Unit 1

Electrical services; Definitions; Location and construction

Electrical services required to maintain the ship in a normal seagoing

operational and habitable condition are to be capable of being maintained without
recourse to the emergency source of electrical power. Electrical services essential
for safety are to be maintained under various emergency conditions. The safety of
passengers, crew and ship from electrical hazards is to be assured.

1.1. Definitions
Essential services are those necessary for the propulsion and safety of the ship,
such as the following: air compressors for the engines; air pumps; automatic
sprinkler system; ballast pumps; bilge pumps; circulating and cooling water
pumps; communication systems; condenser circulating pumps; electric propulsion
equipment; extraction pumps; fans for forced draft to boilers; feed water pumps;
fire detection and alarm systems; fire pumps; fuel valve cooling pumps; hydraulic
pumps; lubricating oil pump; inert gas fans and scrubber and deck seal pumps;
lighting system for those parts of the ship normally accessible to and used by
personnel and passengers; navigational aids; navigation lights and special purpose
lights; oil fuel pumps and oil fuel burning units; oil separators; scavenge blowers;
steering gear; thrusters for dynamic positioning; valves that are required to be
remotely operated; ventilating fans for engine and boiler rooms; watertight doors,
shell doors and other electrical operated closing appliances; windlasses; power
sources and supply systems for supplying the above services.
The following services are considered necessary for minimum comfortable
conditions of habitability: cooking; heating; domestic refrigeration; mechanical
ventilation; sanitary and fresh water.
Other services are considered necessary to maintain the ship in a normal
seagoing operational and habitable condition: cargo handling and cargo care
equipment; hotel services, other than those required for habitable conditions;
thrusters, other than those used for dynamic positioning.
A ‘high voltage’ is a voltage exceeding 1000V a.c. or 1500V d.c. between
conductors.
A ‘switchboard’ is a switchgear and control gear assembly for the control
of power generated by a source of electrical power and its distribution to electrical
consumers.
A ‘section board’ is a switchgear and control gear assembly for
controlling the supply of electrical power from a switchboard and distributing it to
other section boards, distribution boards or final sub-circuits.
A ‘distribution board’ is an assembly of one or more protective devices
arranged for the distribution of electrical power to final sub-circuits.
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A ‘final sub-circuit’ is that portion of a wiring system extending beyond

the final overcurrent device of a board.
‘Special category spaces’ are those enclosed spaces above or below the
bulkhead deck intended for the carriage of motor vehicles with fuel, for their own
propulsion, in their tanks, into and from which such vehicles can be driven, and to
which passengers have access.
‘Machinery spaces of Category A’ are those spaces and trunks to such
spaces which contain:
a) internal combustion machinery used for main propulsion, or
b) internal combustion machinery used for purposes other than main
propulsion where such machinery has in the aggregate a total power
output of not less than 375 kW; or
c) any oil-fired boiler or oil fuel unit.

1.2. Quality of Power supplies

All electrical equipment supplied from the main and emergency source of
electrical power is to be so designed and manufactured that is capable of operating
satisfactorily under normally occurring variations of voltage and frequency.
Unless specified otherwise electrical equipment, other than that supplied
by battery systems, is to operate satisfactorily with the following simultaneous
variations, from their normal value, when measured at the consumer input
terminals.
a) voltage: permanent variations +5%, -5%
transient variations +10%, -10%
recovery time 1,5 seconds
b) frequency: permanent variations +6%, -10%
transient variations +20%, -15%
recovery time 5 seconds
Harmonics. Unless specified otherwise, the total harmonic distortion
(THD) of the voltage waveform at any switchboard or section-board is not to
exceed 8 per cent for all frequencies up to 50 times the supply frequency and no
voltage at a frequency above 25 times supply frequency is to exceed 1,5 per cent
of the supply voltage.

1.3. Location and construction

Electrical equipment is, as far as is practicable, to be accessibly placed, clear of
flammable material in well ventilated, adequately lighted spaces, in which
flammable gasses cannot accumulate and where it is not exposed to risk of
mechanical injury or damage from water, steam or oil. Where necessarily exposed
to such risks, the equipment is to be suitable constructed or enclosed. Live parts
are to be guarded where necessary.
 Unit 1 Definitions; Location and Construction 3

All electrical apparatus is to be so constructed and so installed that it does

not cause injury when handled or touched in the normal manner.
Insulating materials and insulated windings are to be flame retard, and
resistant to tracking, moisture, sea air and oil vapour unless special precautions
are taken to protect them.
Equipment is not to remain alive through the control circuits and/or pilot
lamps when switched off by the control switch. This does not apply to
synchronizing switches and/or plugs.
The operation of electrical equipment and the lubrication arrangements are
to be efficient under such conditions of vibration and shock as arise in normal
practice.
All nuts and screws used in connection with current-carrying and working
parts are to be effectively locked.
Conductors and equipment are to be placed at such distance from the
magnetic compasses, or are to be so disposed, that the interfering magnetic field is
negligible when circuits are switched on and off.
Where electrical power is used for propulsion, the equipment is to be so
arranged that it will operate satisfactorily in the event of partial flooding by bilge
water above the tank top up to floor level.

1.4. Earthing
Except where exempted, all non-current carrying exposed metal parts of electrical
equipment and cables are to be earthed.
The following parts may be exempted:
a) lamp-caps, where suitably shrouded;
b) shades, reflectors and guards supported on lamp holders or light fittings
constructed of, or shrouded in, non-conducting material;
c) metal parts on, or screws in or through, non-conducting materials, which
are separated by such material from current carrying parts and from
earthed non-current carrying parts in such a way that in normal use they
cannot become live or come into contact with earthed parts;
d) apparatus that is constructed in accordance with the principle of double
insulation;
e) bearing housings which are insulated in order to prevent circulation of
current in the bearings;
f) clips for fluorescent lamps;
g) cable clips and short lengths of pipes for cable protection;
h) apparatus supplied at a voltage not exceeding 55 V direct current or 55 V,
root mean square, between conductors or between any conductor and earth
in a circuit isolated from the supply. Autotransformers are not to be used
for the purpose of achieving the alternating current voltage;
4 English for Marine Electrical Engineering 3

i) apparatus or parts of apparatus which although not shrouded in insulating

material is nevertheless otherwise so guarded that it cannot be touched and
cannot come in contact with exposed metal.
Metal coverings of cables are to be effectively earthed at both ends of the
cable. In final sub-circuits, other than those installed in hazardous zones or spaces,
earthing at the supply end only will be considered adequate. Single point earthing
may be accepted for instrumentation cables if desirable for technical reasons.
The electrical continuity of all metal coverings of cables throughout the
length of the cable, particularly at joints and tapping, is to be ensured.
Metal parts of portable appliances, other than current-carrying parts and
parts exempted above are to be earthed by means of an earth-continuity conductor
in the flexible cable or cord through the associated plug and socket outlet.
Earthing conductors are to be of copper or other corrosion-resistant
material and be securely installed and protected where necessary against damage
and also, where necessary, against electrolytic corrosion. Connections are to be so
secured that they cannot work loose under vibration.
The nominal cross-section area of copper earthing conductors is, in
general to be equal to the cross-section of the current-carrying conductor up to 16
mm². Above this figure they are to be equal to at least half the cross-section of the
current-carrying conductor with a minimum of 16 mm². Every other earthing
conductor is to have a conductance not less than that specified for an equivalent
copper earthing conductor.
The connection of the earthing conductor to the hull of the ship is to be
made in an accessible position, and is to be secured by a screw or stud of diameter
not less than 6mm which is to be used for this purpose only. Bright metallic
surfaces at the contact areas are to be ensured immediately before the nut or screw
is tightened and, where necessary, the joint is to be protected against electrolytic
corrosion. The connection is to remain unpainted.

1.5. Bonding for the control of static electricity.

Bonding straps for the control of static electricity are required for cargo tanks,
process plant and piping systems, for flammable products and solids liable to
release flammable gas and/or combustible dust, which are not permanently
connected to the hull of the ship either directly or via their bolted or welded
supports and where the resistance between them and the hull exceeds 1 MΩ.
Where bonding straps are required for the control of static electricity, they
are to be robust, that is, having a cross-sectional area of about 10 mm².

1.6. Alarms
Cables for emergency alarms and their power sources are to be of a fire resistant
type and to be run as directly as is practicable. Electrical equipment and cables for
 Unit 1 Definitions; Location and Construction 5

emergency alarms are to be so arranged that the loss of alarms in any one area due
to localized fire, collision, flooding or similar damage is minimized.

Task 1 Match the expressions to the explanations: high voltage, switchboard,

section board, distribution board, final sub-circuit, special category spaces,
machinery spaces of category A.

Expression Explanation
1 is a switchgear and control gear assembly for the
control of power generated by a source of electrical
power and its distribution to electrical consumers.
2 is an assembly of one or more protective devices
arranged for the distribution of electrical power to
final sub-circuits.
3 is a voltage exceeding 1000V a.c. or 1500V d.c.
between conductors.
4 is that portion of a wiring system extending beyond
the final overcurrent device of a board.
5 are those enclosed spaces above or below the
bulkhead deck intended for the carriage of motor
vehicles with fuel, for their own propulsion, in their
tanks, into and from which such vehicles can be
driven, and to which passengers have access.
6 is a switchgear and control gear assembly for
controlling the supply of electrical power from a
switchboard and distributing it to other section
boards, distribution boards or final sub-circuits.
7 are those spaces and trunks to such spaces which
contain any oil-fired boiler or oil fuel unit.

1.7. Vocabulary
air compressor ~ compresor
air pump ~ pompă de aer
automatic sprinkler system ~ sistem automat de stropire
ballast pump ~ pompă de balast
bearing housing ~ carcasă a lagărului
bilge pump ~ pompă de santină
boiler ~ caldarină, căldare navală
bonding strap ~ bridă de fixare
circulating and cooling water pump ~ pompă de circulare şi răcire a apei
clips ~ bride, coliere
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closing appliances ~ mecanisme de închidere

communication system ~ sistem de comunicare
condenser circulating pump ~ pompă de circulare a apei condensate
deck seal pump ~ pompă etanşeizare punte
distribution board ~ panou de distribuţie
earthing ~ împământare
electric propulsion equipment ~ echipamente electrice de propulsie
electrical power ~ putere/ energie electrică
emergency source ~ sursă în caz de avarie
enclosed space ~ spaţiu închis
extraction pump ~ pompă de extracţie
fan ~ ventilator
feed water pump ~ pompă de alimentare cu apă
final sub-circuit ~ subcircuit final
fire detection ~ detectare incendiu
fire pump ~ pompă de incendiu
flame retard ~ încetinire a arderii
fluorescent lamp ~ lampă fluorescentă
forced draft ~ tiraj forţat
fuel valve cooling pump ~ pompă de răcire a supapei de combustibil
habitable ~ locuibil
harmonic distortion ~ distorsionare armonică
hazard ~ accident/ pericol
hydraulic pump ~ pompă hidraulică
inert gas fan ~ ventilator pentru gaz inert
insulated winding ~ cablu izolat
lamp-cap ~ soclu de lampă
lighting system ~ sistem de iluminat
live parts ~ porţiuni/ elemente sub tensiune
lubricating oil pump ~ pompă pentru ulei de ungere
navigation lights ~ lumini de navigaţie
navigational aids ~ sisteme auxiliare de navigaţie
nut ~ piuliţă
oil fuel burning unit ~ incintă de ardere combustibil lichid
oil fuel pump ~ pompă de combustibil lichid
oil separator ~ separator combustibil
plug ~ priză
plug and socket outlet ~ fişă şi priză de curent
power output ~ randament
power source ~ sursă de putere
remotely operated ~ acţionat de la distanţă
scavenge blower ~ suflantă de purjare
 Unit 1 Definitions; Location and Construction 7

screw ~ şurub
scrubber ~ epurator de gaze
section board ~ secţiune panou comandă
shade ~ abajur
shroud ~ a acoperi
special purpose lights ~ lumini speciale
steering gear ~ mecanism de guvernare
supply system ~ sistem de alimentare
switchboard ~ tablou de distribuţie
switchgear ~ aparataj de conexiuni, întrerupător
synchronizing switch ~ întrerupătoare sincronizate
thruster for dynamic positioning ~ elice laterală de poziţionare a navei
tracking ~ traseu
transient variations ~ variaţii tranzitorii
ventilating fan ~ ventilator
voltage ~ tensiune electromotoare
watertight door ~ uşă etanşă
windlass ~ vinci de ancoră
wiring system ~ sistem de cabluri

1.9. Engineering - General Vocabulary

Exercise 1 Fill in the blanks with the suitable words: civil, mechanical,
electrical, electronic, marine, automobile, aeronautical, heating, ventilating,
electricity generating, electrical installation.
Engineering is largely a practical activity. It is about putting ideas into
action………….engineering is concerned with making bridges, roads, airports,
etc. ……………….engineering deals with the design and manufacture of tools
and machines. ………………..engineering is about the generation and
distribution of electricity and its many applications. ………………..engineering is
concerned with developing components and equipment for communications,
computing and so on.
Mechanical engineering includes………….., …………., …………., ………..,
and ……….. and others. Electrical engineering includes …………. …………,
…………. ………….., lighting, etc. Mining and medical engineering belong
partly to mechanical and partly to electrical.

Exercise 2
a. What are the branches of engineering?
b. What are the branches of electrical engineering?
c. Make a diagram with the main branches and sub-branches of engineering.
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1.8. Suffixes
a. noun suffixes
Suffixes are groups of letters added at the end of a word that can change the word-class
and the meaning of the word. In English, certain suffixes are used to form nouns from
verbs, adjectives and other nouns. Knowing suffixes can help you to find out the word
you need without looking up a dictionary every time.

Verb + suffix
- ment: improvement; management; replacement
- ion: election; discussion; translation (to translate); complication (to complicate);
pollution (to pollute)
- ation: information; organisation (to organise)
- ing: jogging (to jog); spelling; shipping

Adjective + suffix
- ness: weakness; darkness; readiness (ready)
- ity: punctuality; similarity; flexibility (flexible); scarcity (scarce)

Noun/verb + suffix
- er: manager; employer (describe people’s jobs)
- or: director; operator (to operate); sailor (describe people’s jobs)
- ist: economist (economy); psychologist (psychology) (describe people’s jobs)
- hood: childhood; manhood (abstract nouns)
- ship: partnership; membership; friendship (abstract nouns, status)

TASK 2
Exercise 1 Complete the sentences with the correct form of the word on the right.
Ex: Who made the …arrangements…for the meeting? ARRANGE
1. We had a very heated ….. in class today. DISCUSS
2. I think …. is very important. PUNCTUAL
3. The …. of the festival was excellent. ORGANISE
4. Who won the ….? ELECT
5. He’s never been very good at…. . SPELL
6. Their …. is all that matters to me. HAPPY
7. The …. between them is incredible. SIMILAR
8. Has there been much …. lately? IMPROVE
9. Have they got all the …. they need? INFORM
10. This animal only appears during the hours of… . DARK

Exercise 2. What do we call these people?

Ex: a person who dances ….dancer….
1. a person who murders someone
2. a person who acts
3. a person who works in economics
 Unit 1 Definitions; Location and Construction 9

4. a person who farms

5. a person who translates
6. a person who employs other people
7. a person who works in psychology
8. a person who sings
9. a person who operates something
10. a person who plays football
11. a person who directs films
12. a person who writes articles in a newspaper

Exercise 3 Make nouns from the verbs and adjectives, and the necessary suffixes:

Verb Noun
educate
improve
jog
spell
hesitate
arrange
Adjective Noun
stupid
dark
weak
similar
punctual
sad
popular

Exercise 4 Do these words mean a thing, a person, or both?

1. a cooker; 2. a typewriter; 3. a ticket-holder; 4. a CD player;
5. a cleaner; 6. a smoker; 7. a drinker; 8. a dresser.

Exercise 5 Complete the following sentences with a form of the words in

brackets:
1 In the ………………..industry, ………………..develop processes for producing
plastics, fibers, medicines, etc. from simple chemicals. (chemistry)
2 Producing steel using the Bessemer process is one of the best-known ……….
processes. (industry)
3 Most …………….. devices need oil as a lubricant. (mechanics)
4. Following the earthquake, every building had to be inspected to see whether it
had suffered any ………… damage. (structure)
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5 Certain chemicals are added to glue to …………….. it. (hard)

6 Excavators and power shovels are two types of …………… equipment used by
…………….. when they are removing rocks from the ground. (mine)