Module overview

01. Ship Types

This module, and the Machinery Installations module, will give you an overview of:

• The different types of ship which use Castrol lubricants
• The machinery you would find in each vessel

When you have completed these two modules, you will be ready to move on to the next group. These give you more detailed information. They describe the different types of main propulsion engines, power transmission systems and auxiliary equipment that are found in ships.

02. Machinery Installations

This module looks at the machinery which is used on ships. The machinery installed in a ship varies enormously, depending on:

• The type of vessel
• Its size
• Its trade or function

Some machinery (for example, main engines and steering gear) is found on all ships. Most ships will also have heating and ventilation equipment and ballast pumps. On the other hand, some equipment is installed only on particular vessels – for example, the pressure systems found on liquified gas carriers or the ramp systems used in Ro-Ro ships.

03. Main Propulsion Engines

This module is the first of a group of three in which we will look at machinery in detail. In this module we will describe the different types of main propulsion engine, and the following two modules will cover power transmission systems and auxiliary equipment respectively.

You may need to refer to publications such as Lloyd’s Register of Ships, to assist you in completing the Activities.

04. Power Transmission Systems

In this module we will look at the components that transfer the power developed by the engine to produce thrust at the stern of the ship. This is called the power transmission system, and it consists of several elements:

• Propulsion units, including various types of propellers and waterjet pumps
• Shafting
• Shaft bearings used to support the shafts
• Thrust bearings, which transfer the thrust from the propulsion unit to the hull
• Gearboxes, which can reduce the speed of the propeller shaft and in some cases reverse its direction
• Clutches, which are used with reversing gearboxes and in multi-engine systems
• Couplings to join the various elements

Depending on the type of main engine, some of these elements will be installed in a ship to link the main engine to the propulsion unit. Throughout this module we will describe the most common examples. However, you may come across different power transmission system arrangements on some ships.

05. Auxillary Equipment

In this module, the last in the group covering ships’ machinery in general terms, we will look at the other items installed on ships. These are collectively called auxiliary equipment or ancillary equipment.

Auxiliary equipment can be looked upon as the machinery that provides the services the ship requires to carry out its role of transporting cargo and passengers.

These services, as you saw in Module 2, vary according to the type of ship. As a result, the auxiliary equipment installed will vary as well. Some items of auxiliary equipment can be found on virtually every ship afloat. Other items are specific to the type of ship or the trade in which it is engaged.

Auxiliary equipment can be categorised into five main groups. These are the items of equipment that provide services for:

• The engine room
• Ship handling
• Cargo handling
• Safety
• Passenger and crew accommodation

06. Basics of lubrication

This module is the first in this group covering lubrication and the various types of lubricants and fuels.

The main function of lubricants is to reduce the friction between two surfaces when they pass over each other. We will begin by looking at the causes of friction and the factors that affect it. We will then be able to show how lubricants can reduce the effects of friction.

Following sections will explain the other functions of lubricants, and describe the various types of lubricating oils and greases that are available

07. Base oils

Lubricating oils are made up of base oils and additives. In this module you will see how most base oils are derived from crude petroleum in the refinery, and study the processes that give the base oils their particular properties.

In the final section of the module you will consider the factors affecting the selection and evaluation of base oils.

08. Additives

In this module you will see how additives are combined with base oils. These additives enhance various features of the base oil and impart particular desirable characteristics to the finished product, enabling it to carry out its functions as efficiently as possible.

09. Fuels and specifications

In this module you will see how fuels are used in main propulsion engines and auxiliary equipment. In each of these engines, fuel is burned to release chemical energy and convert it into mechanical work.

The fuels currently used on ships are usually liquid fuels derived from petroleum (also known as crude oil). In this module we will:

• Describe the various fuels made from petroleum
• Define the various terms used to measure the properties of the fuels
• Explain how the properties of each fuel affect the performance of the engine and the lubricating oil

In this module the following symbols are used: ~ which means approximately and @ which means at.

10. Lubrication selection

In module 10 we will describe the general principles that affect the selection of lubricants for different purposes.

In this module we use the mathematical symbol ~, which means approximately.

11. Used oil analysis

This module will consider how the in-service condition of those oils in the most important items of shipboard machinery is determined and reported .