[esailor Team]

CHIEF ENGINEERS ORAL EXAM
SOUTHAMPTON
14:00 to 14:35
Initially asked what kind of ships I was on and machinery onboard.
I answered small product tankers and gave my engine details. He said he had no idea what that means and was looking for slow speed two stroke cross head engine and medium speed generator sets with seven cylinders 230mm bore.
So you are a now a chief engineer and you are going joining a new ship, can you talk me a little bit through that process?
I started with Paris MOU and mentioned how that the latest observations would give me an indication of how things are being run onboard. I said where as before as second the your key role is in the engine room, now as Chief the role covers the whole ship so even from arriving at the ship I would be trying to assess how the ship runs looking at the condition of the ship on approach and how the gangway watch man deals with my arrival. Also looking at deck and paint condition. Onboard I said I would ask about the other senior management heads onboard as they are the people I will be working with closely. I said that communication with the Captain is a big part of my job so I would be very interested to see what he is like. Then went into standard handover stuff.
Fuel Oil, Lube Oil, Ships Route, Any issues onboard, conditions of class. I mentioned about finding out where we were in the HSSC period as it would give me an idea of upcoming surveys.
I then said if I had anytime in the handover I would be looking at ISM is implemented onboard and I said the best way for me to do this is looking at procedures and if permit to works and risk assessments are being completed. I also said it would be a good idea to speak with the junior engineers and see what they know of ISM. I said about “cornerstone of safety management is commitment from the top” and how this would be reflected in the junior attitude.
So what statutory certificates do you have onboard?
SMC, DOC, IOPP, IAPP, Sewage, MARPOL, Safety construction, radio and equipment, OPIC, load line. I said I couldn’t remember anymore off the top of my head.
OK you mentioned before the HSSC but how do you know when the certificates will expire.
Said it comes up on our planned maintenance system but also there is an expiry date on the certificate. I then said for annals you have +- 3 months but with renewal it has to be done before the expiry date however i believe you can apply for dispensation from flag in extraordinary circumstance.
Before you mentioned ISM can you tell me more about it.
I went into as much details as i could here so adopted in 94 and added to chapter 9 of SOLAS in 98. I talked about it being an international standard and how a company uses it to adopt there on SMS. I talked about DOC AND SMC and how they are applied for. I then started to talk about what ISM has brought in and used specific chapters to relate to what I was saying. In to the third chapter he said that was more than enough.
You have a new second joining the company, he comes up to your office so explain the conversation you would have with him.
I said initially I would want to gauge his experience and confidence levels. Ask how long he’s been a second and what types of ship and engines has he sailed with. I would then talk about how important safety is on this vessel and the important of risk assessments and permits. I would be telling him to familiarise himself with the SMS and COSWP. Then would tell him I’m available for help at any time of the day and if he is unsure of anything I am more than happy to show him. Like wise I said that if anyone needs help off him I expect him to show them. I related back to ISM and the importance of training and him showing dedication to the safety culture. I also said there is a history of deck and engine rivalry and whilst it is fine to have a bit of banter it has no place on this ship and I expect you to work with the whole ship as a team.
On the piece of paper in front you draw a refrigeration system.
I drew compressor, condenser, Xp valve and evaporator. He then asked me how would I know if the gas level was to low. I talked about cycling compressor and low temperatures. He then asked me what else so I drew a sight glass on the system and said looking for liquid or gas at the sight glass.
He then asked how to take air from the system. I said about pumping the compressor down and waiting for 5 mins to let the air come to the top. I then added a valve to the diagram showing where the vent was. I also spoke from my experience and problems I had evacuating air due to leaking suction valves.
Boilers –
The boiler has been surveyed and the second comes to tell you its ready to start what would you check?
I said I trust the second so I would make a final visual inspection of the boiler and tell him we need to inform the surveyor so he can come set the safety valve with us. I also said I would want to check the alarms have been tested before we bring the boiler up to full pressure. He asked how I would set the boiler safety valve. I said in the presence of the surveyor and I would take his command on how he wanted to do it but if he told me to just get on with it I would set the valve at approximate height and then close it in a couple of turns. I then said once at lifting pressure I would open the valve until it started to lift.
He then said so obviously you cant set them with the surveyor there on the EGB so how would you do that?
I said as CE I can do that myself but the classification society would need to be informed. I also said and that goes for any adjustment from there on. I said I would do it in the same way I did the OFB.
He then asked what else would you be checking as part of maintenance on the boiler?
I said alarms gauge glass, internal and external inspection, boiler water and free movement of valves. We from here really got into boiler water. He asked me what we check for in boiler water and how often I check it. I listed P alkalinity, conductivity, phosphates and PH. He kept asking anything else I couldn’t remember so I said no. He then said what about chlorides at which point he laughed and I of course started to tell him about it. He wanted a brief overview about each thing I was testing for and why. He then asked me what what I do if the chlorides were rising quickly and I said my condenser was sea water cooled and I’d suspect a broken tube. He asked what I would do so I said change it for spare if I had one or plug the tube. He kept asking what else I could do and I just said i didn’t know so he said he had experiences where you could just vent the return up the funnel. I said I didn’t know about it and he said never mind. He also asked me what the PH scale measured and I said acidity or alkalinity of a solution. He then said yes but what are you actually measuring. I had no idea and he didn’t tell me but since I’ve got home and looked I’m pretty sure he was looking for hydrogen ions.
Junior engineer calls you and tells you the oil mist detector alarm has gone off how would you proceed?
I told him I would first ask where he was and if he was in the engine room to evacuate immediately. I then told him I would call the bridge and tell them to reduce load and stop as soon as possible without load control. At the same time to raise the fire alarm or general alarm and it would mean we could muster and make sure no one else was in the engine room and potentially get ready for fire. After the engine had stopped I would wait an appropriate length of time and re enter open the crankcase doors and make visual inspection.
Junior engineer calls you and tells you there is a scavenge space fire how would you proceed?
I said a reduce load as soon as possible, increase the cylinder liner lube oil and lift the fuel pump on the affected unit. I would then monitor to see if temperature would come down. If not I would use the fixed fire fighting system.
The surveyor is coming to the ship to survey the air receiver. The bottle is open so what would you check before he came?
I said I would check the paint condition and for any corrosion paying particular attention to the seating surface of the door and the door itself and additionally the bottom of the receiver as this is where any water and oil will sit. I also mentioned how the oil becomes corrosive if its heated which happens in the compression stage. I then said I would check where the air exits the bottle as there is a possibility of erosion. Finally I said I would also use this time to check the automatic drains for free movement.
He then asked what would I do before sticking my head in the door and I said enclosed space entry permit.
Dry dock preparations, what information would you send and why?
Went through all the drawings sent, work required in dock, any services needed such as shore power.
He then asked about fire fighting whilst in the dock and how can you be safe?
I mentioned about having fire watches and how the CO2 system wouldn’t be available. Then amendments to the standing orders and to follow the dock instructions in the event of a fire. Also talk to the crew to ensure they know where the muster station is.
Ok so the dock is empty what checks would you be making?
I said I would start at the front and make my way aft. Check under the bow for dishing as it is susceptible. Then making my way aft check the bilge keel, anodes gratings and side scuttles and openings in the hull checking for hull damage. I then said checking the propeller and rudder and he asked what checks I would made so I went into the various inspections to be made.
He asked what my ship was made of?
I gave a grade of mild steel and he just laughed and said good because a few weeks ago someone had told him cast iron, he then said needless to say he failed however I think you have done enough to pass. That was it.
There may have been a couple more questions but that is the main body of what I was asked.

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