Checking the fire systems on the vessel. What should an ETO know?

Greetings! In this article I propose to understand the issues of fire systems on a vessel, namely fire alarms and fire extinguishing methods used on a vessel. As usual, we will consider these issues from the perspective of an ETO.

What is the relationship of an electrician to ship fire systems, as well as how to check all kinds of fire extinguishing systems, we will analyze in this article. In such articles, I mainly focus on practice, so we will consider the conditions when you need to demonstrate your knowledge to the maximum when checking certain ship systems to successfully pass any inspection by any inspectors.

Under-Voltage (UV) Coils in Generator Circuit Breakers: Purpose and Common Failures

What is a UV Coil? An Under-Voltage (UV) coil is an essential safety component used in circuit breakers, particularly in generator and power distribution systems. Its primary purpose is to automatically trip (open) the circuit breaker when voltage drops below a certain threshold, protecting the system from operating under unsafe or unstable conditions.

Purpose of a UV Coil

1. Automatic Disconnection at Low Voltage. If the system voltage drops significantly (typically below 70–80% of nominal), the UV coil de-energizes, which causes the breaker to trip. This prevents motors and sensitive equipment from operating with insufficient voltage, avoiding damage.
2. Fail-Safe Mechanism. UV coils are often used as a fail-safe, ensuring that a breaker cannot remain closed (or be closed) unless there is adequate control voltage present — typically coming from the generator itself.
3. Interlocking and Synchronization Systems. In marine and industrial generator systems, UV coils are used in automatic transfer switches (ATS) and synchronization schemes to ensure proper breaker operation based on the system’s logic.

Blackout Test. Protections of an emergency diesel generator

Greetings! In the previous article on diesel engines, we discussed the protection of auxiliary diesel generators, which are most often tested on a ship during inspections in ports. In this article, we will consider the protections of an emergency diesel generator, as well as the procedure for testing a blackout of a ship's power plant.

At first I wanted to write that the protection of the emergency diesel generator (EDG) in ports is checked very rarely, but recently the Belgian PSC suddenly decided to check the protection of our emergency diesel. Therefore, in order to always be prepared for any checks, it is worth being aware of all the protections that this engine has.

Main Engine Protections. Quick Check for Inspectors

Greetings! In this article, I recommend that you familiarize yourself with the main protections of the main engine on a vessel, which are most often checked by inspectors. The main engine and its auxiliary systems have a lot of protections, so only the main ones will be described, which are demonstrated when passing a particular check.

The main engine and auxiliary engines differ mainly in their purpose. But in terms of protection, they have much in common. In the article "Diesel Generator Protections. A Quick Check for the Inspector" oil mist detectors (OMD - Oil Mist Detector) were mentioned, which can be installed on diesel engines with a capacity of 500 - 1000 kW, so on the main engines, as a rule, they are.

Diesel Generator Protections. A Quick Check for an Inspector

Greetings! In this article, I recommend that you familiarize yourself with the main protections of diesel generators on a ship, which inspectors like to check. There are many protections on ship diesel generators and one article is not enough to consider them all, so only the main protections will be described, which are most often demonstrated when passing a particular check.

Using the example of the Daihatsu 6DE-18 diesel engine and the Taiyo FE 647A-8 brushless synchronous generator, we will consider the protection of marine diesel generators and how to test them. Other most common diesel engines (Himsen, Yanmar, MAN B&W) found in the merchant marine fleet will also be partially covered.

The grab does not open. Actions of an ETO on a ship. Specifics of working with GBM, TOBU, SMAG grabs

Greetings! In the previous article on cargo cranes, we considered general issues of crane operation and repair for a ship's electrician. The topic of grabs was also touched upon with a link to a separate article.

Therefore, in this article we will "deal" with grabs and their frequent breakdowns. First, let's consider grabs with radio control. These grabs open from a remote control, which is operated by the crane operator or a worker on deck.

This article has been hanging in my drafts for about three years, I just couldn't finish it. I gathered my strength and actually ask you to read it. Especially relevant for beginners!

Steering gear protections on the vessel. Quick check for the inspector

Greetings! Today we will consider all the steering gear protections on the vessel, and also figure out how to check them. For example, the FLUTEK - KAWASAKI steering gear will be considered.

As it happens in ports, port state control comes to the vessel and checks the safety systems of the mechanisms. Very often, the protections and operation of the steering gear are checked according to the register requirements.

Troubleshooting Electrical Diagrams: A Practical Approach

Understanding and troubleshooting electrical diagrams is essential for diagnosing faults in electrical and electronic systems. Here’s a step-by-step approach:

1. Understand the Diagram Types

• Wiring Diagram – Shows physical connections and wire paths.
• Schematic Diagram – Represents components symbolically, focusing on functionality.
• Block Diagram – Provides an overview of system operation, showing major components.
• Single-Line Diagram – Used in power distribution to show major connections with simplified lines.

Incinerator protections. A quick check for the inspector

Greetings! In the previous article "Boiler protections. A quick check for the inspector" we discussed the main boiler protections that are checked by different inspectors. In this article we will consider the protections of an equally dangerous mechanism (increased attention from MARPOL inspectors) - the incinerator. Based on the previous article, you can easily check all the incinerator protections using the same methods, so this article will be smaller in volume and I will not describe all the checks in detail.

We will check the protections using the example of the Japanese incinerator Miura BGW-30N, but we will also "hook" a little on the Volcano, Kangrim and Atlas incinerators.

Checking protections of the main air compressors

Greetings! I continue to write articles on checking the protection of various mechanisms on a ship and this time we will consider the compressors of the starting air of the main engine. Usually, they are of no interest to inspectors, but there are exceptions.

In this article, we will consider the main protections of the main air compressors that directly concern electricians. Let's take Japanese TANABE compressors as an example.