STARTING PROCEDURES OF

THE MAIN DIESEL ENGINE

MEMBERS:
ABRAHAM PACO
CABIGAS OBERES
DINOPOL
STARTING PROCEDURES OF THE MAIN DIESEL ENGINE
STARTING THE MAIN DIESEL ENGINE ON A SHIP IS A CRITICAL PROCEDURE THAT INVOLVES SEVERAL STEPS TO ENSURE SAFE AND EFFICIENT OPERATION. HERE'S
A DETAILED EXPLANATION OF THE STARTING PROCEDURES FOR A MARINE DIESEL ENGINE:

• PRE-CHECKS: BEFORE STARTING THE ENGINE, THE FOLLOWING PRE-CHECKS SHOULD BE PERFORMED:

• A. ENSURE THAT THE ENGINE ROOM IS WELL-VENTILATED AND FREE FROM ANY FLAMMABLE GASES.

• B. VERIFY THAT THE ENGINE LUBRICATING OIL LEVEL IS WITHIN THE RECOMMENDED RANGE.

• C. CHECK THE COOLING WATER SYSTEM FOR PROPER CIRCULATION AND NO LEAKS.

• D. ENSURE THAT THE FUEL SUPPLY IS AVAILABLE AND THAT THE FUEL FILTERS ARE CLEAN.

• E. CONFIRM THAT THE AIR FILTERS ARE CLEAN AND IN GOOD CONDITION.

• F. MAKE SURE ALL SAFETY ALARMS AND SHUTDOWN SYSTEMS ARE OPERATIONAL.

• STARTING AIR SYSTEM: MOST MARINE DIESEL ENGINES USE COMPRESSED AIR TO START. THE STARTING AIR SYSTEM IS RESPONSIBLE FOR
PROVIDING THIS AIR TO THE ENGINE. ENSURE THAT THE STARTING AIR RECEIVER IS PRESSURIZED TO THE REQUIRED LEVEL.
• FUEL SYSTEM:
• A. OPEN THE FUEL SUPPLY VALVE TO THE ENGINE.
• B. ENSURE THAT THE FUEL INJECTION PUMP IS PROPERLY PRIMED.
• C. CHECK THAT THE FUEL FILTERS ARE CLEAN AND THAT THERE ARE NO AIR POCKETS IN THE FUEL LINES.

• STARTING SEQUENCE: THE STARTING SEQUENCE VARIES DEPENDING ON THE TYPE OF ENGINE, BUT IT GENERALLY INVOLVES THE
FOLLOWING STEPS:

• A. TURN THE ENGINE CONTROL HANDLE OR LEVER TO THE "START" POSITION.

• B. ENGAGE THE TURNING GEAR (IF EQUIPPED) TO SLOWLY TURN THE ENGINE OVER FOR A FEW REVOLUTIONS. THIS HELPS
ENSURE THAT ALL COMPONENTS ARE LUBRICATED BEFORE IGNITION.

• C. OPEN THE STARTING AIR VALVE TO ADMIT COMPRESSED AIR TO THE ENGINE'S CYLINDERS.
• D. CRANK THE ENGINE BY ENGAGING THE STARTER MOTOR. THE COMPRESSED AIR IN THE CYLINDERS IGNITES THE FUEL,
STARTING THE ENGINE.
• MONITORING: WHILE THE ENGINE IS STARTING, CLOSELY MONITOR THE FOLLOWING:
• A. ENGINE RPM: ENSURE THAT THE ENGINE STARTS AND ACCELERATES SMOOTHLY.
• B. EXHAUST GAS TEMPERATURES: WATCH FOR ANY UNUSUAL TEMPERATURE SPIKES.
• C. OIL PRESSURE: VERIFY THAT THE ENGINE OIL PRESSURE BUILDS UP WITHIN A SAFE RANGE.
• D. WATER TEMPERATURE: ENSURE THAT THE ENGINE COOLING WATER TEMPERATURE IS NORMAL.
• FUEL IGNITION: AS THE ENGINE REACHES THE REQUIRED SPEED AND TEMPERATURE, THE FUEL WILL IGNITE
AUTOMATICALLY. THE STARTING AIR SUPPLY CAN BE GRADUALLY REDUCED OR CLOSED AS THE ENGINE STABILIZES.

• WARM-UP: ALLOW THE ENGINE TO RUN AT LOW LOAD FOR A FEW MINUTES TO WARM UP AND STABILIZE. DURING
THIS TIME, CONTINUE TO MONITOR ALL ENGINE PARAMETERS.
• WARM-UP: ALLOW THE ENGINE TO RUN AT LOW LOAD FOR A FEW MINUTES TO WARM UP AND STABILIZE. DURING THIS
TIME, CONTINUE TO MONITOR ALL ENGINE PARAMETERS.

• TRANSITION TO FULL LOAD: ONCE THE ENGINE HAS WARMED UP AND ALL PARAMETERS ARE WITHIN THE ACCEPTABLE
RANGE, GRADUALLY INCREASE THE LOAD ON THE ENGINE TO BRING IT TO ITS RATED POWER OUTPUT.

• CONTINUOUS MONITORING: THROUGHOUT OPERATION, MAINTAIN CONSTANT MONITORING OF ENGINE PARAMETERS

AND ALARMS. BE PREPARED TO RESPOND TO ANY ABNORMAL READINGS OR ALARMS PROMPTLY.

• SHUTDOWN: WHEN IT'S TIME TO SHUT DOWN THE ENGINE, FOLLOW THE MANUFACTURER'S RECOMMENDED
PROCEDURES TO ENSURE A SAFE AND CONTROLLED SHUTDOWN PROCESS.

• STARTING AND OPERATING A SHIP'S MAIN DIESEL ENGINE IS A COMPLEX AND CRITICAL TASK THAT REQUIRES
THOROUGH TRAINING AND ADHERENCE TO SAFETY PROTOCOLS TO ENSURE THE SAFETY OF THE VESSEL AND ITS CREW.
IT'S ESSENTIAL TO FOLLOW THE SPECIFIC PROCEDURES OUTLINED IN THE ENGINE MANUFACTURER'S MANUAL AND ANY
ADDITIONAL GUIDELINES PROVIDED BY THE SHIP'S OPERATOR OR THE VESSEL'S CHIEF ENGINEER.
THANK YOU THAT’S ALL THANKS
FOR LISTENING