GENERAL PROCEDURE TO BE FOLLOWED DURING BLACKOUTS

EMERGENCY PROCEDURE - BLACKOUT.

Actions upon the Bridge.

This is unlikely to be a bridge only blackout - ie vessel will probably have blacked out and as such Main Engine will stop. As soon as emergency generator starts steering will be regained - Vessel will still have sufficient speed to alter from close danger. In the event of a blackout on the Bridge, the following actions must be carried out immediately:-

1.     Call the Master to the bridge and inform him of the situation.

2.     Display the Not Under Command lights/shapes.

3.     Acknowledge all alarms.

4.     Check for any traffic in the immediate vicinity. Should any vessel pose a threat then the whistle, Aldis lamp, and VHF may be utilised to mitigate the threat. If vessel is totally blacked out with no battery power then the SOLAS VHF walkie talkies may be utilised.

5.     A SECURITE message may be transmitted if required – but not unless authorised by the Master

6.     Check for the proximity of any navigational hazards.

7.     Fix and record the vessels position – GPS operates on battery mode.

8.     Additional manning to the Bridge if required.

9.     Engage manual steering and steer away from the nearest hazard. Note that with the emergency generator you can use the port steering motor – No 2.

10.  If time permits switch radars to standby mode, and computers off. 

11.  Liase closely with the Engine Room as to the cause of the blackout and as to the expected duration of any maintenance prior to normal services being resumed.

12.  If the blackout looks to be prolonged, and if conditions so warrant it, consider the use of anchors, and call relevant manpower.

13.  A concise and chronological recording of events in the Deck Operations Log is required.

14.  Following due consultation with the Engine Room, put the telegraph back to the stop position since it will require resetting for Bridge Control functions. Engine Room Control may be required.

15.  Any tank entry must be immediately suspended and the work permit cancelled until the situation is resolved – all other work permits must be reviewed and action taken if so required.

The following systems operate from the Emergency Switchboard.

            No 2 Steering Gear                                S Band Radar.             

            Navigational Instruments Distribution Board – GPS, Sounder, Logs etc

Fire detection system                               Navigation lights and all signal lights

            Electric Horn                                         Automatic telephone exchange

            Bridge Control Console                         Water Mist Control Panel

            Radio Equipment                                              CCR and ECR

            Cargo Pump Control Power                   Emergency Fire Pump

            No 2 ER Fan                                         No 2 Main Air Compressor

            Emergency Transformer                         No 3 Power Distribution Board

            Battery Charger                                     Emergency Genny Battery Charger

            Emergency Genny Room Fan                Cargo Control Console

            Emergency Generator Preheating           No 2 Emergency Lighting Dist Board.

Essentially, the above consists of all navigational equipment, communications and port side

steering. All other functions from the emergency switchboard are included for reference.

Note that the following equipment operates from the 24 volt supply (Battery Charger & Distribution Board :-

Generator Engine Control Panel             Navigational Instrument Distribution Panel

Navigation Light Signal Panel                             ECR Console

Bridge Control Console                                     Cargo Tank Monitoring Panel

Battery Charge Source – Emergency Switchboard

The GMDSS has it’s own independent battery supply and will remain operational

Mini M communications.

Purple Tracker – as above.

Upon restoring power, a full check of all Bridge equipment must be made as soon as possible so as to ensure that the blackout, and sudden jump in voltage has not affected the performance of any of the equipment. This includes the clock functions, channel settings etc.

For the above it is recommended that all Navigation Checklists are utilised to their fullest extent.

All functions of all equipment must be thoroughly checked to ensure that the blackout has not damaged any PCB’s or blown fuses. All gyro repeaters must be checked for alignment. All GPS parameters checked to ensure that they are correct. The OOW should be aware that he may require assistance in order to carry out a thorough function test of all equipment.

Actions in the Engine Room - In the event of a blackout the following procedure should be adopted.

1.     If other engineers are not in attendance, summon assistance by sounding the Engineers’ Alarm.

2.     After a black out, the ‘next stand by’ Aux. Engine should automatically run up and connect to the main switchboard. If it does not, refer below for details of how to run up and connect machines manually.

3.     All major pumps should be re-started automatically by the sequence restart system, allowing main engine to be reset and restarted.

4.     Immediately after a power is restored, check that the following have re-started via the sequence restart system:-

a)     Main Engine and Generator Fuel Oil Supply Pump                (00 seconds)

b)    Main Engine and Generator Fuel Oil Circ Pump                     (00 seconds)

c)     Main Engine Lub Oil Pump                                                   (00 seconds)

d)    Main Engine Cooling FW Pump                                                        (08 seconds)

e)     Aux’y Cooling SW Pump                                                                 (15 seconds)

f)     Main Cooling SW Pump                                                                   (15 seconds)

5.     Then, check that other pumps for Main Engine services have re-started.

6.     Should the sequence restart not function correctly, principal pumps etc can be re-started by using local control.

7.     If at sea, contact the Bridge and get Engine Telegraph put to ‘Stop’. The Main Engine can then be reset and started

8.     The following equipment is to be re-started or reset manually as required:-

a)     Purifiers.

b)    Air Conditioning Compressor and Fans

c)     Fridge Compressors.

d)    Domestic Fresh Water Pumps

e)     E.R. vent fans, Purifier room exhaust fan, Pump Room Vent Fan, Paint Store Vent Fan.

f)     Steering flat vent fan.

g)    Air Compressors

h)     Sewage Plant

i)      Evaporator.

j)      Incinerator

k)     Main Engine FO Filter

l)      Calorifier

m)   Viscotherm

n)     Hydraulic system for cargo / ballast valves.

o)    ICCP and MGPS

p)    24V battery charger (Bridge)

q)    Auxiliary Boiler

r)      Main Engine fuel oil automatic filter.

s)     Air Conditioning in ER Control Room and Galley

t)      Fire, Bilge, and GS Pumps

If automatic control of the generators is unavailable the following manual procedure should be adopted :-

1.     Start the engine locally using the air start facility next to the engine governor. Check operating parameters are nominal.

2.     At the main switchboard:-

a)     Change the ‘Generator Mode Control’ switch to ‘ Main switchboard’.

b)     Turn the synchronising switch to the required machine.

c)     Manually synchronise the incoming machine using the governor speeder motor control switch.

d)     When synchronism is achieved close the machine’s ACB.

3.     To unload the machine slow it down using the governor control switch.

4.     Trip the ACB on reverse power.

5.     Stop the generator after a 10 minute cooldown period.

 INSTRUCTIONS FOR OPERATING THE EMERGENCY GENERATOR

Under normal conditions, if the ship blacks out then the Emergency Generator will automatically start and put itself onto the Emergency Switchboard. If it does not then it must be started manually. There are three methods of starting the generator manually and these are explained below. In all cases it is assumed that the Engine is ready to start – fuel and water etc are checked on a weekly basis.

Method 1 – Manual Electric Start.

Inside the Emergency Generator Room on the Starboard side of the Accommodation Block, Upper Deck, proceed to the “Emergency Generator Set Auto Start Control Panel” which is located on the port bulkhead inside the space.

1. Turn the Auto/Manual switch from Auto to Manual as shown above.

2. Press the Green Start Button as shown in the diagram. The Generator will start.

3. To bring the Emergency Generator onto the Emergency Switchboard, turn the red ACB switch clockwise to the “Closed” position. The Generator is now connected to the Emergency Board and will provide Emergency Power and Lightin

Method 2 – Manual Battery Start.

If the Generator does not start from the control panel then proceed as follows.

1. Turn the Auto/Manual switch from Auto to Manual on the Control panel as previously described.

2. Turn and face the Generator – you will see the running panel on the port side of the Engine

3. Push the two switches labelled “Crank” and “Run” to the UP position 

 4. To bring the Emergency Generator onto the Emergency Switchboard, turn the red ACB switch clockwise to the “Closed” position. The Generator is now connected to the Emergency Board and will provide Emergency Power and Lighting.

Method 3 – Inertia Start

If the Generator fails to start under electric or battery power then proceed as follows.

1. On the Control panel the switch must be in the manual position as previously described.
2. Proceed to the starboard side of the Generator just inside the door of the compartment.
3. Locate the Fuel Lever on the Generator marked in red. Push aft and lock into the run position. (A diagram describing this is on the Inertia Starter).
4. Locate the Reset Button on the Inertia Starter  as shown below, and pull down to reset
5. Insert the Cranking Handle located beside the Inertia Starter into the socket as shown below.
6. Crank the handle clockwise and observe the Indicator (6) on top of the Inertia Starter. It will change from Green to Red.
7. Remove handle. Push starting lever (7) upwards and the generator will start.
8. Once the Generator has started the fuel lever (3) should be released by unlocking it – once unlocked it will spring back to the normal operating position.

9. To bring the Emergency Generator onto the Emergency Switchboard, turn the red ACB switch clockwise to the “Closed” position. The Generator is now connected to the Emergency Board and will provide Emergency Power and Lighting.