Possibly while the system was drained down for the overhaul work, the insides of all the cooling system corroded and this is now coming into the cooling water. Unitor /Wilhelmsen etc make a commissioning cleaner for de-greasing and de rusting new pipework systems, maybe a power flush with that follo...
by Big Pete
Sun Dec 30, 2018 4:30 am
Forum: The Workshop
Topic: Engine cannot start
Replies: 36
Views: 39080

Re: Engine cannot start

Many years ago, I had a problem with a Paxman 4RPH, got a high exhaust temp alarm, seriously high and stopped it, Chief, Third and myself spent a week working on it trying to find the problem, 16 hours on 8 off. No Instrumentation on the engine, just a single exhaust gas thermometer after the Turbo....
by Big Pete
Sun Dec 30, 2018 2:50 am
Forum: The Workshop
Topic: 220V Insulation monitor, Low resistance/Fault from non earth TVs
Replies: 2
Views: 3891

Re: 220V Insulation monitor, Low resistance/Fault from non earth TVs

I have had this experience several times and I have heard possible explanation, firstly you must remember that TV sets are designed for use ashore where the power supply consists of one live wire and a Neutral wire which is connected to Earth at the Star point of the supply Transformer. On a ship we...
by Big Pete
Wed Nov 21, 2018 12:51 pm
Forum: The Workshop
Topic: Premature pipe failure
Replies: 8
Views: 8445

Re: Premature pipe failure

I suspect that the impressed Current system is either not working correctly or is set up wrongly. Go back to the Instruction Manual and see if there are set of settings for the "as installed" condition" and see if they are still the same. It looks as if there is too much current flowi...
by Big Pete
Wed Nov 21, 2018 12:48 pm
Forum: The Workshop
Topic: Black deposits on fresh water side plate coolers
Replies: 3
Views: 4252

Re: Black deposits on fresh water side plate coolers

Poor cooling water treatment. The pipe work is rusting to form Black Iron Oxide (due to lack of Oxygen) which is dissolving in the circulating water and being deposited by Galvanic action onto the Heat Exchanger Plates which are less re active than the steel pipes.# Same as the steel Hull corrodes, ...
by Big Pete
Sun Nov 18, 2018 1:30 pm
Forum: The Workshop
Topic: Stern tube
Replies: 2
Views: 3856

Re: Stern tube

There should be a Hydrostatic pressure balance between the water outside and the oil inside, because Sea Water is more dense than oil the stern tube header tank is always higher then the Sea Water outside, in proportion to the different SGs. Has the Draught aft increased ? That might cause Sea water...
by Big Pete
Tue Oct 23, 2018 9:29 am
Forum: Crew Mess
Topic: working in the UK
Replies: 2
Views: 3301

Re: working in the UK

There used to be a lot of Canadians working in the North Sea employed by British Companies on British Ships, through British Agencies, the North Sea is picking up again so may be worth having a try. They will pay your Air Fares for each trip.
by Big Pete
Wed Oct 10, 2018 11:35 pm
Forum: The Workshop
Topic: Load line regs
Replies: 2
Views: 3621

Re: Load line regs

All valves connected to the ships shell or side plating have to be spheroidal Graphitic cast iron or cast steel, if they fracture and break off the ship will sink! Similarly if the pipe between your Fresh Water Generator and the overboard valve rusts through- Hot concentrated Salt Water so very like...
by Big Pete
Fri Sep 21, 2018 10:40 am
Forum: The Workshop
Topic: OSD18
Replies: 1
Views: 3120

Re: OSD18

The size of the Gravity Disc is chosen according to the specific Gravity of the oil to be purified at the temperature at which the oil will be purified.