Engine Room Procedures Guide 2nd Edition

Published: February 2024

The guide sets out routine engine room procedures and includes useful checklists for the ship?s engineering team. It provides clear guidance on safe and environmentally responsible engine room operation and maintenance, supporting internationally agreed standards and recommendations adopted by the International Maritime Organization (IMO).

The guide is an invaluable tool for Chief Engineers and other members of the engineering team, as well as shipping companies and training institutions.
It is recommended that a copy is carried on board every merchant ship.

Key features in the second edition:

• Updated Content: The new edition embraces internationally agreed regulations of the IMO, ensuring that engine room crew have access to current and reliable procedures that support greenhouse gas emissions measures, such as how to safely conduct low load operations.
• Expanded Coverage: The guide covers a wide array of engine room procedures, from routine maintenance to emergency response protocols, providing a comprehensive reference for crew members. The guide includes crucial new procedures on handling alternative fuels such as liquefied natural gas, and highlights the latest common engine room deficiencies to help crew prepare for port state control inspections.
• Enhanced Safety Measures: Safety is a top priority in the maritime industry, and this edition emphasises safety procedures to ensure the well-being of all crew members and the environment. It includes updated and consolidated enclosed space entry procedures that align with latest industry best practice.
• User-Friendly Design: The guide is designed for ease of use, with a clear layout and navigational features that make finding the right information quick and straightforward.

Content:

Abbreviations

Definitions

Chapter 1

Introduction

1.1 The value of procedures

1.2 Changes in the engine room

1.3 An effective engineering team

1.4 Documentation

1.5 Environmental protection

1.6 Company policy and procedures

1.6.1 The Safety Management System (SMS)

1.6.2 Drug and alcohol policy

1.6.3 Personal electronic devices and cyber security

1.6.4 Smoking policy

Chapter 2

Engineering department organisation

2.1 Chief engineer

2.1.1 Role as director of operations

2.1.2 Standing orders

2.1.3 Night and day orders

2.2 The engineering team

2.2.1 The watchkeeping team, for ships that operate a watchkeeping system

2.2.2 The UMS team, for ships operating a UMS system

2.2.3 The maintenance team

2.3 Familiarisation of new crew

2.4 Role of the electro-technical officer (ETO)

Chapter 3

Engineering team management

3.1 Officer in charge of an engineering watch (EOOW)

3.1.1 Chief engineer's representative

3.1.2 Primary duties

3.1.3 Secondary duties

3.2 Watchkeeping ratings

3.3 The maintenance team

3.3.1 The planned maintenance system (PMS)

3.3.2 Senior maintenance engineer

3.3.3 Ratings

3.4 The human element

3.4.1 'Just culture'

3.4.2 Challenging decisions

3.4.3 Thinking aloud

3.4.4 Personal protective equipment (PPE)

3.5 Work and rest hours

Chapter 4

Communication

4.1 A common working language

4.2 Quality of communication

4.2.1 Closed loop system

4.2.2 Recording devices

4.2.3 Communication and people's cultures

4.3 Briefing and debriefing

4.4 Communication with the bridge

4.4.1 Situation reviews

4.4.2 Unattended machinery space (UMS) operation

4.4.3 Manoeuvring

4.5 Communication with other departments

4.5.1 Cargo operations

4.5.2 Hotel and other departments

4.6 Call for help

4.6.1 Night call outs

4.6.2 Engineers' call alarm

4.7 Radio communication

4.8 Talkback and sound-powered phones

Chapter 5

Safety of the ship

5.1 General

5.2 Regulations

5.3 Fire

5.3.1 Causes

5.3.2 Prevention

5.3.3 Preparedness and response

5.4 Flooding

5.4.1 Causes

5.4.2 Prevention, preparedness and response

5.4.3 Watertight doors

5.5 Loss of control of navigation and ship?s systems

Chapter 6

Emergency preparedness

Chapter 7

Critical operating periods

7.1 Crewing level changes

7.1.1 Planned changes

7.1.2 Unplanned changes

7.2 Changing watches

7.3 Manoeuvring

7.4 Security threats

7.5 Crewing in port/anchorage

7.6 Unattended machinery spaces

7.6.1 Pre-UMS rounds and checklist

7.6.2 The deadman alarm

7.7 Emission control areas (ECAs) - fuel changeovers

7.8 Bunkering

7.8.1 Responsibilities

7.8.2 Procedures

7.8.3 Fuel quantities

7.8.4 LNG bunkering

7.8.5 Bunkering of biofuels

7.8.6 Alkali bunkering

Chapter 8

Watchkeeping

8.1 The bridge

8.1.1 Reacting to instructions

8.1.2 Co-operation

8.1.3 Situational awareness with the bridge

8.2 Checklists

8.2.1 Repetitive procedures

8.2.2 Ease of use

8.3 Situational awareness in the engine room

8.3.1 Recording engineering department activities

8.3.2 Machinery and ship status

8.3.3 The noticeboard

8.4 Alarms and actions

8.5 Periodic checks on machinery and related equipment

8.6 Periodic quality tests

8.6.1 Fuel oil

8.6.2 Lube oil

8.6.3 Engine cooling water

8.6.4 Boiler water

8.7 Bilge and sludge management

8.8 Record keeping

8.8.1 Oil record book

8.9 Changing over the watch

8.9.1 Pre-watch routine

8.9.2 Critical information

8.9.3 The complete engine room round

8.9.4 Handover or takeover models

8.9.5 Fitness for duty

Chapter 9

Pollution control

9.1 Regulations

9.2 Air emissions

9.3 Equipment operation guidelines

9.3.1 Oily water separators (OWS)

9.3.2 Incinerators

9.3.3 Sewage treatment plants

9.3.4 Exhaust gas cleaning systems (EGCS)

9.3.5 Ballast water systems

9.4 Environmental training

9.5 Bilge management

9.6 Responsibilities

9.7 Record keeping and reporting

Chapter 10

Machinery operation guidelines

10.1 Machinery operation manuals

10.2 Main and auxiliary engines(s)

10.2.1 Normal operation

10.2.2 Low load operation

10.2.3 Emergency operation

10.2.4 Engine protection

10.3 Fuel

10.3.1 Types of fuel

10.3.2 Environmental considerations

10.3.3 Blending

10.3.4 Changeover procedure

10.3.5 Microbiological infestation

8.5 Periodic checks on machinery and related equipment

8.6 Periodic quality tests

8.6.1 Fuel oil

8.6.2 Lube oil

8.6.3 Engine cooling water

8.6.4 Boiler water

8.7 Bilge and sludge management

8.8 Record keeping

8.8.1 Oil record book

8.9 Changing over the watch

8.9.1 Pre-watch routine

8.9.2 Critical information

8.9.3 The complete engine room round

8.9.4 Handover or takeover models

8.9.5 Fitness for duty

Chapter 9

Pollution control

9.1 Regulations

9.2 Air emissions

9.3 Equipment operation guidelines

9.3.1 Oily water separators (OWS)

9.3.2 Incinerators

9.3.3 Sewage treatment plants

9.3.4 Exhaust gas cleaning systems (EGCS)

9.3.5 Ballast water systems

9.4 Environmental training

9.5 Bilge management

9.6 Responsibilities

9.7 Record keeping and reporting

Chapter 10

Machinery operation guidelines

10.1 Machinery operation manuals

10.2 Main and auxiliary engines(s)

10.2.1 Normal operation

10.2.2 Low load operation

10.2.3 Emergency operation

10.2.4 Engine protection

10.3 Fuel

10.3.1 Types of fuel

10.3.2 Environmental considerations

10.3.3 Blending

10.3.4 Changeover procedure

10.3.5 Microbiological infestation

11.11 Enclosed spaces

11.11.1 Introduction

11.11.2 IMO guidelines

11.11.3 Hazards

11.11.4 Oxygen content in air

11.11.5 Oxygen deficiency

11.11.6 Toxic and/or flammable gases

11.11.7 Oxygen enrichment

11.11.8 Oxygen-depleting cargoes and carbon dioxide emissions

11.11.9 Enclosed space entry and rescue drills

11.11.10 Preparing for an enclosed space entry

11.11.11 Entry into an enclosed space where the atmosphere has been tested and is considered safe

11.11.12 Rescue from enclosed spaces

11.12 Hot work

11.12.1 Preparation for hot work

11.12.2 Checks during hot work

11.12.3 Action on completion of hot work

11.12.4 Hot work flowchart

11.13 Harmful substances

11.14 Essential engine room seamanship

Chapter 12

Ship-type specific guidelines

12.1 Oil, gas and chemical tankers

12.1.1 OCIMF and SIRE

12.2 Dynamic positioning (DP) ships

12.3 Passenger ships

Chapter 13

Preparing for inspections

13.1 Introduction

13.2 The role of the chief engineer and the engineering team

13.3 Common areas that are inspected in the engine room

13.4 Common inspection deficiencies

13.4.1 Fire dampers and funnel dampers

13.4.2 Emergency fire pump

13.4.3 Lifeboats and rescue boats engine and davit

13.4.4 Oily water separator

13.4.5 Sewage treatment plant (STP)

13.4.6 Emergency generator

13.5 Crew related factors for deficiencies

Appendices

Appendix A - Manoeuvring checklists

Appendix B - Engine room checklists and permits

Appendix C - Emergency checklists

Appendix D - Two-stroke low load operation inspection report template