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ME312
Damage of the Main Engine Starting Air Automatic Shut-Off
Valve
Technical committee

Ship type Tanker

Date of build 1991 Imabari Shipbuilding Co., Ltd.
Navigation route Tramper (Japan ~ GP)
Trouble machinery
Category Main engine
Name Starting air automatic shut-off valve
Type
Maker Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd
Date of trouble January 7, 1997 around 16:00 during voyage

1. Outline of breakdown

After departing port in Singapore, as compressed air consumption radically increased, an investigation
was carried out which discovered that the main engine starting air automatic shut-off valve was not
closed. At once, main engine control was transferred from the bridge to the engine control room, and
opening and closing checks of the above valve were accomplished manually. As there were no prob-
lems with valve operation via manual operation, main engine operation was continued in that condi-
tion.
After Japan port entry, an overhaul inspection of the above valve revealed that the check valve guide
was broken along a course indicated by the dotted lines in the attached figure and damage to the check
valve and valve seat was confirmed. Moreover, the damaged part of the check valve guide and the
check valve spring was discovered in the starting air main pipe.

2. Causes

The main cause of breakage of the check valve guide yoke is not certain, although during sea trial of
this vessel, there were reports of shut-off valve closing failure due to faulty centering of the starting air
shut-off valve spindle.

3. Repair

As the check valve could not be used, it was removed. As for the shut-off valve, maintenance was per-
formed on each part and the spring and seal ring were replaced.
Later, replacement of the check valve unit, seat, check valve guide and spring was carried out.

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