Introduction: Lubricants and chemicals on ships

Types of LO on ship-

Note- in every vessel a chart is made showing clearly for which machinery what type of lubricating oil is to be used so that correct type of lubricating oil is used for each machinery.

If a different type or grade of lubricating oil is used it may harm the machinery.

Lubricating oils onboard-

• Oil & greases of different types vary in their properties even though the differences in their composition may be slight. Always, use appropriate lubricant suited for the need.

• it is the term used to describe how fluid oil is or its resistance to flow.
  
  Low viscosity oil flows easily and is often called a light oil or thin oil. High viscosity oil has more body and is often called heavy oil or thick oil.

• most of oils are refined from crude mineral oil, but some have a synthetic or vegetable base. Oils of different types must never be mixed.

• Grease is made by blending oil with special type of soap.
  
  The property of grease will vary with the type of soap.

• Types of additives added to the oil to give it special property they give the oil example a rust inhibiter.
  
  In oils for different conditions, different chemicals may be used to achieve the same additive property.

Methods of lubrication-

• Splash lubrication- the moving component are inside a protective housing. during operation component dip into an oil bath and carry oil to another component.

• Re-circulatory lubrication- the moving components are totally enclosed in a protective casing. A certain quantity of oil is contained in a sump formed by the base of the housing or in a tank.

• Wick feeds and lubricating pads- Wick feed lubrication is a well-known method for feeding small amounts of oil lubricant from a reservoir to the ball paths, which can then be recirculated to the reservoir indefinitely.
  
  Alternatively, a lubricating pad, usually of felt, is pre-soaked in oil before use and held in contact with the part to be lubricated.

• Drip feed cup oilers- these are single point lubricators that are installed directly on lubrication points. Drip Feed Oilers dispense oil by gravity from a transparent reservoir through a needle valve.
  
  The needle valve is connected to a toggle pin, which allows the operator to manually turn on/off the flow.

• Grease cups- some grease lubricated bearing may be supplied with their lubricated from a grease cup. There are two distinct types.

Grease guns-

it is a common lubricating equipment in the workshop and garage.

The grease gun’s purpose is to apply lubricant through an aperture to a precise place, typically from a grease cartridge to a grease fitting or ‘nipple.’

The grease nipple canals lead to the areas where lubrication is required.

Self-contained lubrication-

• Grease packing are often used in low-speed machinery. Grease is held inside the bearing cap and is in contact with the journal.

• Some machines may porously bronze, steel or iron bearing, which are oil-impregnated. The oil continually from the bearing to provide lubrication.

Lubrication system maintenance-

Bunkering procedure of fuel oil and lubricating oil-

Before bunkering-

• the chief engineer decides quantity of LO and FO taken onboard.

• Sounding is taken for bunker tanks.

• All deck scuppers should be plugged in.

• Overflow tanks empty.

• Adequate lighting, no smoking signal at the bunker station.

• Red flag/light in the mast head.

• Vessel draught and trim recorded.

• SOPEP equipment stand-by.

• Bunker plan explanation to ship and barge crew.

• Pumping rate of bunker agreed with the barge.

• Hose connected to bunker manifold.

• Valve arrangement proper and checked.

• Proper communication between the barge and ship to be established.

• After this, the manifold valve is open for bunkering.

During bunkering-

• During start of the bunkering the pumping rate is kept low.

• After confirmation that oil is filling in the correct tank the pumping rate is increased.

• Filling of tanks has to be done, one at a time.

• The maximum allowable tank to be filled is 90%.

• Frequent sounding has to be taken; frequency should be increased when the tank is nearly approaching the desired quantity.

• Bunker tank temperature should be checked to avoid any short fall of bunkers.

After bunkering-

• Draught and trim of the vessel should be checked.

• Take sounding of all the tanks bunkered.

• The vol. bunkered should be corrected by trim of the vessel.

• Four samples should be taken.

• Chief engineer signs the bunker delivery note.

• In case of shortfall of bunkers letter of protest is issued by chief engineer.

• After everything settled hose connection is removed.

• A sample is sent for lab analysis.

• The new bunkers should not be used until the lab report arrives provided everything is normal.

Chemicals onboard– different types of chemicals are available onboard for variety of usage stated as below-

• Maintaining the properties of CW for main and aux. engines.

• Maintain and controlling theproperties of boiler water.

• Fuel treatment.

• Cleaning parts.

• Testing quality of water.

• Fire extinguishing.

• Forming protective layers. [paints]

Risks involved in handling chemicals-

Precautions while handling chemicals-

PPE for handling chemicals-

Stowage of chemicals-

• The room should have sufficient lighting.

• Chemical rack Shelves should be such that any leak from the container is clearly visible and avoiding falling of containers one upon another.

• Firefighting appliance should be near-by.

• The storage room should have proper ventilation.

Storage tanks-

• Large- 200 tonnes.

• Medium- 50 to 200 tonnes

• Small- 2 to 50 tonnes.

Each tank must contain at least the following-

 Quick –

 these are installed on settling and service tanks in the machinery areas, boiler room, and closing valves emergency generator space, allowing them to be safely closed from a remote location in the case of an emergency, such as a fire, to prevent the fuel in the tank from fuelling the fire.

Level measuring devices-