Maritime Knowledge Base
Browse questions and answers across marine machinery, merchant navy careers, shipboard operations and maritime glossary terms.
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Marine Machinery
Troubleshooting guides for pumps, boilers, purifiers, compressors and auxiliary systems.
Merchant Navy Careers
Questions about joining the merchant navy, exams, cadetships, ranks and sea-time.
Maritime Glossary
Plain-English definitions of shipping, engine-room, navigation and regulatory terms.
Shipboard Operations
Practical Q&A for watchkeeping, safety, maintenance routines and onboard documentation.
Results for "Governor"
What is a governor on a marine engine and what does it do?
A governor automatically controls an engine's speed by adjusting the fuel supply to match the load, keeping the engine at the required revolutions or a generator at constant frequency.
Marine MachineryWhy won't two generators share load equally when running in parallel?
When paralleled generators fail to share load evenly, the fault lies in the governor and speed settings for active power, or the excitation for reactive power.
Marine MachineryWhy won't the main engine start on air?
A main engine that turns on air but will not fire, or will not turn at all, points to a short list of common causes across the starting-air, fuel and control systems.
Merchant Navy CareersHow do you become an electro-technical officer (ETO)?
Becoming an ETO means entering the engine department through an electrical or electronic background, completing approved training and sea service, and gaining the STCW electro-technical officer certificate.
Marine MachineryWhat is a shaft generator and why is it used?
A shaft generator produces electrical power by being driven from the main engine or propeller shaft, so the ship can meet its electrical needs at sea without running separate auxiliary generators.
Marine MachineryWhat is a reduction gearbox on a ship and why is it used?
A reduction gearbox lowers the high rotational speed of a medium- or high-speed engine to the slower speed that turns an efficient propeller, and can combine several engines onto one shaft.
