An auxiliary generator engine is "hunting" — its speed oscillates up and down rather than settling at a steady RPM, even though the load is stable. What system is most likely at fault, and what is the underlying issue?

A. Hunting is a normal characteristic of all diesel generators under any load and does not indicate a fault

B. The governor is most likely at fault — hunting is typically caused by an incorrectly adjusted or faulty governor (mechanical linkage wear, incorrect droop/sensitivity settings, or a fault in an electronic governor's control loop) causing it to overcorrect for small speed deviations, creating an oscillating cycle rather than settling

C. Hunting is always caused by low fuel oil pressure and is resolved by purging the fuel system

D. Hunting indicates the generator circuit breaker has tripped

A. Only that the pump has been switched off

B. That the engine logbook has been updated first

C. Nothing extra — thermal oil drains are routine and can be opened immediately

D. That the system has cooled and depressurised, and you are positioned clear of the drain point's discharge path

A. Treat the gap as a hazard in its own right: apply a suitable cooling/depressurising period and full PPE before proceeding, and raise the procedure gap with the Chief Engineer

B. Delegate the task to a junior rating without further briefing, since the procedure covers it

C. Skip the task until a class surveyor is on board

D. Follow the procedure exactly as written — if it doesn't mention cooling or PPE, they're not required