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ME210
Main Engine Turbocharger Damage
Technical committee

1. Model

Main engine IHI – Sulzer 4RTA76

Turbocharger IHI – BBC VTR – 564

2. Outline of breakdown

Although voyage had been continuing smoothly after departing port from Japan and while heading
toward Vancouver, Canada, one week later on the south-east sea of the Kamchatka Peninsula, abnor-
mal noises were suddenly produced from the main engine turbocharger.
Immediate shut down of the engine followed by inspections revealed that the LO within the turbo-
charger oil sump had turned black. An overhaul inspection of the turbocharger revealed damage to the
following principal components:
• Turbine rotor and blades
• Blower and inducer
• Turbine-side bearing, oil injection nozzle and lubrication pump
• Turbine-side labyrinth and labyrinth packing

3. Repair

In accordance with the advice from the head quarter company and from the maker, the damaged parts
were replaced with spares and other emergency repairs were carried out. Although main engine opera-
tion was resumed, when speed was increased, noise and vibration occurred. While overhaul inspection
and parts replacement were carried out 9 times until arriving at Vancouver where repairs were sched-
uled to be made, increasing the speed to normal levels could not be achieved.
After completing cargo loading at the port of Vancouver, we moved to an anchorage, a servicing engi-
neer made repairs, performed test runs and confirmed the activity of the turbocharger. The ship then
started off toward the next loading port.

4. Breakdown Causes

Judging from the opinion of the maker servicing engineer, investigations carried out on our side, and
the condition of the damaged parts, the following 2 points are surmised as causes of breakdown:
1) Debris within the oil sump LO blocked up the lubrication hole (inner diameter 0.5 ~ 1.0m/m) of
the oil injection nozzle and resulted in lubrication deficiency. Furthermore, the debris directly en-
tered the bearing and damaged the bearing.
2) The ring nut clamping down the turbine-side bearing and oil injection cylinder gradually loosened.
Finally the oil injection nozzle loosened and vibration occurred to the turbine shaft.

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5. Countermeasures

Thorough direction was given toward each vessel to pay attention to the following points as future
countermeasures:
1) Although overhaul inspection of the turbocharger would normally be accomplished during dock-
ing or while afloat for intermediate survey No.2, even if the allotted work period is short and the
work situation is busy, the restoration of principal components should be carried out in the pres-
ence of a person in charge. Checking of principal items such as centering, gap measurement
checks, and ring nut loosening which occurred this time should always be carried out.
2) The vessel should normally carry 2 sets of bearings and lubrication pumps on-board.
3) The degree of tightening of the aforementioned ring nut should be checked 1000 ~ 2000 hours
after turbocharger overhaul.

Fig. Exhaust turbine turbocharger cross section drawing