Marine power plant automation
Automatic means of remote control is commonly used for engines and other equipment in marine practice. Automatic control is more accurate and continuously watchful than manual control. The automatic control results in saving of fuel, maintenance costs and out-of service time due to the failure. The main advantage of shipboard automation is the saving in operating cost as a result of a crew reduction.
The main items which can be controlled from the remote control room are: main engine, steam plant generators, auxiliary machinery, pressures, levels, temperature regulation and readings, alarms, communications, boiler service. The Bridge Control System is a control system for main Diesel
engines. The said system is used on ship with (periodically) unnamed engine room. Standardized units and operational reliability are characteristic of this system. Easy installation and a small number of spare parts are characteristic of this system as well. The fact is that starting and reversing of main Diesel engines is provided by -logic circuits.
Marine Diesel engines are fitted with a governor. The principal function of the governor is to prevent racing when the ship is pitching and the propeller is partially out of water. The speed governor regulates the speed of the turbine rotation. In conclusion a few words should be said about a pneumatic automatic boiler level control system. Its purpose is to keep drum level at a preset value by varying feed-water flow in the drum. Thus it can be seen that automation is really a subject which receives considerable attention in marine spheres.
Marine environment protection
The problem of marine environment protection is one of the most important today. At least 6 million tons of oil and oil products are discharged into the oceans annually.
35% of the oil pollution is generated by ships. The remaining 65% is caused by natural seepage, atmospheric fallout, off-shore production, coastal facilities and land run-off.
Pollution is a serious threat to the life of people and other living creatures including vegetation.
That's why the International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from ships is considered to be a very important document. Special organizations in almost all countries to control the effective execution of the rules. The duty of the staff of these organizations is to investigate the cause of pollution and inspect the equipment aboard vessels. Only 3% of oil discharged into the oceans annually is caused by accidents. Most of the marine pollution from ships is the result of routine operating practices: cleaning cargo tanks, discharging sea-water ballast, engine-room bilges and so on. For tankers, the use of crude oil washing during unloading and the proper use of on-board equipment greatly reduce the pollution from the engine-rooms, ballasted fuel tanks, ballasted cargo-tanks and the like. Ship's equipment for the prevention of marine pollution may include an oil filtering system, tanks for oil residues, slop tanks, an oil discharge monitoring and control system, an oil-water separator, a bilge water separator, a sewage treatment plant, an incinerator. Special equipment prevents any discharge of oily water into the sea.