Answer MEP Question 24

Q. Accidents regularly occur due to premature or accidental release of CO2 into machinery spaces With reference to this enumerate the procedure or arrangement that you as 2nd engineer would adopt with respect to the following 

A. Contractors working on CO2 system; 

B. Understanding between the bridge and engine room in the event of a machinery space fire; 

C. Familiarizing staff with the system; 

D. Checks and tests are carried out before putting the system in operation?  

Ans: A. Contractors working on CO2 system;  

Contractors or Vendors who work on ships are usually not familiar with the shipboard systems & operating procedures, operating a wrong valve or equipment would result in catastrophic results. 

The second engineer of the ship shall make all possible arrangements to brief and familiarize the contractors about such safety features and procedures and ensure all contractors understand the same.

It is most important to arrange for an engineering officer to be in close connection with them and supervise them throughout their contracting tenure. 

In addition to all precautionary measures, the following shall be ensured;

Disconnect the pilot bottles release mechanism or

Remove the pin to the blank or to the pilot bottle.

Any such disconnection shall be such that it may be connected quickly during a real emergency. 

Place warnings like 'Do not open' or Do not start, Men at work kind of placards to avoid any accidental release.

Follow the company's lockout/Tag-out procedure to lock the valves to avoid any unauthorized or unintentional operation of such valves. 

B. Understanding between the bridge and engine room in the event of a machinery space fire;

In case of a fire in the engine room, the alarm will sound in the bridge and in the ECR indicating the location of the fire and a general alarm as per the ships procedure will sound. 

All engine room personnel shall immediately proceed to the engine room to assess the condition while the others proceed to the muster station 

Engineering officers will coordinate and identify the cause of the fire and try to start with the initial procedure, depending on the extent of fire it can be determined if the fire can be fought by the engineers or a proper firefighting team take control and all engineering personnel shall evacuate to their respective muster station.

In any case, the chief engineer shall operate from ECR while the engineers are in the engine room trying to fight the fire and shall be in constant communication with the bridge control team. If it is agreed to fight the fire using the fire team then all personnel shell immediately evacuate the engine room and proper muster station procedure shall be followed.

C. Familiarizing staff with the system;

Every member of the engineering team shall be made aware of the complete operation of the system and operating procedures, Any newly joined team member shall be familiarized as the first thing upon joining the ship as to what is his muster station and what are his assembly station duties in case of an emergency.

2nd engineer of the ship holds full responsibility for familiarizing and training the engine team with respect to the operation and procedure of the CO2 system.

As a weekly routine, the engine room people shall always discuss the safety merits and discuss the procedures and the operation of the CO2 system and make sure every team member is fully aware of the operating procedure of the system.

D. What checks and tests would you carry out before putting the system in operation?

CO2 bottles shall be subjected to 228 bar pressure.

All pipelines shall be tested at 80 bar.

The safety valve of the shall be reconnected.

All pins or any other equipment remove to avoid any accidental release shall be put in place and the senior officer shall check and make sure everything is in the proper place and any locked out tag out valve shall be released for normal operation.

Follow the checklist and make sure it all is in order.

If everything is made sure available test the system for correct operation without actually operating the pilot and main bottles but the rest of the procedures.

Inform all the ship crew that the workforce job by the contractors are completed and the usual procedures shall be followed and all emergency alarms shall be paid their merits.