NVIC 01-69: Automation of main and auxiliary ship machinery

NAVIGATION AND VESSEL INSPECTION CIRCULAR NO. 1-69 Subj: Automated Main and Auxiliary Machinery

Automated Main and Auxiliary Machinery — Purpose: This circular distributes a "Guide for the Automation of Main and Auxiliary Ship's Machinery" to all interested and affected members of the marine community. With the current trend to fewer engineering watchstanders, it is essential that all concerned be aware of the equipment and systems necessary to reduce the manning in machinery spaces without compromising the safety of life and property. This circular and the enclosed guide supersedes the in

1. Purpose: This circular distributes a "Guide for the Automation of Main and Auxiliary Ship's Machinery" to all interested and affected members of the marine community. With the current trend to fewer engineering watchstanders, it is essential that all concerned be aware of the equipment and systems necessary to reduce the manning in machinery spaces without compromising the safety of life and property. This circular and the enclosed guide supersedes the information previously issued as NVIC 5-67.

Automated Main and Auxiliary Machinery — Discussion: 46 U.S.C. 222 (R.S. 4463) specifies that no vessel subject to the inspection laws shall be navigated unless she shall have in her service and on board such complement of licensed officers and crew, as may in the judgement of the Coast Guard be necessary for her safe navigation. Thus the number of watchstanders required on any particular vessel is specified by the Officer in Charge, Marine Inspection of the appropriate marine inspection zone ba

2.

Discussion: 46 U.S.C. 222 (R.S. 4463) specifies that no vessel subject to the inspection laws shall be navigated unless she shall have in her service and on board such complement of licensed officers and crew, as may in the judgement of the Coast Guard be necessary for her safe navigation.

Thus the number of watchstanders required on any particular vessel is specified by the Officer in Charge, Marine Inspection of the appropriate marine inspection zone based upon his evaluation of the vessel, equipment, route, and service.

With the rapid application of modern control technology to marine power systems, the Coast Guard has found it necessary to publish this circular for guidance and for uniformity in considering automation features to permit a reduction in the customary number of engineering watchstanders.

In recent years it has been customary to operate a steam propulsion plant with a three man watch.

This consisted of a fireman/watertender supervising the boiler; an oiler or better acting as a data recorder, roving patrol and general assistant to the licensed engineer, who supervised the watch, performed as throttleman, and conducted or supervised minor or routine maintenance.

Additionally these three men by their sense of sight, sound, smell and engineering judgement or intuition, performed as trouble detection systems in the event of fire, flooding or machinery malfunction.

The evolution from manned to unmanned engineerooms as proposed by the industry is: a.

The elimination of the fireman/watertender by the installation of a fully automated boiler or by the installation of a self regulating boiler with certain re-allocations of responsibilities to the remaining watchstanders.

Automatic boiler alarms and safety shut-down devices have been incorporated in both of these approaches. b.

The elimination of both the fireman/watertender and the oiler by the installation of a fully automated boiler, pilothouse throttle control, and a centralization of controls and instrumentation within the machinery space.

The arrangement must permit the engineer to monitor and control the machinery from a single location. c.

The elimination of all watchstanders by the installation, in addition to that of b above, of a sophisticated and extensive monitor and alarm system.

The emphasis on machinery operation is from remote control to self regulation, i.e. fully automated.

Alarm systems are required for fire and flooding detection.

With this total substitution of machinery for human intelligence, the problems of reliability and maintenance must be considered and evaluated.

The final manning requirements established for any vessel will be based upon the results of: (1) a complete plan review of the equipment, and the monitoring safety and labor saving devices installed, (2) a period of proven operation and reliability following the initial testing and de-bugging, (3) a period of Coast Guard on-board observation, and (4) for unattended machinery operation, an acceptable plant maintenance program which insures the continued quality of the demonstrated plant reliability.

Acceptance of an unattended engineroom will not eliminate the requirement for engineering personnel to be on board.

Sufficient qualified personnel will be required to: (1) Operate and monitor the plant in event of control failure, (2) make emergency repairs in event of machinery casualties, and (3) perform daily or periodic operations, inspections, and maintenance to insure the continued quality of plant performance.

The purpose of the enclosed guide then, is to provide an indication of the operational capabilities of the equipment and systems necessary to comply with the above concepts.

Design standards for shock, vibration, endurance, power supply fluctuation, and other environmental conditions have not been specified.

These will be developed as experience is gained.

Equipment which provides inadequate shall be replaced or the vessel manning shall be modified to compensate for the equipment failure.

The various sections of the guide should be applied as indicated above for the different manning levels.

For diesel vessels the concepts of b and c above are applicable.

Although the enclosure is a guide and therefore not mandatory by law, it does represent our experience and/or evaluation to date and therefore in the context of 46 U.S.C. 222 represents the "judgement of the Coast Guard." Deviation from the enclosed guide must be well founded and acceptable to the cognizant Officer in Charge, Marine Inspection.

Automated Main and Auxiliary Machinery — Action: Coast Guard marine inspection personnel, shipbuilders, ship designers and operators should consider the principles contained in enclosure (1) when considering automated machinery systems. Constructive comments and suggestions are invited.

Encl: (1) Guide for Automated Machinery Dist. (SDL No. 88) A: None B: n(45); c(10); q(6); eg(3); bdp(1) C: m(4); o(2) D: i(2); k(1) E: o(2) F: None List 112-155