The Swedish Membership has issued its newest Month-to-month Security State of affairs for October, presenting an incident of in depth foremost engine injury resulting from damaged lube oil (LO) filter.
Acontainer vessel skilled intensive foremost engine injury resulting from damaged lube oil (LO) filter candle mesh wires. Preliminary indicators appeared in mid-January (wire fragments within the sump tank strainer), adopted by repeated discoveries of mesh wires and steel fines by means of February, March, and April.
By Could, vital contamination was confirmed, with steel fragments embedded in bearings, crankpins, turbochargers, and different very important parts. Beginning late Could, the vessel went off-hire at a lay-by berth in Singapore.
Repairs centered on dismantling and cleansing main engine parts, sprucing crankshaft journals, and changing or overhauling bearings, liners, filters, pumps, and different broken elements. Delays arose primarily from the necessity for vital spares comparable to new bearing shells.
Causes
Filter candle failure – The LO auto filter candles broke (doubtlessly resulting from design, manufacturing, or dealing with points). Wire fragments circulated all through the lube oil system, inflicting bearing scratches and scoring.
Inadequate system flushing – Merely changing broken filter candles didn’t handle wire remnants that had already migrated to the sump, bearings, and pipelines.
Delayed recognition – Mesh-wire findings in January weren’t adopted by a full system test, resulting in deeper contamination over time.
Combined or unsuitable filter parts – Utilizing totally different filter manufacturers or mesh sizes might have decreased total filtration effectivity, worsening the contamination.
Finest practices
Speedy system flushing – If a filter fails or overseas particles are detected, promptly flush and clear all the LO system (piping, coolers, sump, bearings) to stop additional unfold.
Appropriate filter parts – Use filter candles that meet the engine maker’s specs. Keep away from mixing manufacturers or mesh sizes with out specific approval.
Routine situation monitoring – Conduct common lube oil evaluation, crankcase inspections, and sump checks to detect early indicators of contamination or put on.
Crew coaching & vigilance – Prepare personnel to analyze even minor indications of LO contamination, filtration or bearing points. Correct dealing with of spare filter parts can forestall injury earlier than set up.
Collaboration with makers & class – Interact the engine producer early within the troubleshooting course of to mitigate and resolve points rapidly.
Classes realized
When discussing this case please take into account that the actions taken on the time made sense for all concerned. Don’t solely decide but in addition ask why you assume these actions have been taken and will this occur in your vessel?
Does our SMS/PMS handle these dangers?
What early warning indicators may point out that filter candles or lube oil methods are compromised?
When fragments or particles are found within the lube oil system, what rapid actions ought to the crew take to reduce additional injury?
How ceaselessly ought to crankcase and sump inspections be carried out to detect contamination on the earliest stage?
What procedures ought to be adopted when changing filter candles to make sure right dealing with and stop unintended injury?
Why is a full system flush vital after any filter factor failure, and what may occur whether it is ignored?
How can common oil sampling and lab evaluation assist determine growing points within the lubrication system earlier than they escalate?
In what methods can crew members be educated to determine refined indicators of system contamination or bearing misery?
How does sustaining the proper specification and amount of spare filter parts scale back the chance of combined or unsuitable elements getting used?
Why is early communication with the engine maker vital when indicators of contamination first seem?
Primarily based on this case, what preventive methods may very well be adopted to cease related lubrication system failures sooner or later?
What rapid, actionable steps can we take from at present’s dialogue?
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Supply: The Swedish Membership
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