Engine control room
The engine control room (MKR) serves as a mechanical engineering center on ships, in which all relevant technical information converges for monitoring and control.
history
The MKR's predecessor of machine-driven ships was the control stand , from which the drive motor or the drive turbine was driven. The signals of the driving status (stop, caution, forward small speed, half speed, full speed or reverse) were transmitted from the bridge with the bridge telegraph and confirmed at the control station with the machine telegraph. The most important displays (pressures and temperatures) of the main propulsion system were also visible on the control stand. Other important displays and alarm information relating to technical ship operations were located nearby. A desk for documenting the maneuvers (maneuver diary) and the most important machine-technical data (machine diary) was in close range, as was the telephone in a soundproof box. The machine operation was operated and monitored every four hours from this control stand by the ship's engineers (the respective watch engineers) and his assistant ship's engineers (Assi). In the area operation with machine maneuvers, the machine telegraph was operated by another assistant who also documented the maneuvers with time information.
With automation came the MKR
As automation progressed , the operator's platform was relocated to a closed, soundproofed and air-conditioned room, known as the machine control room, or MKR for short. In addition, the control panel of the electrical system was integrated. In addition to the electrical switchboard with the operating elements and display instruments for the generator sets and the large electrical consumers, the MKR also includes a long machine console. This contains the displays and alarm information of the technical ship operation including the main propulsion system, the auxiliary machines and steam boilers ( exhaust gas boiler and auxiliary boiler). The documentation of malfunctions, alarms and maneuvers takes place automatically (maneuver, fault value and maneuver printer) as well as the documentation of the most important machine-technical data. The telephones are also located in the machine console. The MKR is also equipped with a refrigerator, coffee maker, table and chairs. Books on operating and repairing the machines, plans of the machine-technical systems and electrical circuit diagrams are on the shelves.
Since most modern ships are now driven fully automatically in the engine area, the engine room and the MKR are not manned at night. One speaks of "guard-free operation" and the necessary maintenance and overhaul work is carried out during the day in what is known as "day duty". An exception is the area operation when entering ports or crossing canals or rivers. The MKR is then manned by the machine personnel in order to be able to react quickly to malfunctions or to be able to carry out switching processes manually if necessary.
literature
- Klaus Bösche, Karl-Heinz Hochhaus, Herwig Pollem: Steamers, Diesel and Turbines - The World of Ship Engineers, Convent Verlag, Hamburg 2005; ISBN 3934613853
- Meier-Peter, Bernhardt, Frank (Eds.): Handbuch Schiffsbetriebstechnik, 2006 Seehafen-verlag, Hamburg ( ISBN 3-87743-816-4 )