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Published: August 8th 2010
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Blue Boys
My last day on deck work. So my weeks with the deck repairman and working in the engine room are now complete!
Work with the deck repairman was a pleasant change. It was nice to actually have to think about what I was doing. Work on deck was mostly monotonous, but every day was different with the repairman. We had to do metal repair on one of the aluminum gangways, completed some welding on the mooring deck, serviced some watertight doors, and did lots of other odd jobs. It was like being a handy man.
My week working with the engineers was by far the most interesting week I’ve had aboard. I spent most of my time in the engine control room learning as much as I could by talking with the engineers, and by reading the ships operation manuals. I learnt about many of the ships systems; sewage, electrical, air conditioning, pool water, drinking water. But the engine room is more than just an engine in a room, It’s 6 engines in a room. Nah, I’m kidding. Everything to run the ship is somewhere inside the engine room; engines, fuel tanks, generators, compressors, sewage treatment plant, reverse osmosis water filters, firefighting systems, and lots
Engine Parts
Notice the can of WD-40 for size comparison of the connecting rods and pistons. of other things.
The ships engines are quite impressive, V12 turbocharged behemoths. They output 103 000 horsepower between ‘em. When the ship isn’t moving enough power is generated by one engine to run everything on board. As soon as we need electricity to run the azipods, 2, 3, or 4 engines are then running. After 12000 hours of running, each engine needs to be serviced. This servicing includes removing and cleaning the cylinder heads, pistons, cylinder liners, connecting rods, and all exhaust parts. 2 of the ships engines came up for this service in the last few weeks, So I got to see alot of things I normally wouldn't have been able to.
I did some rough math one day while in the engine room, with 3 engines running and the ship doing 20 knots; She gets 0.012 MPG, or 85 Gallons per mile (19500 liters/100km). Now obviously she burns through a lot of fuel, Because of this I got to observe a refueling process. It was by far the most expensive fill up I’ve ever seen. 1500 tons of heavy fuel oil, and nearly 500 tons of low sulfur fuel brought the bill to over $750 000
Engine Control
This display would cause most dual monitor systems to tremble in fear. USD.
I’m now finally doing bridge work, which is really what I had come to sea to do. Currently 2 of the 3 1st officers aboard are Canadian, we had dinner the other day and talked about the different schools in Canada seeing as we each went to/are going to a different one. Bridge work has gotten me into a great work schedule. I work from 4-8 am, and then again from 4-8 pm. This has me being on the bridge for most of the arrivals and departures, and allows me time to go ashore during the day plus go out at night (the best of both worlds).
Until today I hadn’t gotten myself off the ship since Rome, but spent the whole day lounging on the beach today whilst on Ibiza. Ibiza is somewhere I feel I will end up another summer. It was just as I envisioned, billboards advertising huge djs performing all the time. Even in the 15 minute drive to the beach I saw ads for Paul van Dyk, Tiesto, Armin van Burren, Dizzee Rascall, Ferry Corsten, David Guetta, and Bob Sinclair.
August the 3rd marked my half way point at sea, which
2 Engines
That big thing at the right of each engine are the turbos. means I’m now on the count down!
Comments and Emails appreciated as always gbeier@gmail.com
Mailing address available by request.
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Alicia
non-member comment
ohmygosh.
That is a ridiculous price to fuel up! lol, but then again, it's a big ship :P lol sounds interesting, what with you getting to see the engines and how to fix everything up, and things being different each day :) and i actually didn't know that everything needed to run a ship was in the engine room.. just thought there would only be engines :P haha impressive engines i might add :P did you get to do any cleaning or servicing for the engines..? again, i love your pics :) good to hear from you again! p.s. i love how in that "Blue Boys" pic, you are the only white guy :P hahaha