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General Overview of Types of Pumps on

Ship
By Anish | January 3, 2019 | Guidelines

A ship consists of various types of fluids moving inside different

machinery and systems for the purpose of cooling, heating,
lubrication, and as fuels. These liquids are circulated by different
types of pumps, which can be independently driven by ship power
supply or attached to the machinery itself. All the systems on board
ship require proper operational and compatible pump and pumping
system so that ship can run on its voyage smoothly.
The selection of a type of pump for a system depends on the
characteristics of the fluid to be pumped or circulated. Characteristics
such as viscosity, density, surface tension and compressibility, along
with characteristics of the system such as require rate of fluid, head to
which the fluid is to be pumped, temperature encountered in the
system, and pressure tackled by the fluid in the system, are taken into
account.

Types of Pumps

The pumps used on board are broadly classified into two types:

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Positive Displacement Pump

Positive displacement pumps are self priming pumps and are normally
used as priming devices.

They consist of one or more chamber, depending upon the

construction, and the chambers are alternatively filled and
emptied.
The positive displacement pumps are normally used where the
discharge rate is small to medium.
They are popularly used where the viscosity of the fluid is high.
They are generally used to produce high pressure in the pumping
system.

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Dynamic Pressure or Roto-Dynamic Pump.

 Pressure
Side
Downstream
•PipeFlange
DriveshaftFlange
RotatingDirection
Indicator

PumpCasing•

Volute
•Chamber

•Impeller

S ide
n *Upstream
ct io PipeFlange
Su

Credits: wikipedia.org

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 In dynamic pressure pump, during pumping action, tangential
force is imparted which accelerates the fluid normally by rotation
of impeller.
Some systems which contain dynamic pump may require positive
displacement pump for priming.
They are normally used for moderate to high discharge rate.
The pressure differential range for this type of pumps is in a
range of low to moderate.
They are popularly used in a system where low viscosity fluids are
used.

These broad classification of pumps are further differentiates by their

constructional properties and popularity of usage onboard ship;

Positive Displacement pump:

Reciprocating Pump
Screw pump
Gear pump
Piston pump
Ram type pump
Vane pump

Dynamic pressure pumps:

Centrifugal pumps
Axial flow pumps

Submersible pump
Centrifugal-axial (mixed) pump.

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About Author
An ardent sailor and a techie, Anish
Wankhede has voyaged on a number of
ships as a marine engineer officer. He
loves multitasking, networking, and
troubleshooting. He is the one behind
the unique creativity and aesthetics at
Marine Insight.

Read more articles by this author

 #general guidelines

10 Comments

Don says:
August 4, 2011 at 12:21 am

These pumps are used on ships, but another important pump is the bilge
Pump, used on occasions, this put is used to drain water from the ship/vessel.
It is a vital asset to a ship. It was first used on the Santa Maria in 1492 and was
made of wood.

This message was brought to you in part by Harland & Wollf

Golden Gnex Nyirenda says:

January 13, 2014 at 7:43 pm

Thanks!

Hisham says:
February 9, 2015 at 6:08 pm
Guys you doing great job…
The best site ever for marine engineering!

wagba kwaku Robert says:

February 13, 2015 at 12:01 am

Thanks so much for the good job you are doing I attended an interview and
afterwards the question s I was unable to answer I later got all the answers
from this site.God bless you. I will advice all marine engineers to make this site
a must site to blowse once again God bless you

Rex Darwin says:

March 6, 2015 at 11:44 am

what are the types of pumps commonly used on board ships?

SWAS Kaushik says:

 SWAS Kaushik says:
July 2, 2017 at 12:13 am

Can someone help me find the discharge pump capacity on VLGCs?

Anish says:
July 12, 2017 at 1:33 pm

It may vary depending upon the size and make. It is mentioned in the pump
manual.

Patrick Goh says:

October 15, 2018 at 12:31 pm

Can anyone please help guide me to what level of the tank in an offshore
supply vessel mud is filled ? That is, the mud tank cannot be filled to full, so is
it 90 % filled or how many percent filled .
 glen says:
December 2, 2018 at 5:26 am

in modern ships, what are the types of pump they are used? and they are
driven by ?

Seaworth says:
August 7, 2019 at 7:55 am

Hi, does anybody can answer if reciprocating positive displacement, (piston

pump) give air suction at low stroke can create pressure at discharge side in
order to pressurize and discharge remain liquid in pump riser an deck marpol
line?

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