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Q: Boiler gauge glass – Blow down is carried out if water level rises, but suddenly drops when steam is introduced, where is the water level and what’s the next action taken.
I would consider carrying out blow down both gauge glass + cross check visible water level with the reading from the remote water level transmitter which sends signal to the boiler panel, which has setting how much is low water level. The low low water level safety device is quite direct, inside that black cylinder is a float, if the float falls to the low low water level, triggers alarm and boiler burner shut down (if was running). The boiler water level transmitter also forwards the reading to a gauge in ECR to monitor boiler water level.
If both gauge glasses and remote water level transmitter indicates boiler water level is abnormally low, take actions to ensure boiler does not overheat. Introduce warm (70~80 degrees celcius) boiler water into the boiler, to reduce possibility of thermal shock if cold boiler water was pumped into an extremely hot boiler.
Q: Bilge Pump is running, but Bilge Well water level is not reducing. Why?
E/R Bilge System pipe line:
Bilge Well -> Strainer -> Valve -> Bilge Pump suction valve -> Bilge Pump suction strainer -> Bilge Pump -> Bilge Pump discharge valve -> Bilge Primary Tank.Fluid (air/liquid) generally flow from higher pressure zone to lower pressure zone. Since Bilge Wells are exposed to the atmosphere (meaning Bilge water is unlike Seawater with positive pressure) and usually about 1.5~2 metres lower in height below the Bilge Pump, the Bilge Pump have to create lower pressure zone on the suction side, like a vacuum cleaner in order to suck the Bilge water towards the Bilge Pump.
Always start troubleshooting from the easiest/most common possibility, and work towards the most uncommon possibility. Please refer to the flow chart I made:
Q: What are the standards for Sewage Treatment Plants?
A: Sewage treatment plant installed prior to 01 January 2010 shall comply with resolution MEPC.2(VI); or
ii. sewage treatment plant installed on or after 01 January 2010 but prior to 01 January 2016 shall comply with resolution MEPC.159(55); or
iii. sewage treatment plant installed on or after 01 January 2016 shall comply with resolution MEPC.227(64).Q: What’s the requirements of MEPC.159(55)?
A: The sewage treatment plant was tested and produced an effluent which, on analysis, produces:
(i) a geometric mean of no more than 100 thermotolerant coliforms/100 ml;
(ii) a geometric mean of total suspended solids of 35 mg/l if tested ashore or the maximum total suspended solids not exceeding 35 plus x mg/l for the ambient water used for flushing purposes if tested on board;
(iii) a geometric mean of 5-day Biochemical Oxygen Demand (BOD5) of no more than 25 mg/l;
(iv) a geometric mean of Chemical Oxygen Demand of no more than 125 mg/l;
(v) pH of the effluent is between 6 and 8.5.
The Administration is satisfied that the sewage treatment plant can operate at angles of inclination of 22.5° in any plane from the normal operating position.Q: What’s the requirements of MEPC.227(64)?
A: The sewage treatment plant was tested and produced an effluent which, on analysis, produces:
.1 a geometric mean of no more than 100 thermotolerant coliforms/100 ml;
.2 a geometric mean of total suspended solids of 35 Qi/Qe mg/l if tested ashore or the maximum total suspended solids not exceeding (35 plus x) Qi/Qe mg/l for the ambient water used for flushing purposes if tested on board;
.3 a geometric mean of 5-day biochemical oxygen demand without nitrification (BOD5 without nitrification) of no more than 25 Qi/Qe mg/l;
.4 a geometric mean of chemical oxygen demand (COD) of no more than 125 Qi/Qe mg/l;
.5 pH between 6 and 8.5;
.6 a geometric mean of total nitrogen of no more than 20 Qi/Qe mg/l or at least 70 per cent reduction; and
.7 a geometric mean of total phosphorus of no more than 1.0 Qi/Qe mg/l or at least 80 per cent reduction**.The Administration confirms that the sewage treatment plant can operate at angles of inclination of 22.5° in any plane from the normal operating position.
Source: https://wwwcdn.imo.org/localresources/en/KnowledgeCentre/IndexofIMOResolutions/MEPCDocuments/MEPC.227(64).pdf
Q: Can this approved Sewage Treatment Plant pump treated sewage overboard < 3 Nm to the nearest shore? A: If the nearest shore's Administration allows, then the answer is yes. Always refer to the local regulations, such as USA's No Discharge Zones (NDZ).
Marine Superintendent’s Questions for CE
1. Bunkering
– Checklists required: Bunker stem, pre-bunkering meeting etc
– Overflow tank high level alarm test2. Third Engineer is nice and hardworking but refuses to wear helmet, complaining it’s hot. How do you get him to wear a helmet?
– Company policy, soft and hard approaches3. Oiler comes to you, complains to you that Second Engineer mistreats him. How do you handle? Note: All parties are different nationalities.
– Speak to them separately, find out is it isolated incident or might be related to racism. Ask Second Engineer about his treatment of oiler, was that appropriate. Also assess Second Engineer’s work performance and attitude. Can consider informing office after issuing warning letters but performance/attitude remains sub-par.4. Are you aware of xx’s vessel’s allision due to xx issues?
– Quote Emergency Response Manual regarding response to allision5. How do you handle a stubborn Master in the scenario of ballast valves to be overhauled, deck crew cleaning cargo hold and do not have manpower to spare.
– Work cooperatively with the Master, stay calm, discuss priorities of the job. If the Master still does not agree, approach Chief Officer for assistance. Consider taking a step back especially if both sides are stubborn by nature.Credits: DNV and IMO
DNV’s page: DNV on EEXI, CII
IMO’s page: IMO info on EEXI and CIIRead IMO’s official page:
EEXI, CIIA) Register for a free account first.
B)In order to schedule a nonimmigrant visa appointment, you must have the following information and documents available:– A passport valid for travel to the United States with a validity date at least six months beyond the applicant’s intended period of stay in the United States.
– VFS Global payment receipt
– DS-160 confirmation page
– E-mail address
– If applicable, required documents based on visa class (such as a petition approval for petition-based visas; see detailed lists in the information provided on this website about visa classes).3. Pay for your visa application
Recommended:
1. Electronic Funds Transfer (EFT) to VFS Global
– You may pay your MRV Application Fee via electronic fund transfer (EFT) from any Singapore bank account in Singapore. Your bank may apply charges to your account for EFT transactions. If you are applying for multiple visas for your family or group, the MRV Application Fees can be paid for 5 applicants in one transfer. Please note that the total amount CANNOT exceed payment for MORE THAN 5 applicants.
– Log on to your Singapore bank account and enter the beneficiary details in your online banking form as listed on the deposit slip available to download from your account to complete your EFT in Singapore dollars (SGD) ONLY. (DO NOT PAY IN US Dollars):Once your payment is processed, please wait for the activation of receipt by referring to ‘Visa Application Fee Payment Processing Timelines’ table in the “Scheduling Your Interview” section available below on this page. Once the VAN is activated, you can proceed to schedule appointment online by returning to your account to schedule your appointment(s) with the Virtual Account Number as your “Receipt Number”. Please be sure that the Virtual Account Number is kept for your records as it cannot be replaced. Without your Virtual Account Number, you will be unable to schedule an appointment.
After you have paid the visa application fee, keep the payment receipt for your records. It cannot be replaced if it is lost. You need to pay a new MRV fee again. You will not be able to schedule an appointment without your reference.
Once you start the application after keying in Country, security code, security question, write down the Application ID displayed on the top right hand corner of the page. If you close your browser window, you will need your ID to access your application again. Very important: Save your application frequently. The system will time out after 20 minutes of inactivity, and you will lose all unsaved information. Right after completing the first page of the application, you will be able to save.
1. Prepare documents needed:
A) Passport with at least 6 months validity (recommended: renew your passport (and U.S Visa) earlier, at least 1 year before expiry date! This helps preventing visa and immigration issues.)
B) Letter of Employment
At this point, Seafarer Employment Agreement isn’t necessary to be in hand yet.
C) Soft copy and hard copy of acceptable U.S. Visa-sized photoQ5: How to earn and save lots of money fast in this industry?
A) The SAILMAP money would help quite a bit to save up, as courses and studies aren’t cheap! Alternatively scholarship.
B) Work often and steadily. For companies that doesn’t have a fixed rotation (e.g. 3 months on/2 months off), request your company to assign you to work quickly, rest 1 or 2 months, go back to work again, repeat. Saves up money fast and not much time to use savings if just resting 1 or 2 months.
C) After saving 10k, make a proper financial plan! So many seafarers see their savings disappear easily.
D) Honestly junior ranks don’t earn much. Earning and saving alot of money fast, mainly starts when you get to senior rank.Q4: What should I do to get faster promotions?
A: This is a question that has a wide variety of factors which may differ hugely from person to person even in the same company!
Generally dry fleet (container/bulk/car carrier etc) companies promote faster than tanker companies. Tankers require much more experience to handle, so the companies strictly require each officer to follow their guidelines for minimum sea time before they’re allowed to be promoted. Whereas dry fleet companies don’t have as strict rules, thus higher chance of promoting faster.
Other factors, not necessarily within your control:
A) Type of crew, especially senior officers who would be writing your performance appraisal. Sometimes one gets lucky enough to sail with an experienced crew and supportive senior officers who write good appraisals. There’s also cases where the seafarer works very hard and well, but others intentionally sabotage by writing bad appraisals because they felt threatened. That’s more on HR management.
B) Your experience on a certain type of vessel (analogy: If you always drove Toyota Corolla, you’re more likely to get promoted to senior driver on Corolla VS getting promoted on your first time driving Mercedes-Benz S Class?)
C) Your company’s promotion guideline: E.g. some companies require 12 months as Fourth Engineer/Third Officer before promotion, and another company with same type of vessel requires just 6 months. (Probably pays lesser too.)
D) Controversial but can’t be ignored, how close are you to the office management?Q3: What if I’m onboard and something bad happened at home, how do I request to sign off?
A: Approach your direct superior (either Second Engineer or Chief Officer) to arrange for a suitable time/place to share your concerns in a professional way.
E.g. Immediate family in danger or death. An example of a situation not usually classified as “need sign off” is your other half breaking up with you or threatening to do so. More on seafarers and their relationships hereUsually the sign off request would be signed by you, head of your department, and the Master. He/she would send your sign off request to the company’s crew department to arrange your repatriation as soon as possible, without financial or career penalty to you.
If you’re requesting to sign off for reasons that are deemed not serious by the company, you may risk being blacklisted or not be called for re-employment.