How Maintenance Work is Done Onboard a Ship?

Maintenance is one thing that keeps any mechanical equipment or machinery going. Weather it is a small machine or a large structure, efficient maintenance can help with prolonged life and favorable outcome. On a ship, maintenance is one thing that keeps machinery up to date and is smooth running condition. In this article we will learn as to how maintenance is being carried out on a ship.

In a ship’s engine room, where the maximum machines are located, engineers and crew carry out the maintenance for safe and efficient operation. Each machine on board a ship requires maintenance which has to be carried out at regular intervals of time.

In the earlier days, the number of crew members and engineers on a ship were large and so the maintenance was carried out fast and easily. However, in the present scenario, the number of crew members and engineers on the ship has reduced drastically.

Many ships carry only 3-4 engineers on board a ship and even the time required to carry out maintenance on the ship has reduced.  Maintenance requires manpower and time which may not be available all the time as the number of crew members is less and the amount of machinery is more.

It is for this reason important to plan the maintainence of the machinery in advance so that the machinery can be overhauled and maintained properly. Generally second engineer is required to plan the schedule of maintenance on a ship.

Efficient planning and adequate usage of equipments is the key to productive maintenance. In this article we will have a look at the main types of maintenance procedures followed on a ship.

Types of Maintenance Procedures

1) Preventive or Scheduled Maintenance System

It is famously known as the PMS or Planned Maintenance System. In this type of system the maintainence is carried out as per the running hours like 4000 hrs, 8000 hrs etc., or by the calender intervals like 6 monthly, yearly etc. of the machinery. The maintenance is carried out irrespective of the condition of the machinery. The parts have to be replaced if it is written in the schedule, even if they can be still used.

2) Corrective or Breakdown Maintenance

In this system the maintainence is carried out when the machinery breaks down. This is the reason it is known as the breakdown maintenance. This is not a suitable and good method as situations may occur wherein the machinery is required in emergency. The only advantage of this system is that the working of machinery parts is used to its full life or until it breaks. This system might get costly as during breakdown several other parts may also get damaged.

3) Condition Maintainence system

In this system the machinery parts are checked regularly. With the help of sensors etc. the condition of the machinery is accessed regularly and the maintenance is done accordingly. This system requires experience and knowledge as wrong interpretation may damage the machinery and lead to costly repairs which may not be acceptable by the company.