Boiler safety devices. A quick check for the surveyor

Greetings! In this article I recommend that you familiarize yourself with the main safety devices of auxiliary boiler on a ship that inspectors like to check. It does not matter which inspector came to the ship (PSC, flag, annual surveyor, etc.), usually the checks are not much different.

Surveyors mainly look at how critical protections work (selectively), i.e. those protections that stop the boiler (shutdown protection). They are not very concerned with auxiliary signals (alarms). But it is necessary to be prepared for everything, i.e. for the fact that the inspector can check the auxiliary alarms of the boiler. 

Electrical Officers job interview questions and answers

Preparing for an Electrical Officer (ETO) job interview involves understanding the key responsibilities, technical skills, and safety protocols associated with the role. 

Below are some potential questions and tips to help you prepare:

Common Interview Questions

1. Technical Skills and Knowledge

   • Can you explain the operation and maintenance of electrical systems on a ship (or relevant facility)?
   • How do you troubleshoot electrical faults in high-voltage systems?
   • What experience do you have with electrical power distribution and control systems?
   • Describe your experience with PLC (Programmable Logic Controllers) and automation systems.
   • How do you ensure compliance with electrical safety standards and regulations?

2. Problem-Solving and Experience

   • Describe a challenging electrical problem you encountered and how you resolved it.
   • How do you prioritize maintenance tasks on electrical systems?
   • Can you provide an example of a time when you improved the efficiency or reliability of an electrical system?

3. Safety and Compliance

   • How do you ensure safety when working with high-voltage equipment?
   • What steps do you take to perform a risk assessment before starting electrical work?
   • Describe your familiarity with international maritime regulations (for marine positions) or industry-specific regulations.

4. Teamwork and Communication

   • How do you communicate technical information to non-technical team members?
   • Describe a time when you had to work closely with other departments to resolve an electrical issue.
   • How do you handle conflicts or disagreements within a team?

Safety system of internal combustion engines

As a rule, the safety system is to come into action after the alarm system has operated.

Safety system of individual automated machinery is to operate when parameters exceed their limit values and is to cover all foreseeable fault conditions, assumed with regard to characteristics and operational properties of machinery concerned.

Safety system of internal combustion engines operating due to lubricating oil pressure drop and safety system of steam boilers operating due to low water level are to be independent of alarm and indicating systems, including the sensors.

Safety system of main internal combustion engine which may have influence upon manoeuvrability of the ship is to be provided with switching off facilities.

The switching off device is to be of such design as to exclude the possibility of its unintentional use and in case of safety system being switched off its position is to be indicated by means of a special signal. The switching off device need not cover safety system operating due to lubricating oil pressure drop.