AUXILIARY MACHINERY

The auxiliary machinery is used to serve the main engine and the necessities of the
ship. It consists of a large group. It includes pumps, purifiers, electrical generators,
fresh water generators, heaters, coolers, oily water separator, auxiliary steam
boilers, steering gears, air conditioning machines, refrigerator machines, cargo
winches, cranes, air compressors, air tanks, oil tanks, water tanks, shafts, bow
thrusters, stabilisers, fire-fighting installations, life-boat engines, filters, and many
others. This is the equipment which supports the systems of the main engines.
Some are run independently.
Each auxiliary has its role to play:
• To apply the main power of the engines for propulsion and manoeuvring. The
engine power is transmitted to the propeller by a line of steel shafting. This is made
up of the thrust shaft, intermediate shafts and the propeller shaft. Steering gear is
also necessary to operate the rudder for manoeuvring.
• Steam or diesel power generators supply the ship with electric power and
lighting.
• The auxiliary equipment serving to supply domestic needs e.g. fresh water from
distillation plant, sanitation from sewage plant and heating & ventilation from
heaters and air conditioners.
• Oil purifiers are used for conditioning of the bunker oil, or lubricating oil.
• Coolers are used for cooling either oil or water.
• Air compressors supply compressed air for starting engines.
• Water for the boilers is heated before being admitted into the boiler by feed water
heaters. This increases the efficiency of the boiler.
• Auxiliary boiler is used to heat up fuel oil. This is essential especially during the
winter months, when fuel oil can become very viscous.
• Fire-fighting and fire detection equipment, life-boat engines and launching gear
provide for safety.
• The bilge and ballast piping systems are installed to keep the ship dry and
trimmed. The former removes water which has gathered in machinery, cargo and
other spaces. The latter pumps water into and out of ballast tanks. In general cargo
ships, these systems are usually interconnected and served by the same pumps. In
tankers and other bulk carriers, these systems are entirely separate, because these
ships may need to ballast at 12,000 tonnes/hour and therefore need larger pumps.