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  • Q 15ppm Bilge Alarms Simple to Install?

    A UC Marine's 15ppm bilge alarm is compact and simple to install as a replacement for most old 15ppm alarms. The ship's crew can normally do it in less than an hour.
  • Q Rules and Regulations for 15 ppm Bilge Alarms?

    A According to MARPOL Annex I, ships of 400 gross tonnage and above must be fitted with a bilge water separator, and on ships of 10000 gross tonnage and above the bilge water separator must additionally be fitted with a 15 ppm bilge alarm. However, ships between 400 and 10000 gross tonnage are also required to have the 15ppm alarm in order to be allowed to operate the bilge water separator when the ship is in one of the following "Special Areas" as defined by MARPOL.
  • Q What is Line Samplers Standards?

    A Line samplers are compliant with IMO MARPOL 73/78 Annex VI helping you to stay within the legal requirements for bunker fuel sampling.
  • Q How to Select the Correct Size of Drip Type Bunker Sampler?

    A
    A = Pitch Circle Diameter;
    B = Nominal Pipe Size;
    C = Bolt Hole Diameter;
    Calculation : X = A-C : Select the nearest size Bunker Sampler with an OD smaller than X and an inner diameter larger than the Nominal Pipe Size (B). 
    Example : Pitch Circle Diameter (A) = 290 mm Bolt Hole Diameter (C) = 23 mm Nominal Pipe Size (B) = 200 mm: (X) 267 =  290 (A) - 23 (C) 
  • Q Several Fuel Oil Sampling Methods?

    A
    The sample should be obtained by one of the following methods:
    1.Manual valve-setting continuous-drip sampler;
    2.Time-proportional automatic sampler;
    3.Flow-proportional automatic sampler.
  • Q What requirements should the sampling point meet?

    A
    According to the IMO guidelines, this sampling point should comply with all the following requirements:
    *be easily and safely accessible;
    *take into account the different fuel oil grades used for the fuel oil combustion machinery item;
    *be downstream of the in-use fuel oil service tank;
    *be as close to the fuel oil combustion machinery as safely feasible taking into account the type of fuel oil, flow-rate, temperature, and pressure behind the selected sampling point;
    *be located in a position shielded from any heated surfaces or electrical equipment and the shielding device or construction should be sturdy enough to endure leaks, splashes or spray under design pressure of the fuel oil supply line so as to preclude impingement of fuel oil onto such surface or equipment; and
    *be fitted with suitable drainage to the drain tank or other safe location.
  • Q Effects of Contaminants in the Fuel?

    A Oxides of nitrogen are formed when the nitrogen in the fuel, and some of the nitrogen in the air combines with the oxygen present during combustion in the heat of the combustion process. The quantity of NOx produced is dependent on the temperature and duration of combustion, and the quantity of oxygen present in the combustion space.
  • Q Importance of Fuel Oil Sampling?

    A A representative sample would be obtained by a permanent sampling probe fitted close to the bunkering manifold. The rate of sampling would ensure that a sampling quantity required is taken over the full duration of the bunkering operation. The sample container is then thoroughly mixed before being poured into new, clean containers. The containers are then sealed and signed before being sent to the shore testing facility.
  • Q What Is That Hard Scale Covering My Zinc Anodes?

    A The hard scale commonly found on the surface of zinc anodes is Zinc Carbonate (ZnCO3).  Carbonate (CO3) occurs in all bodies of water and originates from atmospheric carbon dioxide gas (CO2) naturally dissolving into the water.  In general you do not need to be concerned about this scale as it only affects the maximum output amperage of the anode, not the anode’s required trickle output necessary to maintain effective corrosion protection.  Zinc Carbonate is water insoluble, but can be readily removed by either alkalies or acids.
  • Q What Is The Best Position For Anodes On My Propeller Shafts?

    A For corrosion protection, it makes no difference where you locate your shaft anodes along the length of a propeller shaft.  Any location is perfectly fine.  However, the manufacturers of propeller shafts recommend zinc anodes be placed the distance of "one hand width" (i.e., 4 inches) in front of the aft cutlass bearing.  This ensures adequate water flow through the bearing and, secondly, minimizes the shaft anode(s) weight contributing to shaft vibration on high performance boats.
  • Q How Do I Know If My Boat Lacks Corrosion Protection?

    A The best way is to measure it.  With a silver/silver chloride reference electrode it is relatively easy to get highly accurate voltage readings from all your underwater metals and determine if they are corroding or not.
  • Q Where Do You Generally Place Sacrificial Anodes?

    A Anywhere that a metal is submerged or subject to a harsh environment, and the medium that it is exposed to requires electrons. most common areas for sacrificial anodes are found on the ships hull, ships ballast tanks, steel structural wharfs, offshore structures, and even on modern automobiles.
  • Q What Is The Difference Between Zinc And Aluminum Anodes?

    A Both are low on the electro-negativity series chart. in comparison with steel. steel is the most common metal used for ships, wharfs, offshore structures, etc..., so where there is continuing electrolysis in water (especially salt water), a dissimilar metal or Impressed current has to be present to give up (sacrificial) electrons to neutralize the current created. zinc is a little cheaper metal than aluminum and does not last as long as in the same electrolysis conditions. aluminum is more expensive, but last longer. It generally works out to be the same cost over the same duration.
  • Q What Would Happen To My Vessel If I Never Used Anodes?

    A If there are no sacrificial anodes present, the electrolysis process would still continue and would attack the weakest areas which are exposed steel areas, bead welding, and any other areas with dis-similar metals, such as around the stern gland stern tube areas.
  • Q Why Can I Not Use Lead On A Steel Ship?

    A Lead as an anode should not be used on steel because it has a much lower number on the electro-negativity chart. If reversed, then you have created a problem whereas the ship acts as the anode to protect the lead.
  • Q What Precautions Should I Take When Installing New Anodes?

    A Make sure they make good electrical contact with the metal that is being protected. Remove any paint and clean the metal surface that will be in contact with the anode. DON’T paint anodes! They can’t work if they are covered up.
  • Q When Should Sacrificial Anodes Be Replaced?

    A Anodes should be changed, at least, on an annual basis (including anodes in fresh water) or when they have corroded to half their original size.
  • Q What Factors Increase Corrosion?

    A The voltage difference between the two metals will affect the rate of corrosion. For example a stainless steel prop, which is a relatively noble metal, will cause more corrosion of a set of zincs than a bronze prop. Corrosion will increase the saltier the water is. Increasing temperature will also increase the conductivity of water and the resulting corrosion. The corrosion rate doubles with every 10 degrees Celsius (18 degrees Fahrenheit) increase in temperature. Pollution can also increase corrosion. For example, many freshwater lakes have been contaminated by acid rain, which increases the conductivity of the water and therefore corrosion rates.
  • Q What Anode Material Should I Use On My Boat?

    A
    The type of boat that you have will determine how careful you need to be. A fiberglass hull with an inboard engine will need much less protection than an aluminum hull or a boat with an aluminum sterndrive for example. Some simple guidelines:
    Inboard boats with mainly bronze and stainless metal parts can be protected using zinc or aluminum anodes. Don’t worry about overprotecting them. You are only overprotected when the weight of the anodes is so great that your boat sinks! The voltage generated by zinc or aluminum anodes will not cause any damage – no matter how much anode material is added, the maximum voltage that can be generated is the voltage of the anode itself. You could also use magnesium in freshwater locations on fiberglass-hulled boats. Be careful using magnesium on aluminum or wooden hulled boats since you can overprotect them. Steel hulls can also be overprotected to the point where excessive protection voltage rapidly lifts the paint off the hull.
  • Q What Metals Are Sacrificial Anodes Made From?

    A The three most active materials used in sacrificial anodes are zinc, aluminum and magnesium. They have different properties and uses.
    The first property to consider is their electrical potential. All metals generate a negative voltage (as compared to a reference electrode) when immersed in water. The lower – the more negative - the voltage, the more active the metal is considered to be.
    The second property that is important is the current capacity of the anode material. The anode generates a voltage difference and this drives a current between the anode and the protected metal and through the water. It’s like having a bigger battery, the more capacity you have the longer it will keep protecting. Incidentally, for a particular anode, the rate of current flow is dependant on the surface area of the anode and the longevity depends on the mass.
    The third property is Quality of the Anode Alloy.

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