Exam Question
Sketch and describe a "fail safe steering gear" suitable for use on a tanker of more than 1000,000 T. DWT. Explain the sequence of events that take place when an oil leak takes place in one of the hydraulic pipelines. (16)
Class 2 (2nd Engineer)
MEKG
📅 Oct 2024
Reference Answer
### **1. Introduction and Regulatory Framework**
For a tanker exceeding 1,000,000 T. DWT, the steering gear must comply with the stringent requirements of SOLAS Chapter II-1, Regulations 29 and 30. These regulations mandate a highly reliable, redundant, and fail-safe system. The most suitable and commonly installed system for such a vessel is the **four-ram electro-hydraulic steering gear** with two independent power units. This design ensures that steering capability is maintained even after a single failure in the hydraulic system, and for tankers over 100,000 DWT, steering must be recoverable within 45 seconds following a hydraulic pipeline failure.
### **2. System Description: Four-Ram Electro-Hydraulic Steering Gear**
This system is a Rapson-Slide type gear, providing high torque and reliability.
For a tanker exceeding 1,000,000 T. DWT, the steering gear must comply with the stringent requirements of SOLAS Chapter II-1, Regulations 29 and 30. These regulations mandate a highly reliable, redundant, and fail-safe system. The most suitable and commonly installed system for such a vessel is the **four-ram electro-hydraulic steering gear** with two independent power units. This design ensures that steering capability is maintained even after a single failure in the hydraulic system, and for tankers over 100,000 DWT, steering must be recoverable within 45 seconds following a hydraulic pipeline failure.
### **2. System Description: Four-Ram Electro-Hydraulic Steering Gear**
This system is a Rapson-Slide type gear, providing high torque and reliability.
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