Bursting of Boilers and Breakage of Shafts

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Bursting of Boilers and Breakage of Shafts
IUMI Singapore Conference September 2004 John
Lillie Managing Director The Salvage Association
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Early machinery damage
When was machinery added to hull?

• Causes of early machinery damage
• Boundaries of 19th Century materials technology.
• Increasing pressure in boilers and power in
  engines.
• When the tail shafts broke, vessels sank.
• When boilers burst people died, vessels often
  sank too.
• Rudder loss was a frequent cause of vessels
  foundering.

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Typical Modern Slow Speed Engine
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Steam Turbine Engine
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Rapid change in recent times

• Larger engines
• Cheapest fuel
• Drive for efficiency
• Reduction of ships staff
• Reduction of skills

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Particular Average Losses
By Number
By Cost
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PA Numbers by Claim Range
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Engine Room Casualties Number Basis
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Engine Room Casualties Cost Basis
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ER Machinery PA Losses By Number Cost
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Dismantling a Main Engine
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Access cut in ships side to remove engine parts
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Temperature comparison between two engine exhaust
pipes
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Remote temperature measurement
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What can happen when engines breakdown