Engine Failure

Question 1

Notice

Answer 1

o There would be an alarm. The speed will drop and the vessel will not respond to bell commands. The rudder will become less responsive immediately and more so as the vessel slows
o Have the Mate bring up the Alarm page on the Helm panel if you hear an alarm. Many of the failures will have alarms that describe them.
o Make sure there actually is a failure. Adjust the EOT and see if the indicator responds and if the speed adjusts as you would expect it to.

Question 2

Response

Answer 2

o Have the Mate talk to the engineers.
o Call lookout and inform them of the situation, ask for extra-sharp lookout.
o Have Mate plot a position.
o Consider your options to maneuver the vessel (verbalize this).
o Discuss the wind and current and how you expect them to affect your vessel.

Question 3

Maneuver

Answer 3

o Maneuver (using bow thruster and rudder) as you are able and as you see fit.
¤ Bow thruster – but only useful at slow speeds – only use at high speeds if in extremis. Or, you can use the bow thruster when it won’t be useful, but you can verbally acknowledge that it won’t work until the speed slows.
¤ Round turn to drop your speed if there is sea room (w/ Securite call). Do this early while you still have water flowing past your rudder.
¤ Cycle your rudder to reduce speed (w/ Securite call).
¤ Consider dredging your anchor – talk about cable or pipeline areas (w/ Securite call).
o Discuss the wind and current and how you expect them to affect your vessel.

Question 4

Radio

Answer 4

o Securite call that discusses your situation.
o Call traffic that could be concerned.
o Call VTS.
o Call for tugs to assist. Call specific tugs if you know they are in the area.

Question 5

Anchor

Answer 5

o Notify your lookout. Have them prepare the anchor.
o Take note of the obstructions on the bottom (rocks, wrecks, pipelines, cables).
o Prepare to dredge the anchor (prepare for this and talk about it, but it probably won’t happen). Consider using the port anchor if you want to go to port or using the starboard anchor to go to starboard.
o If there is sea room, it is best to wait until the way of the vessel is nearly stopped before anchoring.

Question 6

Continue

Answer 6

o Put up NUC lights and shapes (2 reds and/or two balls).
o Keep trying to make the situation better.
o Call for tugs again.
o Continue to call traffic as needed.
o Use your rudders and bow thruster to set yourself up as best you can.
o Discuss how your pivot point will move aft as you slow down and how the wind and current’s effect on your vessel will change (stronger in relation to speed, and larger or smaller levers, depending on location of the force)
o Look for a good spot to anchor and talk about it.
o If you are going to have a casualty, try to mitigate it to the best of your ability (i.e. if you are going aground, try to land at a soft spot, if you will collide, use your rudder and bow thruster to make it a glancing blow, etc.).