MARCH 2020

EXAMINATION OF MARINE ENGINEER OFFICER

Function: Maintenance & Repair at Management Level

MARINE ENGINEERING PRACTICE

M.E.O. CLASS II

TIME ALLOWED - 3 HOURS

Q1. With reference to reciprocating air compressors explain the

cause of the following faults.A. Collapse of discharge valve springs;
B. Breakage of plate valves; C. Overheating of the discharge air with
an unrestricted air intake;D. Inoperative piston rings. 2019/FEB
2019/AUG 2019/OCT 2020/MR/Q1

Answer:- Repeat question. Refer to Q2 MEP FEB 2019

Q2. What is Metal-locking? What types of repairs are carried out by

metal-locking? Describe the repair procedure using Metal-Locking.
2019/AUG 2019/OCT 2020/MAR/Q2

Answer:- Repeat question. Refer to Q2 MEP AUG 2019

Q3. With the aid of a simple sketch, explain the “trouble spots” in a
basic air-conditioning unit with reference to your sketch, explain
the following: - i. How the problem of increase in humidity on
cooled air is overcome? ii. How discomfort caused by the excessive
drying effect of heated air is overcome? 2017/SR06 2017/SR07
2017/SR08 2017/SR10 2018/SR08 2018/SR09 2019/JAN 2019/FEB
2019/APR 2019/JUN 2019/JULY 2019/AUG 2019/SEP 2019/OCT
2019/NOV 2019/DEC 2020/MAR/Q3

Answer:-Repeat question.Refer to Q6MEP JUL 2017

Q4. Explain why auxiliary engine bottom-end bolts are prone to
failure, even under normal running conditions.Identify those
features, incorporated into the design of bottom-end bolts, to
inhibit failure. Explain how this tendency is either aggravated or
inhibited during maintenance and what checks are to be carried
out. 2019/AUG 2019/OCT 2020/MAR/Q4

Answer:-Repeat question. Refer to Q5 MEP AUG 2019.

Q5. Enumerate the maintenance routines carried out for the proper
functioning of the following systems: A. Water hyper mist system B.
Smoke detection system C. Quick closing valves D. Fire hydrants
and hoses.2018/SR09 2019/FEB 2019/MAR 2019/AUG 2019/OCT
2019/NOV 2020/MAR/Q5

Answer:- Repeat question .Refer to1Q3 MEP SEP 2018

Q6. A marine diesel engine fresh water cooler end cover is badly
corroded and holed. Other than replacing it, suggest some
measures of repairing it (a) while in operation. (b) When not in
operation. Repair procedures mus be effective. practicable and
innovative. 2020/FEB/Q2 2020/FEB/Q6

Answer:-Reepeat question. Refer to Q2 MEP FEB 2020.

Q7. With reference to Auxiliary boiler safety valve A. Describe with

the aid of Sketch the safety valve for an auxiliary boiler; B. Identify
with reasons. The parts that require particularly close attention
during overhaul; C. Describe how the safety valves are reset after
an overhaul.2019/FEB 2019/AUG

Answer:- Repeat question. REPEATED MANY TIMES.

Q8. If soon after joining a motor ship, you found a number of
holding down bolts slack and fretting to have occurred in the area
of slack bolts describe how you would handle the situation?
2019/AUG 2019/OCT 2020/MAR/Q8 .
Answer:- Repeat question. Refer to Q8 MEP AUG 2019

Q 9 With reference to fire pumps. A. Explain how and when fire

pumps should be tested, what are the requirements as per
SOLAS74, as amended B. Describe the routine maintenance to be
carried out on the various fittings on a fire line, giving testing
pressure where appropriate. C. Describe briefly how will you
dismantle a fire pump for survey. Give details of factors which will
decide replacing the parts.

Answer:- A. The fire pumps on any cargo ship are:

 The general service pump.

 The fire service pump which is identical to the general
service pump., and of same capacity.
 The ballast pump and the
 Emergency fire pump which is usually placed in the
steering flat.
The fire pumps in the machinery space need not be
tested as they are being used regularly, whereas the
emergency fire pump is tested on the days as
prescribed in the ships SMS Manuals and during SEQ
surveys..
The method of testing the emergency fire pump is
as follows:
If the prime mover for the pump is a diesel
engine, the engine is to be started after draining the
 crank sump of any condensed water and after ensuring
the oil level is adequate.
 If it is battery starting , then by pressing the starter it
should start. Aiaf it is hand cranking type , it should
be started by cranking with the decompression lever
pressed and released when speed picks up.
 Open the bottom suction valve and operate the priming
device to prime the pump.
 Open the isolation valve connecting to fire main.
 The pressure read oin the firemain gauge should be
25 N/cm2 with two hoses with jet nozzles connected and
full jets in operation.
B the routine maintenance to be carried out on the
fire main are:
 Check for corrosion leaks on fire main and have
corroded portions of the main renewed by suitable
cropped and welded renewed connections.
 Leaky hydrants must be overhauled or renewed if it
not possible to renew. The hoses which are worn and
leaking must be renewed. The ship is provided with a
good number of spare hoases as per the record of
safety equipment.
 The relief valve on the main is to be set every
renewal survey. I t should normally come into operation
when ballast pump is put in operation.

C Answer:- consider a single stage horizontally mounted double

inlet centrifuga pump.

PROCEDURE:-
 The main switch on the distributor board switched off
and the fuses pulled off.( If the pump is driven off
an emergency generator) . If connected to the diesel
engine, the flange couplings disconnected.
 The motor is to be disconnected and the motor may
have to be overhauled.
 The pump inlet and out valves fitted on the casing is
shut tight, and the casing is drained of entrapped
water. If the draining does not stop it means the inlet
and/or outlet valves are leaking. Hence to isolate the
pump both the valves are to be fitted with blank
spoon flanges to stop the leakage. The cover can now
be dismantled.
 using suitable lifting gear (chain block) and securing
the outer half casing, the casing is dismantled and laid
to rest on the floor plate.
 The rotor shaft secured to the chain block is held
firmly and the bearing covers removed.
 The rotor shaft along with the impeller is shifted out
from its seat and lowered down on the floor plate
and properly supported.
 The mechanical seals on both ends of the casing are
removed from the shaft and they are to be renewed.
 The wear ring halves on the casings are to be
removed and are to be renewed. Normally the pump
makers supply these spare ring halves slightly
oversized on the inner diameter and these should be
suitably machined on board using the ship’s lathe
provided in the engine room work shop.
 The shaft is checked for its straightness by trueing it
on the ship’s lathe.
 The impelle5r is dismantled checked for surface
corrosion and wastage. If heavily corroded it should be
renewed using the spare impeller. The key should be
checked for tight fitness.
 The pump can now be assembled after the internal
casing halves are painted with a suitable rubber based
anti corrosive paint with new seals and joints ,.and
connected to the motor at the shaft coupling.

Trials :- The running tests of the pump is carried out now

for the no-load and full-load conditions

No-Load test:- The motor and pump are connected are to

be switched on with both the inlet and outlet valves
shut for about 15 minutes . The following readings are
taken:

 The RPM of motor measured by portable

tachometer..The RPM measured should be as per
manual
 The individual phase currents must be measured by a
tongs tester. The current in all the three phases must
be the same and as per the manual.
 The motor should be felt for its body temperature
and it should be normal(slightly above ER
temperature).
FULL-LOAD TEST:- The full load test is now carried out.
For this the pumping out of any ballast tank or the
fore peak tank can be used for this test.From the
capacity plan we obtain the cubic capacity of the
 particular tank and the tank is pressed to its full
capacity. The ballast pump may be used for this.
The pump is operated with both the inlet and outlet
valves fully open. The following readings are taken:
 The RPM of the rotor.
 The discharge and suction pressures.
 The individual phase currents using the tongs tester.
The phase currents must be same aand more than the
no load currents.
 Check for vibration of the pump-set.
 Total time taken to empty the tank.

All the readings and observations must be in accordance to

the manual running pump data