Seaspan 3 Engineer Orals rd

PREPARED BY VIHANGA VITHANAGE

Auxiliary Engines

 Explain about your last vessel and what maintenance you carried out in
Generators
 My last vessel is CSCL Longbeach and I completed 7 months onboard.I
assisted in Routine AE maintenance jobs , performance and one instance
where AE NO 2 exhaust temperature deviation alarm was coming
continuously . We had to replace 2 piston rings which were found broken.
 How do you check Tappet clearance?
 The reason for tappet clearance is to give space for thermal expansion for
valves during running. Valve stem will expand vertically and if the
manufacturer given clearance is not there valve might not close or open
properly.
 To check tappet clearance first of all the generator must be isolated by
putting to local control from ecr and local panel, shutting starting air ,
putting fuel rack position to zero by governer, and engaging turning
gear.Then we need to turn the flywheel using turning gear till we find 2
units at TDC which will be marked on the flywheel. Whichever pushrods are
loose that unit will be the one at TDC. Then I can check the clearance using
allocated feeler gauge and adjust the clearance by adjusting the tightness
of the nut.

 What is Crankshaft Deflection?


 What do you check in Crankcase Inspection?
 First of all we must put the generator to local control from ECR and local
panel, close starting air , bring fuel rack to zero, engage turning gear and
switch off priming pump.
 Then we must open all crankcase doors on either side.
 Then the checks can be made which are the condition of the oil, for any
water leaks, visible damage to main bearing(if white metal parts have come
out), making sure that the marine head is not seized by moving it with a rod
or something but without damaging it, check if the hyd nut is not loosened
by checking the previously marked position. Also we can check for piston
rings blowpast by carbon deposition down and around that liner.
 What is fouling of Turbocharger and how will you come to know?MITHILA
 What inspection do you do on an injector? MANALO,MITHILA
 What are the checks and maintenance you do on Cylinder head during
major overhaul? MITHILA
 How do you take generator Performance?
 First of all, I will check the previous month’s performance sheets for
preparation and analyzing last performance details. Then when I start
performance I will put the generator which I’m supposed to be taking
performance of onload parallel with another generator. I will require the
generator to run at a load of above 70% of it’s switchboard load inorder to
take performance. Therefore, I will have to start other machinery which will
increase the load such as Fire pumps , ballast pumps and compressors.
While keeping that generator on AUTO I will put the other generator to
MANUAL from ECR switchboard. Then I will increase the load on the
generator on MANUAL by raising the fuel rack from ECR upto the required
load. Then I will wait for 5 mins for that generator to stabilize it’s
parameters. I will note down all parameters. Afterwords I will mount the
Performance measuring device (kyma) to the digital port. Then I will open
indicator cock of 1st unit and let out any exhaust or smoke which might
have build up there and then close it. Mount the PMD and open the cock
 again and get the Pcom and Pmax of that unit. Do this for all units and
check the power diagram of each unit on the computer digitally. The
maximum allowed Pressure deviation from mean value is +or- 5 bar. Should
that exceed that is an indication that there is a problem with that unit.
(Performance measuring device (kyma) , p max = power stroke pressure , p
com = compression pressure (if exhaust valve is leaky pressures dekama
vadi wenawa, and also temperature increase for that unit.))
 What is the type of lubrication in bearing? Explain.
 Forced lubrication. There is an attached gearwheel lube oil pump in the
generator on the free end of the engine. When the generator starts this
pump will start turning as it is propelled by the crankshaft. It will build lube
oil pressure when it reaches it’s max RPM. This oil travels through a inbuilt
distributor pipe to the main bearings. From there it goes to the crankshaft
big end bearing and up the con rod to the piston crown.
 Exhaust Temperature rise in one Unit on the generator? What could be the
reasons and what are your actions?
 You are trying to synchronize manually and the Circuit breaker is not
closing. What is your action?
 What are the generator alarms and trips tested? How do you test
Overspeed trip , Reverse power Trip?
 If 2 generators are running on parallel sharing equal load what could be the
reasons that one generator is having an exhaust temp of 320 and the other
at 380?
 What is AE LO Pressure and TC LO Pressure? How are they different even
though they are on the same line?
 What are the checks on Alternator?
 How do you troubleshoot a generator?
 Gather the symptoms of the issue and refer to the manual and discuss with
senior engineers for additional expertise.
 What are the measurements you take during TC overhaul ? How do you
overhaul a Turbocharger?
 Explain Starting Air Distribution of AE.
 For Dihatsu = there is a rotary valve which acts as a an air distributor similar
to that of a main engine and supplies air to each starting air valve
 For STX and Man B&W = There is an air turbine connected to the flywheel
end which operates from 30 bar compressed air.Once the generator picks
up speed it disengages on its own. There is an electronic system installed
which detects a set RPM which indicates that it can be disengaged as it will
not be further needed.
 What is the criteria for Synchronization and what does the synchroscope
Tell you? Why at 11’O clock?
 What is Cos pi? Active and reactive power? Power factor? Apparent Power?

Boiler

 What are the types of boilers you’d find in Seaspan vessels?

 Rotary cup , Pressure jet.
 What could be the reasons of Boiler misfire?
 Low oil pressure, low oil temperature, flame detector photocell could be
dirty, Incorrect distance between ignition rods, clogged nozzle,
 How do you fire the Boiler On Manual?
 How do you test Boiler Safety valve?
 Explain Boiler Water treatment process. What would you do if chlorine
level goes beyond the accepted limit? How much is the accepted limit?
Boiler Water Tests?
 What is alkalinity and neutralized conductivity and values? What is the
standard unit of Conductivity?
 Boiler water level low and engine is running at High RPM. What is your
action?
 What is the quality of water in cascade Tank / Hotwell ?
 It should be clear condensate return,
 What is the normal Cascade Tank temperature and why do we maintain it?
 About 80 degrees Celsius , so that there is minimal thermal shock when
water is transferred directly to the boiler water drum.
 How do you carry out Economizer Water Washing? What are the soot
water discharge regulations?
 Explain Boiler Survey.
 Explain Boiler Alarm Testing.
 If you get Low low water level , what is your action?
 Auxiliary Boiler = It would trip at low low water level and the crew must
investigate and fix the issue before steam pressure gets too low. Therefore
we might have to changeover to Diesel to ensure continuous operation of
generators (and main engine if running)
 Exhaust gas boiler = Immediately request bridge and reduce RPM. If there is
an actual low level in water and the engine keeps supplying exhaust the
boiler drum could crack due to the continuous heat supply without a
medium to transfer it to. This is an emergency situation and should be
handled quickly.
 The faults could be that the level sensor is faulty ,the cascade tank level
might have gone down without triggering an alarm (maybe the float got
stuck) , Boiler water circulating/supply pumps tripped without triggering an
alarm,

Watchkeeping

 What do you check on STP?

 What is your action incase of Cargo Hold Bilge Alarm?
 Accept alarm (incase its unmanned condition I must press deadman alarm
before entering ER) and inform bridge officer. Wait and confirm with the
bridge officer to make sure there is no issue. It happens most likely due to
rain. But there have been instances of HFO leaking in cargo holds.
 What is your action incase of Intermediate Shaft Bearing High Temp alarm
at Night?
 Immediately reduce RPM.
 Call CE and inform him of the alarm. And investigate whether it’s an actual
alarm by comparing it to local thermometer. We can use temperature gun
for confirmation. It it is indeed a digital sensor error CE will man the ER until
the issue is fixed as it is catastrophic if the bearing fails.
 If it is an actual alarm we need to stop engine and investigate why it has
happened. Could be due to lubrication failure or Cooling water failure.
 What is the requirement of UMS? (UMS Checklist)
 How do you take engine room rounds?
 What will you check on ME Aux Blowers?
 What are your actions if you hear a strange noise coming from the running
generator during rounds?

Law
 Marpol Annex Titles
 What is VECP?
 Voluntary Environmental Compliance Program
 Explain Marpol Annex VI and NOx Technical File. What are ECA areas?
 Requirement for OWS operation.
 Seaspan Policies.
 What is ISM and what does it come under?

Common/Other

 Difference between Drill and Emergency.

 How do you rectify a steam Leak?
 Need to wear thick heat insulating gloves and wear face shield .Need to
isolate the steam line inlet and condensate return of that line and open the
flange by carefully and slowly loosening the bolts. Afterwards need to clean
the surface of the flange and replace gasket with a steam graphite gasket.
Then need to tight all bolts equally. Then need to crack open both inlet and
return and wait for that flange to become hot. That means steam has
reached that area in the line. Make sure there’s no leakage and then
gradually fully open return line and open inlet upto requirement.
 What are the qualities expected from 3E?
 3rd engineer is operational level but he is expected to be substitute to 2 nd
engineer incase he is not available. Therefore, he must be good at
management and organizing. He should have leadership qualities and must
prioritize seaspan regulations and follow seaspan SMS. He will directly
report to Chief Engineer.
 Responsibilities of 3E and responsibilities during bunkering.
 3E duties during Main Engine Unit Overhaul.
 ALCAP Operation, difference between P and S type separators’?
 Difference between gravity disc and Paring tube.
 Purpose of Water Transducer?
 Stuffing Box Overhaul procedure? What do you check?
 Cause for fitter’s death during recent economizer valve repair incident.
 Emergency generator Routines? Saturday routines?
 STP Regulations.
 Explain ME Cold condition Starting.
 Seaspan DPA.
 Capt Alfred Gomez