[esailor Team]

Liam knock GMA candidate (c/e Unlimited) Examiner Zohrul Haque
26/5/21 – Pass

Discuss previous vessels (large yachts since 2015, Maersk beforehand). Discussed my experience since gaining Class 2 ticket (only yachts), was hoping this would lead to 4 stroke questions…

2 Stroke crosshead engine – Lubricating the crosshead bearing and pin, how its done and why its required Talk through boundary/hydrodynamic/hydrostatic lubrication and the differences.How to remove bearing. What to inspect on bearing. What difference you’d expect to see between top and bottom half. Trunk engine vs xhead engine, differences. Finished talking about securing arrangements, hydraulic jacks etc…

Tie bolts – Where/why they’re used. How are stress raisers minimised. How we use them properly, what can happen if used improperly. Talked about elastic/plastic deformation. More on hydraulic jacks/what if they’re stuck or tightened unevenly. You have reason to suspect a failure/failing bolt, who do you tell/ask for assistance, what would your actions be on board. What can cause failures in service. How can incompetence lead to the potential failure point before the bolt has made it to the engine – poor handling and damages causing a stress raiser. Finish talking about high peak pressures…

Engine performance – How/why/when is it done? Talk through power cards, MIP/MEP. Bought some cheap fuel, bad ignition, how would we tell on the cards? What would have given us an indication of this on the fuel spec on the bunker delivery note, CCAI. How can we burn the fuel – I mentioned CCAI timing on Flext engines, he wanted to know about older engines and how the injection was advanced manually.

Class survey of Boiler – What certificate is this for? How often? Procedure to take it offline, permits necessary for inspection. How to carry out inspection. Water leak found from 1 tube at the rolled end, now what are your options – Plug/replace? Asked for more cost efficient solution – re-roll depending on Surveyors wishes. What tests to carry out after re-rolling.

Still in DD, crack found in propeller tip on large vessel by surveyor, now what. How is crack stopped/repaired, and by who.

Surveyor on board – talk me through critical equipment list. Why we have it, what it takes for machinery to be put on the list. What is on the critical equip list on my vessel.

Steering gear – talk through predeparture checks and emergency procedures. Safety and auto changeovers. Sailing is postponed, how long can it be postponed before you have to redo the checks. Timings of main and aux steering arrangements.

PMS – talk through our DG and PMS arrangement. One DG is so old it’s knackered, what info does the super need to source a replacement – Size/KVAR/winding arrangement etc. Draw star delta wiring diagrams and what you’d expect to physically see at the terminals for each arrangement.

ISM – Why do we have it? What does it mean to us practically as Chief Engineers? Audits; observation, minor NC and major NC, example of each and the differences in the restrictions. How can we get from Major NC to Minor NC? CAPs, who is informed and their maximum validity. ISM certification, DOC/SMC explanation, validity, audit intervals and what you’d expect to be checked during an audit.

MLC – Safe manning, why and what does it mean for us. Rest, accommodation etc. Asked what we would need to bear in mind if new junior engineer was female – can only be asked to share with another female.

MARPOL – go through annexes and certification for each. Focussed on Annexe VI – what are we trying to prevent/restrict. Where can we burn 0.1/0.5% etc. Why do we have scrubbers and the different types and their operations. Explain ODP/NOx/Sox/VOCs. What is the maximum sulphur content we can legally buy.

Thanks Piyush for all your assistance during the prep course, and also with the individual questions I’ve sent you since then, much appreciated.

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