Keeping the plant healthy
- Condition monitoring: lubricating-oil analysis, vibration analysis, temperatures, and wear-down measurement.
- Overhaul planning: scheduling major work around the operating programme and the dry-docking.
- Managing contractors and shore support for specialist work beyond the crew's scope.
- Technical record-keeping to support survey, warranty and the machinery history.
Condition monitoring lets the Chief see the health of the machinery without stripping it: oil analysis reveals wear metals and contamination, vibration analysis finds bearing and alignment problems, and wear-down measurements track the slow wear of running gear. This turns maintenance from a fixed schedule into a condition-based programme, with major overhauls planned around the operating programme and the dry-docking, and specialist work bought in from shore when it exceeds the crew's capability.
TIP — Condition monitoring sees inside the machinery Oil analysis and vibration analysis reveal wear and developing faults without opening the machinery up. They let the Chief plan overhauls for when they are actually needed, not just when the calendar says.
NOTE — Plan overhauls around the programme Major overhauls are planned around the vessel's operating programme and dry-docking, so the work is done when the vessel can spare the machinery, not forced at the worst moment.