An electrician on a vessel, often referred to as a marine electrician or ship electrician, is a specialized professional responsible for maintaining and repairing the electrical systems aboard a ship.
These systems can range from the ship's power generation and distribution networks to the electronic navigation and communication systems. Marine electricians play a critical role in ensuring the safety and operational efficiency of the vessel.
Duties of Electricians on Vessels
Electrical System Maintenance and Repair:
- Inspecting and maintaining electrical equipment such as generators, motors, transformers, switchboards, and batteries.
- Diagnosing and repairing electrical faults.
- Conducting routine tests and inspections to ensure all systems are operating correctly.
Power Generation and Distribution:
- Monitoring and maintaining the ship’s power generation systems, including diesel generators and auxiliary engines.
- Managing and troubleshooting issues with power distribution panels and circuit breakers.
Lighting and HVAC Systems:
- Maintaining and repairing the ship’s lighting systems, both interior and exterior.
- Servicing and repairing heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) systems.
Navigation and Communication Systems:
- Ensuring the proper functioning of navigation systems such as radar, GPS, and electronic chart display and information systems (ECDIS).
- Maintaining communication systems, including radios and satellite communications.
Safety Systems:
- Inspecting and maintaining safety and emergency systems like fire alarms, emergency lighting, and lifeboat electrical systems.
- Ensuring compliance with safety regulations and standards, such as SOLAS (Safety of Life at Sea).
Documentation and Compliance:
- Keeping detailed records of maintenance and repairs.
- Ensuring all electrical work complies with maritime regulations and standards.
- Preparing for and participating in inspections by maritime authorities.
Collaboration and Support:
- Working closely with other crew members, including engineers and deck officers, to ensure the ship’s overall operational efficiency.
- Providing technical support and guidance to other crew members on electrical issues.
Installation of New Equipment:
- Installing new electrical equipment and systems as needed.
- Ensuring new installations are properly integrated into the existing electrical network.
Qualifications and Skills
- Education and Training: Typically, marine electricians need specialized training, often through maritime academies, technical schools, or apprenticeships. They must understand marine electrical systems, which differ from land-based systems.
- Certification: Many countries require marine electricians to hold specific certifications or licenses to work on vessels.
- Technical Skills: Proficiency in electrical theory, circuitry, and troubleshooting. Familiarity with maritime regulations and standards.
- Problem-Solving Abilities: Ability to diagnose and resolve electrical issues promptly.
- Attention to Detail: Ensuring all work is performed accurately and safely.
- Physical Fitness: The role often requires working in confined spaces and at heights, as well as the ability to perform manual labor.
Marine electricians are essential to the safe and efficient operation of vessels, ensuring that all electrical systems are functioning correctly and safely at all times.
Duties of electricians on the vessels
1. Electricians are directly responsible to electrical engineers (ETO).
2. Marine electricians are to know the construction, the principle of operation, characteristics and the use of shipboard electrical equipment.
3. They are to know in detail the procedure used in diagnosing a troubleshooting and the steps recommended to trace the fault.
4. They are to list some of the causes, e. g., why the motor may fail to start, detect the trouble and remedy the fault when found.
5. They must know the consequencies which may result from poor and careless operation. They must be able to operate all sorts of shipboard electrical equipment.
6. Besides, they are to know the operational and constructional features of all units of the shipboard electrical installation.
7. They are to know how to use fire-fighting devices especially in the engine-room.
8. They are to take part in maintaining and repairing all shipboard electrical equipment.
9. They are to adhere strictly to all the regulations and instructions concerning maintenance of electrical equipment and safety rules.
10. They are to keep watches according to the schedule on board ship with electrical propulsion. The most important items of electrical equipment are subjected to their supervision:
a) generating sets;
b) electric motors;
c) transformers;
d) switchboards;
e) control and monitoring panels;
f) electric couplings and brakes;
g) starting protection, control units and switchgear;
h) apparatuses and devices of internal communication;
i) automatic circuit- breakers and contacts;
j) relays and protective apparatuses;
k) accumulators;
l) cables;
m) other equipment and devices not listed above.
11. While passing through narrows and canals, when leaving or entering a port and when mooring they are to keep watches in the fixed place.
12. They are subordinated to all instructions of the chief engineer and they are to do all sorts of work which might not be in their line.
13. But these they are allowed to do only after having been taught all the regulations including safety rules and not before they have got the certificate.
14. Electricians coming on watch must be in the engine-room at least five minutes before the hour of taking charge.
15. They must, before relieving the electrician on watch, examine electrical equipment and devices.
16. They are to get all the information about the state of the equipment and devices from the relieved electrician.
17. During the watch they are to supervise the operation of the equipment and devices.
18. They are to fulfil the commands of the electrical engineer or an engineer on watch to ensure the normal operation of the machine and devices.
19. In case of a trouble they are to report to the electrical engineer, at the same time take measures to locate the cause of the trouble and try to eliminate it.
20. If there is a threat of damage, or life of people is in danger they are to report to the electrical engineer and take necessary and bold measures to eliminate the cause.
21. In case of fire or flood they are to report the alarm and take all emergency measures to prevent the fire or flood from spreading.
22. They are to keep everything in the engine-room clean and in good order.
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