Answer SSEP Question 35

Q35. Give a pragmatic approach to dealing with a sea water leakage from sea chest filter, which is flooding the engine room and which has the potential of causing a serious impairment to a vessel’s stability.
Answer: (a) Inform bridge and slow down main engine.
(b) Raise emergency alarm.
(c) Initiate response plan.
(d) Emergency bilge injection valve to be opened.
(e) Locate and try to isolate cause.
(f) Stop or minimize ingress of water if possible.
(g) To assess if crew and vessel in danger and any pollution possibility.
(h) Head office and other ships to be informed by master.
(i) Water tight doors to be shut.
(j) Bilge pump to be started.
(k) Portable pump to be rigged up.  
(l) To check if water level is reducing:
(m) If stability of ship is threatened master may consider filling up to maximum capacity ballast water tanks to avoid free surface effect from reducing metacentric height and affecting stability.
(n) To assist master in ensuring adequate stability.
(o) In case of server leakage main sea water suction valve may have to be shut. It will Involve shutting down the generators also blackout during which period repair will have to be carried out.
After the situation, has been brought under control access the damage and report to head office.