The failure of mechanical and electrical equipment on a ship will lead to the restriction of ship maneuvering, such as in ports and waterways with heavy water traffic, which is very likely to cause dangerous accidents. Since April 7, the Maritime Safety Administration of the Ministry of Transport has carried out a nationwide special action to prevent the failure of ship mechanical and electrical equipment, focusing on reducing the risk of ship mechanical and electrical equipment failure, and preventing and curbing water traffic accidents.
The analysis case exposes the lack of preventive maintenance of major equipment, the serious delay in the failure of important monitoring and security system failures, and the lack of awareness of crew responsibility.
Overview of the accident
"H" wheel, construction completion date May 24, 2008, dry cargo ship in coastal navigation area, 498 gross tons, equipped with a model 6190ZLC1-2 Weichai main engine, 6 cylinders, rated power of 218KW, rated speed of 1000r/min. The main engine lubricating oil pump, fuel pump, fresh water pump and seawater pump are all machine pumps.
In April 2024, when the "H" ship departed from a port in the south and sailed to the vicinity of the 4# anchorage in the port area, it suddenly failed to reduce speed and limited control. The examination found that:
- The failure of the main engine is due to the bursting of one copper sleeve of the lubricating oil pump (gear pump) with the machine, resulting in the failure of the seal, and the instantaneous depressurization of the lubricating oil pump, which in turn leads to the loss of pressure of the main engine lubricating oil system, and the loss of necessary lubrication of the crankshaft, main bearing and its auxiliary components;
- The main engine "diesel engine detector" lubricating oil pressure low sensing early warning and security system failure failure, lack of due protection function when the fault occurs.
FSCO boarding inspection
On April 29, after confirming the repair of the main engine failure, the local maritime safety administration sent two FSCOs to the 4# anchorage to board the "H" ship in accordance with the requirements of the "Notice of the Maritime Safety Administration of the Ministry of Transport on Carrying out Special Actions to Prevent the Failure of Ship Mechanical and Electrical Equipment", to understand the cause of the failure of the main engine and the maintenance situation, and at the same time carry out a special inspection on the ship to prevent the failure of the ship's mechanical and electrical equipment.
After verification, the loss of lubricating oil pressure caused a wide range of ablation of the main journal and main bearing of the crankshaft, of which the 1st, 2nd, 4th, 7th main journal and main bearing were scratched and severely ablated, and one-fifth of the 4th main bearing was consumed and worn through. The crankshaft was seriously damaged and had no repair value, and the whole set was finally replaced. The lubricating oil pump assembly and the lubricating oil pressure low sensing circuit have also been replaced.
FSCO requires the ship owner to start the operation of the main engine and confirm that the speed, pressure, temperature and other parameters of the main engine and the working conditions of the monitoring system are normal. Subsequently, a comprehensive inspection was carried out on the ship's power station, centralized control electric box, generator set, steering gear system, shafting transmission device, etc. The inspection found that there were a total of 11 safety defects, such as aging and peeling of the main shaft, servo, hydraulic pump, transmission belt (2), exhaust temperature 1 of the centralized control box next to the main engine, and 2 sets of temperature sensor signal input wires, terminals, exposed and relying on the risk of short circuit, of which 5 involved mechanical and electrical equipment.
Analysis of the cause of the accident
Failure to do the corresponding maintenance of the diesel engine is the main reason for this failure, which is as follows:
The first is the lack of preventive maintenance of diesel engines. Dismantling and inspecting the faulty machine with lubricating oil pump, it was found that the driving shaft and copper sleeve of the pump had wear and tear, the gear top clearance and end face clearance were too large, and the axial and radial forces were unbalanced. If preventive maintenance is carried out in a timely manner, and the over-standard parts are repaired or replaced, then there is a high probability that the accident can be avoided.
The second is the delay in the maintenance of the key monitoring and early warning system of the main engine. The "diesel engine detector" lubricating oil pressure low sensing early warning system of the main engine has been in a state of failure (sensor wire breakage) before the accident, which means that the diesel engine has lost its due protection.
Security management recommendations
Such dry bulk carriers of less than 500 gross tons are generally in poor condition. The owner or operator of the ship has insufficient investment in the operation and maintenance of the ship, and the important equipment and systems of the ship are not effectively maintained. The overall quality of the crew is not high, and the sense of safety responsibility is not strong. Suggestion:
The first is to consolidate the main responsibility of enterprise safety production. Enterprises should conscientiously implement the main responsibility of safety production, establish a scientific ship engine maintenance system, and regularly carry out preventive overhaul and maintenance of the hull, mechanical and electrical equipment, life-saving and fire-fighting and anti-pollution facilities, so as to maintain the good working condition and operational performance of the ship.
The second is to work together to promote the improvement of the overall quality of the crew. Ship owners, operators or managers should strengthen the training and management of crew safety responsibility awareness and operational ability. The maritime department has strengthened the supervision and management of seafarers' competency and promoted the improvement of seafarers' occupational security. Joint efforts of various parties to jointly promote the improvement of the comprehensive quality of seafarers.
Source: Hainan Maritime
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