FOM-4.1	Fleet Operations Manual General Engine Room Responsibilities	Doc No.: FOM-4.1 Revision: 01 Date: 15 Oct 2024 Issued by: DPA Approved by: MD

1. APPLICATION

This document applies to Chief Engineers, Engineering and Electrical Officers on board.

2. PURPOSE

This document specifies requirements and responsibilities, in relation to day to day watch-keeping for:

• The Chief Engineer
• The Engineer of the Watch (EOW)

3. ENGINEER OF THE WATCH (EOW)

The Engineer of the Watch (EOW) is the Chief Engineer’s representative.
His primary responsibility is safe and efficient operation of machinery.

4. RESPONSIBILITIES

4.1 Chief Engineer

Chief Engineer should refer to duties and responsibilities in his Job Description. The Chief Engineer must inform the EOW of:

• all preventive maintenance
• damage control
• repair operations that EOW will perform during the watch

The Chief Engineer shall prepare a set of standing orders.

4.2 Engineer of the Watch (EOW)

4.2.1 General

The EOW handles the satisfactory and efficient operation of the engine room.

4.2.2 Primary responsibilities

Basic responsibilities include:

• Maintain established watch-keeping arrangements and follow the Chief Engineer's standing orders.
• Supervise and direct junior engineers and engine ratings when forming part of the watch.
• Verify the operational parameters of all machinery at the commencement of the watch.
• Note down any machinery malfunctions along with any action already taken or required.
• Keep the main propulsion plant and auxiliary systems under constant surveillance.
• Ensure equipment operations at maximum efficiency.
• Inspect the machinery and steering gear spaces at suitable intervals. Take appropriate action for remedy of any malfunction discovered.
• Record all important parameters and incidents during the watch in the engine log.
• Investigate all alarms for cause and determine the remedial action required.
• Execute all bridge telegraph orders and record engine movements in the engine movement book.
• Operate the propulsion equipment as per operational requirement as directed by the duty officer on bridge.
• Attend the main propulsion unit controls, when in the manual mode of operation.
• The EOW is responsible for isolation, bypassing and adjustment of all machinery, as may be required for smooth, efficient and safe operations and shall record such measures in ER log book.

4.2.3 Standby Conditions

When the Engine Room is put in a standby condition, the EOW shall ensure:

• All machinery and equipment for use in manoeuvring is in a state of immediate readiness
• Adequate reserve of power is available for steering gear and other requirements.

4.2.4 Presence

EOW must not leave the engine room except to visit adjacent machinery spaces, unless another certified EOW relieves him. EOW must always remain within hearing of the machinery alarms. EOW must accept all alarms, answer the telephone and keep the Bridge Officer of the Watch informed.

4.2.5 Reporting

The EOW shall report to Chief Engineer and bridge of:

• All deficiencies or faults which affect safety or the efficient operation of the engine room equipment
• Event of fire
• Actions causing reduction in ship's speed
• Steering failure
• Stoppage of the ship's propulsion system
• Any alteration in the generation of electric power
• Any threat to safety or security
• Any emergency and action taken

4.2.6 Other responsibilities

Further responsibilities include:

• The EOW shall keep all bilges and tank tops dry and free from oil and shall record an entry to this effect in the Engine Log at the end of his watch.

Warning:

Adhere to applicable regulations covering discharge of any oil

• The EOW shall hand over to his relief: All necessary information concerning all equipment (including engines, boilers and auxiliary machinery). Any special instructions issued by the Chief Engineer. Advice on any part of the machinery which may require special attention.
• The EOW shall leave the machinery in good working order with all necessary standby equipment ready.
• The EOW shall complete the approved checklist which will be signed by the chief engineer prior to UMS operation.

Caution:

The EOW must make all engineers and engine room ratings aware of the serious effects of operational or accidental pollution. He must take all possible precautions to prevent such pollution. He must check that this is understood and implemented during his watch.

• The EOW shall sign the engine log book as required.

4.2.7 Taking over engine room watch

Following should be ascertained before taking over the Engine Room watch:

• The relieving officer of the watch should read the CE’s supplementary instructions / Night orders and sign.
• All members of the relieving watch should be sober, fit and capable of carrying out their duties.
• All members of the relieving watch should be well rested in accordance with work hour requirements.
• All logbooks are completed (example like ER log, Oil Record Book, Tank Sounding Book, and any other record books applicable) and signed.
• The engine room staff handing over the watch should brief the relieving watch keepers regarding the following:
• Any new conditions / hazards likely to be encountered on the watch.
• Any reporting points expected during the watch and the report format.
• Any advice from wheelhouse regarding the alteration of course, manoeuvring, speed reduction or increase, movement in congested waters, search and rescue operations, or alerts in relation to piracy, distress or safety conditions.
• Any clock alterations to be made during the watch.
• Fire Alarm Panel Status: In case any loops have been disconnected? If so why?
• Information of ongoing operations in relation to cargo handling or ballasting/de-ballasting?
• Information of ongoing MARPOL equipment operations – OWS, incinerator.
• Any transfers of fuel, cylinder oil or lubricating oil carried out in the previous watch, ongoing, or expected to be carried out in the watch of the taking over personnel.
• Information on the fuel change over carried out in the previous watch, ongoing, or expected to be carried out in the watch of the taking over personnel.
• Information about any maintenance work ongoing in ER.
• Any special work/operation in progress or work permit issued.

5. UNMANNED MACHINERY SPACE OPERATION (UMS) – ROUTINE CHECKS

5.1 Start of Day

The EOW must make a tour of inspection and complete the engine official log by 0800 hours. UMS duty hand-over will be 1200 hours unless otherwise instructed by Chief Engineer.

5.2 Noon

The EOW must check the machinery spaces and enter counter readings including consumption figures in the engine log.

5.3 End of Day

The EOW must inspect the machinery spaces, adjust tanks and bilge levels as necessary. Each ship will use a ship specific UMS checklist and file sheets within plastic folders. The EOW must complete and sign UMS checklist form and make a log entry denoting its successful completion. On any ship certified for unmanned operation the machinery space is to be manned for a minimum period of 8 hours within any 24-hour period.

5.4 During Evening

Duty Engineer’s shall conduct engine room inspection rounds after work hours & at night hours before retiring to bed, with a maximum period between checks should not exceed 10 hours. The EOW shall carry out a late evening inspection of the machinery spaces and report to the Chief Engineer or Bridge on completion.

5.5 During Cargo Operations / Tank Cleaning

No vessel is to operate with the machinery spare unmanned when cargo handling plant places a high & variable load on the electrical or steam generating plant.

6. MINIMUM MANNING IN PORT

When in port, Chief Engineer shall arrange for safe manning of the engine room to operate engine machinery in case of unexpected demand. As a minimum, half of engine department personnel must remain on board. Either Chief Engineer or Second Engineer must remain on board.

7. CHIEF ENGINEER’S STANDING ORDERS

7.1 Requirements

Top management need that the Standing Orders include the requirement that all Engineers are conversant with the Company fleet instructions, including following:

• All orders as issued.
• Each watch keeping or duty Engineer is responsible for the safe and efficient running of the engine room whilst on duty.
• Thorough draining of all drain points in the starting air system (main air compressor, starting air reservoir, control air dryer, starting airline etc.) to be carried out every watch, to ensure that all water content is removed.
• Pumping of bilges in line with current regulations, with which the watch keeping or duty Engineer shall be entirely familiar. All bilge-pumping operations are to be duly logged in the machinery space oil record book. The bilges shall be dry at the hand-over of watch or duty period.
• Keep water level in any working boiler under frequent observation. Any loss of water level out of the visible range of the gauge glass must be reported immediately to the Chief Engineer.
• If the watch keeping or duty Engineer gets into a situation that he cannot handle, sound the “ENGINEERS ALARM” to summon extra manpower.
• Notify the Chief Engineer whenever the bridge requests any changes in RPM.
• If any failure occurs which requires slowing down of the main engine:
• Inform the bridge immediately.
• Reduce engine power to a level which does not jeopardize safety of the vessel and equipment.
• If necessary and the Bridge confirm that it is safe to do so, stop the main engine and ring the “ENGINEERS CALL ALARM”.

Note:

There is no stigma attached to sounding the engineers alarm, ’IF IN DOUBT, SHOUT’.

• In case of any oil ingress or abnormal water ingress into the bilges, report to Chief Engineer without delay.
• Report any emergency situation, no matter how minor (even if dealt with at source by the watch keeping or duty Engineer’s initial reaction) to the Chief Engineer. Make a suitable entry in the engine room logbook.
• Report any abnormal consumptions of water, lube oil or fuel oil to the Chief Engineer immediately and investigate the source of loss / consumption. Monitor tank and sump levels in order to give early warning of abnormalities.
• At one hour’s notice of Stand-by Engines, call:
• Chief Engineer
• Second Engineer
• Electrician
• Carry out routine full inspections of all machinery spaces.
• When not in use for access, close all machinery space doors and hatches.
• Except when in use, isolate all welding and burning equipment at the source.
• If the incoming EOW is not satisfied with the condition of the machinery plant, he must bring this to the attention of the outgoing EOW. If they cannot resolve the situation, then the Chief Engineer must be informed without delay.

The following additional items, related to Environmental Compliance, shall also be included in the Chief Engineer’s Standing Orders:

• All engine Room personnel must ensure that all MARPOL equipment’s such as OWS, Incinerator, Sewage Treatment Plant, ODME (C/Off responsibility) must be in good working order and malfunction on any MARPOL equipment brought to immediate notice of CE.
• All engineering personnel must report and timely resolve any leakages (Oil, SW, FW, Bunker Steam etc. which may contribute to the accumulations of ER bilges and/or oily mixtures and/or sludge type wastes.
• The ER tank top and Bilges should be oil and water leak free.
• Incinerator/ Oily water Separator in ER must not be operated without prior Permission of Chief Engineer.
• Oily water separator will be operated only by CE and 2E after receiving authorization / approval from Master and bridge.
• Monthly 30 minutes Oily Water separator and OCM test must be done by recirculation Bilge tank to Bilge tank and same recorded in ORB under CE guidance.
• Oil Record Book entries must be signed by Engineer carrying out the operation and confirmed by Chief engineer who will sign each entry.
• MARPOL Tank sounding log must be filled by DE or 4E every day around noon and any significant variations in soundings brought to CE notice immediately.
• Bilge water to be pumped out only through O.W.S and 15ppm OCM. O.W.S. bilge overboard valves to be kept locked & seal tagged at all times except when authorized by Master & CE at open sea for OWS operation.
• Direct Bilge suction for the Fire & GS Pump, Fire-Bilge-Ballast Pump and Emergency Bilge Suction must be seal tagged and never operated unless same authorized explicitly by Company and Master & CE for emergency scenarios.

Caution:

Remember that usage of these crossovers to pump out bilges using fire and GS pump is similar to bypassing the OWS equipment and is strictly prohibited and this is considered as MARPOL violations.

• All engine room personnel must ensure that there is no connection between Bilge & Sludge pump on suction and Discharge side.
• All environmental seal tags installed in various Locations in ER must not be removed without explicit permission from CE. Any deteriorating/ broken or wasted seal must be brought to the notice of CE immediately.
• Sewage treatment plant to be in operation at all times. Sewage direct or treated effluent and Gray water discharge is prohibited in Non-Discharge Zones. To be confirmed with Master and Chief engineer for STP & Gray water discharges.
• All engineers and ER crew must ensure that any loss of lubrication fluid from an oil-to-sea interface (e.g. Stern tube Aft seal/ LO Coolers SW cooled, Hydraulic Coolers etc.) is immediately reported to CE and logged in E34.
• The minimum spares list for the MARPOL equipment must be maintained and any shortfall must be brought to immediate notice of the Chief engineer.
• All environmental Alerts to be reviewed by ER personnel once every month.
• All engineers must be well versed with the Environmental & ECP manual.

7.2 Circulation

• The Chief Engineer shall print his name and sign at the end of the set of standing orders that he has prepared.
• All Engineering and Electrical Officers shall sign and date the instructions.
• The copy of these standing orders shall be placed in each engineer’s cabin and the master copy with the engine control room.

8. REFERENCED FORMS AND CHECKLISTS

E34

9. APPENDICES

E01- Engine room familiarisation