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Engine failures on new ships hits 'shocking' high
Casualty statistics indicate that at over 40%, machinery damage is the largest category of incidents, although it only represents 19% of the cost of claims.
A shocking number of damages to engines, often aboard new ships, indicate that machinery systems are not becoming more reliable, the president of the Society of Consulting Marine Engineers and Ship Surveyors has complained.
Speaking in London on “man’s inhumanity to machines” at a meeting of the International Institute of Marine Surveying, John Lillie suggested that “the drive for capital cost reduction, operational efficiency, fuel economy and environmental acceptability have allowed the computer generated engine to become a reality without taking into account the failure of humans to perform like machines”.
Breakdowns are a serious problem even with ships of less than five years old, said Mr Lillie, who pointed out that even if the machinery performs well when new, it will be unlikely to survive the ship changing hands, and the eventual “ownership spiral” as the vessel is sold on.
Nearly 10% of main engine damages, said Mr Lillie, happen to new ships, with the quality of many newly delivered engines leaving much to be desired.
He was particularly critical of the quality of workmanship and materials provided by sub-contractors in China and elsewhere, which represented, he said “a worrying trend”.
Managing director of the general marine and surveying consultancy JSL Marine Associates, Mr Lillie is a member of a risk assessment group within the London marine insurance market which, he said, was “trying to change attitudes”.
Casualty statistics indicate that at over 40%, machinery damage is the largest category of incidents, although it only represents 19% of the cost of claims.
He had asked 50 surveyors around the world to send him details of damages they has attended during a two month period. ve ships vulnerable, with little system redundancy, and inevitable problems when ships change hands.
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