Section 9 Starting arrangements
Clasification Society 2024 - Version 9.40
Clasifications Register Rules and Regulations - Rules and Regulations for the Classification of Ships, July 2022 - Part 5 Main and Auxiliary Machinery - Chapter 2 Reciprocating Internal Combustion Engines - Section 9 Starting arrangements

Section 9 Starting arrangements

9.1 Dead ship condition starting arrangements

9.1.1 Means are to be provided to ensure that machinery can be brought into operation from the dead ship condition without external aid.

9.1.2 Dead ship condition for the purpose of Pt 5, Ch 2, 9.1 Dead ship condition starting arrangements 9.1.1 is to be understood to mean a condition under which the main propulsion plant, boilers and auxiliaries are not in operation. In restoring propulsion, no stored energy for starting and operating the propulsion plant is assumed to be available. Additionally, neither the main source of electrical power nor other essential auxiliaries is assumed to be available for starting and operating the propulsion plant.

9.1.3 Where the emergency source of power is an emergency generator which fully complies with the requirements of Pt 6, Ch 2 Electrical Engineering, this generator may be used for restoring operation of the main propulsion plant, boilers and auxiliaries where any power supplies necessary for engine operation are also protected to a similar level as the starting arrangements.

9.1.4 Where there is no emergency generator installed or an emergency generator does not comply with Pt 6, Ch 2 Electrical Engineering, the arrangements for bringing main and auxiliary machinery into operation are to be such that the initial charge of starting air or initial electrical power and any power supplies for engine operation can be developed on board ship without external aid. If for this purpose an emergency air compressor or an electric generator is required, these units are to be powered by a hand-starting engine or a hand-operated compressor. The arrangements for bringing main and auxiliary machinery into operation are to have capacity such that the starting energy and any power supplies for engine operation are available within 30 minutes of a dead ship condition.

9.1.5 For cargo ships of less than 500 gross tons and which are not required to comply with the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea, 1974, as amended (SOLAS 74), alternative arrangements to those specified in Pt 5, Ch 2, 9.1 Dead ship condition starting arrangements 9.1.3 or Pt 5, Ch 2, 9.1 Dead ship condition starting arrangements 9.1.4 may be proposed for consideration. Details of the alternative arrangements are to be included in the plans and details required by Table 2.1.1 Plans and particulars to be submitted and are to demonstrate that the arrangements provide for starting from the dead ship condition and are in accordance with any applicable statutory requirements of the National Authority of the country in which the ship is to be registered.

9.1.6 Reciprocating air compressors intended for starting main engines and auxiliary engines providing essential services are to comply with the requirements of Pt 5, Ch 2, 13 Air compressors.

9.2 Air receiver capacity

9.2.1 Where the main engine is arranged for air starting the total air receiver capacity is to be sufficient to provide without replenishment, not less than 12 consecutive starts of the main engine, alternating between ahead and astern if of the reversible type and not less than 6 consecutive starts if of the non-reversible type. At least two air receivers of approximately equal capacity are to be provided. For scantlings and fittings of air receivers, see Pt 5, Ch 12 Piping Design Requirements.

9.2.2 For multi-engine installations, the number of starts required for each engine are to be as follows:

  1. Two engines through common reduction gearing: 6 starts per engine for fixed pitch propeller/propellers; 3 starts per engine for controllable pitch propeller/ propellers.

  2. Three engines or more through common reduction gearing: 3 starts per engine.

9.2.3 No engine is to have fewer than 3 starts for any arrangement. For electric propulsion arrangements, a minimum of 3 starts per engine with a minimum capacity of 12 starts of the largest start air consumption engine in total are required.

9.3 Electric starting

9.3.1 Where main engines are fitted with electric starters, two batteries are to be fitted. Each battery is to be capable of starting the engines when cold and the combined capacity is to be sufficient without recharging to provide the number of starts of the main engines as required by Pt 5, Ch 2, 9.2 Air receiver capacity. In other respects batteries are to comply with the requirements of Pt 6, Ch 2, 12 Batteries.

9.3.2 Electric starting arrangements for auxiliary engines are to have two separate batteries or be supplied by separate circuits from the main engine batteries when such are provided. Where one of the auxiliary engines only is fitted with an electric starter one battery will be acceptable.

9.3.3 The combined capacity of the batteries for starting the auxiliary engines is to be sufficient for at least three starts for each engine.

9.3.4 Engine starting batteries are to be used only for the purposes of starting the engines and for the engines’ own control, alarm, monitoring and safety arrangements. Means are to be provided to ensure that the stored energy in the batteries is maintained at a level required to start the engines, as defined in Pt 5, Ch 2, 9.3 Electric starting 9.3.1 and Pt 5, Ch 2, 9.3 Electric starting 9.3.3.

9.3.5 Where engines are fitted with electric starting batteries, an alarm is to be provided for low battery charge level.

9.4 Additional requirements for electric starting for non-SOLAS cargo vessels

9.4.1 For cargo vessels of less than 500 gross tons which are not required to comply with the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea, 1974, as amended (SOLAS 74), the emergency source of electrical power may be used as one of the sources of energy required by Pt 5, Ch 2, 9.3 Electric starting 9.3.1 or Pt 5, Ch 2, 9.3 Electric starting 9.3.2 for electric starting. Where the emergency source of electrical power is an accumulator battery and it is to be used for electric starting, it is to have the additional capacity required to ensure emergency supplies are not compromised and is to be adequately protected and suitably located for use in an emergency.

9.5 Starting of the emergency source of power

9.5.1 Emergency generators are to be capable of being readily started in their cold conditions down to a temperature of 0°C. If this is impracticable, or if lower temperatures are likely to be encountered, consideration is to be given to the provision and maintenance of heating arrangements, so that ready starting will be assured.

9.5.2 Each emergency generator that is arranged to be automatically started is to be equipped with an approved starting system having two independent sources of stored energy, each of which is sufficient for at least three consecutive starts. When hand (manual) starting is demonstrated to be effective, only one source of stored energy need be provided. However, this source of stored energy is to be protected against depletion below the level required for starting.

9.5.3 Provision is to be made to maintain continuously the stored energy at all times, and for this purpose:

  1. Electrical and hydraulic starting systems are to be maintained from the emergency switchboard.

  2. Compressed air starting systems may be maintained by the main or auxiliary compressed air receivers, through a suitable non-return valve, or by an emergency air compressor energised by the emergency switchboard.

  3. All these starting, charging and energy storing devices are to be located in the emergency generator room. These devices are not to be used for any purpose other than the operation of the emergency generator.

9.5.4 When automatic starting is not required by the Rules and where it can be demonstrated as being effective, hand (manual) starting is permissible, such as manual cranking, inertial starters, manual hydraulic accumulators, powder charge cartridges.

9.5.5 When hand (manual) starting is not practicable, the provisions under Pt 5, Ch 2, 9.5 Starting of the emergency source of power 9.5.2 and Pt 5, Ch 2, 9.5 Starting of the emergency source of power 9.5.3 are to be complied with except that starting may be manually initiated.

9.5.6 Electric starting arrangements are also to satisfy Pt 5, Ch 2, 9.3 Electric starting 9.3.2 to Pt 5, Ch 2, 9.3 Electric starting 9.3.5.

9.6 Engine control, alarm monitoring and safety system power supplies

9.6.1 Power supplies are to be arranged so that power for electrically powered control, alarm, monitoring and safety systems required for engine starting and operation will remain available in the event of a failure. Power is to remain available to permit starting attempts for the number of starts specified by this Section for each individual source of stored energy.

9.6.2 Where adequate battery and charging capacity exists, an engine starting battery may be used as one source of electrical power required by Pt 5, Ch 2, 9.6 Engine control, alarm monitoring and safety system power supplies 9.6.1.

9.6.3 An alarm is to be activated in the event of failure of a power supply and, where applicable, low battery charge level. Manual power supply changeover facilities are permitted.


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