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 "Suction valve"
Why does a marine centrifugal pump lose suction or stop pumping?
A centrifugal pump that loses suction has usually lost its prime or drawn in air — the causes lie in air leaks, blocked suctions, low levels and cavitation.
Marine MachineryWhy won't my marine air compressor build pressure?
A first-principles check for a compressor that runs but won't build pressure — valves, unloader, leaks, rings and cooling.
Marine MachineryWhat is cavitation in pumps and propellers?
Cavitation is the forming and violent collapse of vapour bubbles in a liquid when local pressure falls too low — it erodes metal, causes noise and vibration, and reduces efficiency.
Marine MachineryWhy is my marine fuel pump showing low pressure?
A structured checklist for low fuel-pump pressure — suction restrictions, air ingress, relief valves, worn elements and viscosity — before you touch the set point.
Marine MachineryWhy is my main engine jacket cooling water temperature high?
Working through high jacket-water temperature — flow, the cooler, the sea and central-cooling side, thermostats, air locks and load.
Marine MachineryWhy is the main engine lubricating oil pressure low?
Low lubricating oil pressure is a serious alarm that threatens the bearings — the cause is usually in the pump, the filters, the oil itself, or a leak.
Marine MachineryHow does a ship's refrigeration plant work?
A marine refrigeration plant uses the vapour-compression cycle to move heat out of provision rooms or cargo spaces, keeping food and cargo cold at sea.
Marine MachineryHow does a marine centrifugal pump work?
A centrifugal pump moves liquid by spinning it with an impeller, which throws the liquid outward and converts its speed into pressure — the most common type of pump aboard ship.
