BLACK OUT PROCEDURE

 Inform Officer on bridge briefly about the condition.

 Call for manpower and inform the chief engineer.
 If the main propulsion plant is running, bring the fuel lever to zero position.
 Close the feed of the running purifier to avoid overflow and wastage of fuel.
 If auxiliary boiler was running, shut the main steam stop valve to maintain the steam
pressure.
 In auto sequence 1st standby generator will start at 15 seconds and DG GCB will close at
18 seconds.
 If auto sequence does not activate and Standby generator does not come on load.
Emergency DG starts at 09 seconds and comes on load at 19 seconds. After starting DG
DO booster pump manually then start standby generator manually and bring it on load.
 Before taking on load confirm and switch of excess load such as reefer etc to avoid
overload trip
 After taking on load reset all auxiliary machineries breaker and start all required pumps.
 Reset breakers that are included in preferential tripping sequence. (Non-essential
machinery) and start all the other required machinery and system.
 After confirming auxiliary equipments parameters .Then immediately start the main engine
lube oil pump ,main engine jacket water pump, HPS pump, FO circulating and Booster
pump . Once all the parameters are in satisfied condition control to be given to bridge
 It requires both skill and patience to tackle a situation like blackout specially when the
vessel is sailing or manoeuvring. However, the best way to tackle such situations is to be
calm and composed; and to know your engine room and machinery very well in advance.

Actions upon the Bridge.

This is unlikely to be a bridge only blackout - ie vessel will probably have blacked out and as such Main Engine will
stop. As soon as emergency generator starts steering will be regained - Vessel will still have sufficient speed to alter
from close danger. In the event of a blackout on the Bridge, the following actions must be carried out immediately:-

1.     Call the Master to the bridge and inform him of the situation.

2.     Display the Not under Command lights/shapes.

3.     Acknowledge all alarms.

4.     Check for any traffic in the immediate vicinity. Should any vessel pose a threat then the whistle, Aldis lamp, and
VHF may be utilised to mitigate the threat. If vessel is totally blacked out with no battery power then the SOLAS VHF
walkie talkies may be utilised.

5.     A SECURITE message may be transmitted if required – but not unless authorised by the Master

6.     Check for the proximity of any navigational hazards.

7.     Fix and record the vessels position – GPS operates on battery mode.

8.     Additional manning to the Bridge if required.

9.     Engage manual steering and steer away from the nearest hazard. Note that with the emergency generator you
can use the steering motor – No 1

10.  If time permits switch radars to standby mode, and computers off. 
11.  If the blackout looks to be prolonged, and if conditions so warrant it, consider the use of anchors, and call
relevant manpower.

12.  A concise and chronological recording of events in the Deck Operations Log is required.

13.  Following due consultation with the Engine Room, put the telegraph back to the stop position since it will
require resetting for Bridge Control functions. Engine Room Control may be required.

14.  Any tank entry must be immediately suspended and the work permit cancelled until the situation is resolved –
all other work permits must be reviewed and action taken if so required.

Actions in the Engine Room - In the event of a blackout the following procedure should be adopted.

1.     If other engineers are not in attendance, summon assistance by sounding the Engineers’ Alarm.

2.     After a black out, the ‘next stand by’ Aux. Engine should automatically run up and connect to the main
switchboard. If it does not, refer below for details of how to run up and connect machines manually.

3.     All major pumps should be re-started automatically by the sequence restart system, allowing main engine to be
reset and restart.

4.     Immediately after a power is restored, check that the following have re-started via the sequence restart
system:-

a)     Main Engine and Generator Fuel Oil Supply Pump               

b)    Main Engine and Generator Fuel Oil Circ Pump                    

c)     Main Engine Lub Oil Pump                                                  

d)    Main Engine Cooling FW Pump                                                   

e)     Aux’y Cooling SW Pump                                                               

f)     Main Cooling SW Pump                                                                 

5.     Then, check that other pumps for Main Engine services have re-started.

6.     Should the sequence restart not function correctly, principal pumps etc can be re-started by using local control.

7.     If at sea, contact the Bridge and get Engine Telegraph put to ‘Stop’. The Main Engine can then be reset and
started

8.     The following equipment is to be re-started or reset manually as required:-

a)     Purifiers.

b)    Air Conditioning Compressor and Fans

c)     Fridge Compressors.

d)    Domestic Fresh Water Pumps

e)     E.R. vent fans, Purifier room exhaust fan, Paint Store Vent Fan.

F ) BWTS
g)    Air Compressors

h)     Sewage Plant

i)      Incinerator

j)     Hydraulic system for cargo / ballast valves.

k)    ICCP and MGPS

l)    24V battery charger (Bridge)

m)    Auxiliary Boiler

n)     Air Conditioning in ER Control Room, Galley& MSB room

o)      Fire, Bilge, and GS Pumps

If automatic control of the generators is unavailable the following manual procedure should be adopted :-

1.     Start the engine locally using the air start facility next to the engine governor. Check operating parameters are
nominal.

2.     At the main switchboard:-

a)     Change the ‘Generator Mode Control’ switch to ‘ Main switchboard’.

b)     Turn the synchronising switch to the required machine.

c)     Manually synchronise the incoming machine using the governor speeder motor control switch.

d)     When synchronism is achieved close the machine’s GCB.

 INSTRUCTIONS FOR OPERATING THE EMERGENCY GENERATOR

Under normal conditions, if the ship blacks out then the Emergency Generator will automatically start and
Emergency Switchboard comes on load. If it does not then it must be started manually. In all cases it is assumed that
the Engine is ready to start – fuel and water etc are checked on a weekly basis.

• Emergency generator should be easily start able at zero degree and if the temp is below this heating
arrangement should be provided.

• Should have automatic starting system

Primary and Secondary(Battery Set)
- should be charged fully at all times.
- Capable of providing 3 consecutive starts.

- Additional set of battery and starting motor kept as spare in case trouble with existing one

• Emergency generator comes on load automatically within 20s after the failure of main power supply.
 MANUAL STARTING/STOPPING PROCEDURE OF EMERGENCY GENERATOR

• CHECK LUB OIL LEVEL IN THE SUMP.

• CHECK THE COOLING WATER LEVEL OF THE RADIATOR.

• CHECK THE DO TANK LEVEL AND THE SUCTION VALVE IN OPEN POSITION .

• CHECK THE BATTERY SELECTOR SWITCH TO BE IN NO1 OR NO2 BATTERY.

• PUT ON THE EMERGENCY GENERATOR AUTO START CONTROL PANEL SWITCH OVER FROM AUTO TO
MANUAL MODE .

• PRESS START BUTTON (GREEN COLOUR). EMERGENCY GENERATOR WILL START.

• CHECK THE LO PRESSURE, JCW PRESSURE, LO TEMPERATURE , JCW TEMPERATURE, RPM, FREQUENCY,
VOLTAGE.

• . PRESS THE STOP BUTTON ON THE CONTROL PANEL EMERGENCY GENERATOR WILL STOP.

• ONCE THE ENGINE STOP SOLENOID COMES BACK TO NORMAL POSITION PRESS THE AUTO BUTTON, THE
EMERGENCY GENERATOR WILL BE IN AUTO STAND BY MODE.

AUTO STARTING/STOPPING PROCEDURE OF EMERGENCY GENERATOR

1. CHECK THE EMERGENCY GENERATOR TO BE ON AUTO MODE IN THE CONTROL PANEL.

2. PRESS THE PERIODIC TEST BUTTON EMERGENCY SWITCHBOARD PANEL.

3. THE EMERGENCY GENERATOR WILL AUTOMATICALLY START AND COME IN LOAD WITHIN 45 SEC.

4. CHECK THE LO PRESSURE, JCW PRESSURE, LO TEMPERATURE , JCW TEMPERATURE, RPM, FREQUENCY,
VOLTAGE & LOAD.

5. PRESS THE STOP BUTTON ON THE CONTROL PANEL THE EMERGENCY GENERATOR WILL OFF LOAD AND
THEN STOP IT.

6. PRESS AUTO MODE BUTTON AND KEEP IN AUTO STBY MODE.

LIST OF ESSENTIAL EQUIPMENT CONNECTED WITH EMERGENCY GENERATOR

• Emergency air compressor.

• Emergency fire pump.

• Emergency lights.

• Emergency steering gear motor.

• Emergency alarms.

• Communication.

• Water tight doors.

• E/R ventilation fan.

• Necessary machineries for starting one Generator( DO Pump, LO priming pump).

• Cargo Hold Smoke Detection Alarm System.

• Rescue boat, Life boat.

• Hyper mist System.

• Navigation lights.

• Battery charging board.

• Compressor for air breathing apparatus.

• E/R control console.

• Bridge control console.

• Cargo control console.

• Remote control valves.

• Nautical equipments.

• Emergency lighting distribution panel.

• GMDSS radio console.

• Battery charger for emergency generator.

• Fire detector and alarm panel.