Marine Engineering

The maritime industry is a rapidly changing one and marine engineering is an integral part of it. Marine engineers working in the industry have to keep themselves abreast with the latest developments and regulations. Needless to say, in a field like marine engineering, the process of updating oneself is a continuous one and there is a lot to learn. Coming to marine engineer’s main job, which require them to operate and maintain ship’s machinery, learning the basics of marine engineering is as much important as understanding advanced concepts of ship’s engine room through experience and practical knowledge. This marine engineering tutorial will guide you through all the important machinery systems of ships and their working.

Main Engine 

The propulsion engine or the main engine is what drives the ship. The biggest machine in the engine room, the main propulsion engine makes a major part of marine engineering learning. 8 Engine Terms Every Marine Engineer Should Know – Part 1 8 Engine Terms Every Marine Engineer Should Know – Part 2 Troubleshooting: Excessive Loss of Water from Main Engine Fresh Water Expansion Tank How to Use Main Engine Performance Curve for Economical Fuel Consumption on Ships? The Essential Marine Engine Maintenance Guide For Marine Engineers How Spark Erosion Can Damage the Main Propulsion Engine of a Ship? Understanding Diesel Engine Performance How Massive Main Engines are Fitted in the Ship’s Engine Room? How Variable Geometry Turbocharger for Marine Engines Works? Intelligent Cylinder Lubrication for Modern Marine Engines -Part 1 8 Ways to Achieve Efficient Combustion in Marine Engines Reasons for Failure and Misalignment of Crankshaft in Marine Engines Video: Operation of Main Engine Starting Air System What is Power Balancing of Marine Engines? What is an Entablature in Ship’s Engine? 4 Ways to Measure Main Bearing Clearance of Two Stroke Marine Engine Understanding Vibrations in Marine Propulsion Engines Dampers & De-tuners: Reducing Vibration of Marine Engines 10 Steps for Converting a Conventional Marine Propulsion Engine to an Intelligent Electronic Controlled Engine How to Tackle Low Load Operating Conditions of Marine Propulsion Engine? 12 Terminologies used for Power of the Ship’s Marine Propulsion Engine How Marine Propulsion Engine of the Ship is Protected? Main Engine Liner Removal Procedure for S50MC-C Engine Types of Main Bearings of Marine Engines and their Properties Procedure for Cross Head Bearing Removal of Marine Engine – MAN B&W S50MC-C Chain Tightening Procedure for MAN B&W Engine What is a Brace or Strut for Marine Engines? Jack Bolts for Marine Engine and the Procedure for Tensioning Hybrid Turbocharger for Marine Engines: Maritime Technology Innovation Procedure for Removing Main Bearing of MAN B&W MC-C Engine Why 2-stroke Engines are Used More commonly than 4-stroke on Ships? The Most Popular Marine Propulsion Engines in the Shipping Industry What are Breaking-In and Running-In in Marine Diesel Engines? How is Marine Engine Repair Done On board a Ship? Reasons for Cylinder Liner Wear and Ways to Measure it Intelligent Engines – The New Generation Machines An Overview of Common Rail System of Marine Engines Piston Skirt, Piston Rod and Trunk Piston Types of Piston Rings and Piston Ring Maintenance Understanding Indicator Diagram and Different Types of Indicator Diagram Deficiencies  

Boiler

Boiler is one of the main supporting machinery systems in the ship’s engine room. A part of the marine engineering syllabus, boilers are found on every type of cargo ship and thus need special attention during maintenance. Energy Audit on Ships: Audit of Marine Boiler Energy Conservation in Boilers and Making a Boiler Report What to do When Flame Failure or Fuel Pump Tripping in Marine Auxiliary Boilers Occurs? Understanding Boiler Feed Water Contamination MAN B&W’s Dual Fuel Marine Engine : A General Overview Boiler Mountings: A Comprehensive List Important Points for Boiler Cleaning on a Ship Boiler Operation Made Easy : Procedure for Starting and Stopping a Boiler Blow-Down Procedure for Marine Boilers The Science behind Marine Boiler Water Circulation on Ships Boiler Starting Failure – Troubleshooting Procedure for Boiler Gauge Glass Maintenance on a Ship Everything You Ever Wanted to Know About Scavenge Fires How to Prevent Crankcase Explosion on a Ship? What is Turbocharger Surging? Everything You Ever Wanted To Know About Crankcase Inspection on a Ship What is Steam Hammering in Ship’s Steam System?  

Refrigeration 

Refrigeration system is used for several purposes on ships. The air conditioning and refrigeration plant of the ship need regular monitoring in order to ensure smooth functioning. If you are a marine engineer or a marine engineering student, then understanding working and maintenance of refrigeration system is of utmost importance. What are the Safety Devices on the Refrigeration System of a Ship? Construction and Working of Ships Refrigeration plant Guidelines on Quality of Refrigerant Used on Ships Understanding Capacity Control in Ship’s Air Conditioning and Refrigeration System How to Charge Refrigeration Plant on Ships? Everything You Ever Wanted to Know About Container Refrigeration Unit  

Electrical 

Electrical knowledge is extremely important while handling ship’s machinery systems. Power generated and supplied on ships requires both basic and practical marine engineering knowledge, which comprises of several aspects of electrical engineering. How is Power Generated and Supplied on a Ship? Preferential Trips on Ship : Construction and Working Single Phasing in Electrical Motors: Causes, Effects, and Protection Methods Construction and Operation of Megger Explained Permanent Magnet Moving Coil Instrument (PMMC) – Working and Application on Ship What are the Main Safety Devices for Main Switch Board on Ship? Electrical Safety Device: Air Circuit Breaker (ACB) Understanding Rectifier and Rectifier Circuits on Ship Amplifier Circuit or Operational Amplifier (op amp) Used on Ship Construction and Working of 3 Phase Induction Motor on Ship Maintenance of Electrical Relay on Ships Electrical Circuit How to Find an Earth Fault On board Ships? Why are Transformer and Alternator Ratings in kVA on Ships? Reasons for Using High Voltage Systems On board Ships How to Install Electronic Circuits on Ship? Electric Propulsion System for Ship: Does it have a Future in the Shipping? Electrical Propulsion System in Ships What is Alternate Marine Power (AMP) or Cold Ironing? Important Points to Consider While Carrying out Alternator Maintenance of Ship’s Generator How to Minimize the Risks of an Electrical Shock on a Ship? Hazards Related to Electric Cable Insulation in Case of Fire Importance of Insulation Resistance in Marine Electrical Systems Thermocouples: The Most Common Pyrometer on Ship What is Lambda Control in Ships? Electric Propulsion System for Ship: Does it have a Future in the Shipping? Electrical Propulsion System in Ships  

Generators/ Auxiliary Engines 

Generators are the life line of ships. They are the main supporting system of the ship’s engine and other important machinery in the engine room. In marine engineering domain, generators or auxiliary engines hold equal importance as main engine, if not more. How to Synchronize Generators on a Ship? Important Points to Consider While Carrying out Alternator Maintenance of Ship’s Generator Procedure for Starting and Stopping Generators on a Ship Procedure for D’carb of Ship’s Generator Hydraulic Starting of Emergency Generator  

Air Compressor 

Air compressor does an important job of supplying compressed air to ship’s engine and to other machinery systems. This is one of the auxiliary systems under marine engineering which should never be neglected. Procedure for Starting Breathing Air Compressor On a Ship What is Clearance Volume or Bumping Clearance in Air Compressors? The Basics of Air Compressor On a Ship Troubleshooting Air Compressors on a Ship: The Ultimate Guide Efficiency of Air Compressor and Uses of Compressed Air on a Ship Air Compressor on a Ship: Checks for Starting and Stopping a Compressor Safety Features and Maintenance Procedure for Air Compressor on a Ship Different Parts of a Marine Air Compressor Used on a Ship Air bottle or Air receiver On board Ship  

Oil Water Separator 

Oil water separator (OWS) is one of the most important engine room machinery (considering the environmental concerns), which should be handled with utmost care. As a marine engineer, one must know the working and operating procedure of OWS thoroughly. How to Operate an Oily Water Separator (OWS) on Ship? Oily Water Separator: Construction and Working  

Sewage Treatment Plant 

Sewage treatment plant is an auxiliary system which requires regular maintenance and monitoring. Proper guidelines and maintenance procedures need to be followed while handling this marine engineering system. Sewage Treatment Plant on a Ship Explained Procedure for Starting and Stopping of Sewage Treatment Plant on a Ship Maintenance and Checks for Sewage Treatment Plant on Ship 4 Important Terms Related to Sewage Treatment Plant  

Fresh Water Generator 

Converting sea water into usable fresh water, the fresh water generator of the ship is often continuously kept running when the ship is at sea. As it supplies fresh water to almost all machinery systems of the engine room, smooth functioning of the system if of great importance. Converting Seawater to Freshwater on a Ship: Fresh Water Generator Explained Reverse Osmosis: Modern Alternative for Shipboard Water Production  

Heat Exchanger

A variety of heat exchangers are used  on ships depending on the purpose and type of machinery system in the engine room. Learn about different types of heat exchangers, their working, and maintenance. Types of Heat Exchangers on a Ship Heat Exchangers on Ship Explained How to do Maintenance of Marine Heat Exchangers on Ships?  

Propulsion System 

Marine engineering mainly deals with ship’s main engine, propulsion system, and machinery in the engine room. The propulsion system is responsible for propelling the ship forward in water. Learn more about the marine engineering and propulsion system in the article below. Understanding Nuclear Marine Propulsion Starting Procedure for Turbine Generator on Ship An Introduction to Ship’s Turbine Generator Nuclear Ship Propulsion: Is it the Future of the Shipping Industry? Different Types of Marine Propulsion Systems Used in the Shipping World

Marine Growth Prevention

Find out what is marine growth and steps taken to prevent the same. 4 Types of Anti-fouling Systems Used on Board Ships to Prevent Marine Growth What is Marine Growth Preventive System (MGPS) On a Ship? Learn About Fatal Bacteria that Grow in Ship’s Air-Con System

Pumps/ Valves/Pipes and Bends

Pumps, valves, and pipes form an integral part of the ship’s machinery systems. Different types of pumps, valves, and pipes are used on ships. Learn more about them below. Pipes and Bends – An Essential Guide for Second Engineers: Part 1 Pipes and Bends – An Essential Guide for Second Engineers: Part 2 Pipes and Bends – An Essential Guide for Second Engineers – Part 3 Pipes and Bends: An Essential Guide for Second Engineers – Part 4 General Overview of Types of Pumps on Ship What is a Metering Pump On board a Ship?

Other Auxiliaries / Equipment 

Miscellaneous marine engineering technology and ship machinery. Viscosity Meter and Viscosity Controller Used on Ships Understanding Stern Tube Arrangement on Ships General Overview of Central Cooling System on Ships Life Raft Release System and Launching Procedure High Speed Centrifuge on Ship: Construction and Working Bow Thrusters: Construction and Working The Green Source of Power On Ship – Shaft Generator

Slow Steaming 

Slow steaming is trending topic in the shipping industry today. As the contribution of shipping industry towards environment pollution increases, various marine engineering technologies have been introduced to reduce the impact on pollution. Slow steaming is one such promising method to reduce the carbon foot prints of the shipping industry. A Chief Engineer’s Concern Regarding Slow Steaming of Ships Slow Steaming of Ships: Optimization of Ship’s Main Engine

Efficiency/ Performance/Workshop Tools

Learn about a variety of marine engineering technology, aspects related to engine room performance, and workshop tools and systems in the articles list below: List of Processes Used in Marine Workshop of Ships Different Types of Mechanical Measuring Tools and Gauges Used on Ships A Guide to Welding Electrodes on Ships – Part 1 A Guide to Welding Electrodes on Ships – Part 2 Energy Audit on Ships: Part 1 The Urgent Need to Reduce Nitrogen Oxide (NOx) Emissions from Ships Condition Monitoring Techniques – What is Shock Pulse Monitoring (SPM)? There is a lot to learn under marine engineering. We will be continuously updating this page by adding important resources for all the subjects of marine engineering and ship technology.