Question 1

What is the purpose of an anti-heeling (active ballast) system fitted to some vessels such as RoRo or offshore vessels, and what inputs does it typically use to operate automatically?

Accepted Answer

It actively transfers ballast water (or compressed air over ballast tanks) between port and starboard tanks to counteract or reduce a list, using inclinometer/heel-angle sensors as the primary input to detect and correct unwanted heel during cargo or ballast operations Anti-heeling systems are particularly common on RoRo and ConRo vessels, where cargo loading/discharge (vehicles driving on/off, or container operations) can rapidly create a list. The system uses heel-angle sensors (inclinometers) to detect even small angles of list and automatically transfers ballast water between paired port/starboard tanks (sometimes assisted by blowing air over the tanks to speed the transfer) to keep the vessel close to upright during cargo operations, improving safety, crew comfort, and ease of cargo handling (e.g. ramps and lashings). It is an active, automatically controlled system, distinct from passive devices like bilge keels (which reduce rolling but do not correct list) and from stabiliser fins (which reduce rolling underway but are not used to correct static list). A chief officer should know how the system is configured, its capacity, its alarms, and what to do if it fails or if a list develops faster than the system can correct.

Question 2

You're draining a thermal oil system that was running normally a short time ago. Before opening the drain point, what should you confirm?

Accepted Answer

That the system has cooled and depressurised, and you are positioned clear of the drain point's discharge path On the dredger MV Amazone, two crew members draining a thermal oil system after months of contamination were sprayed with hot oil, suffering severe burns. The investigation found company procedures lacked clear instructions for safe drainage — confirming the system has cooled and depressurised, and standing clear of the discharge path, are essential before opening any drain point on a hot oil system.

Question 3

A thermal oil system has been contaminated and needs draining for cleaning. The written procedure tells you to open the drain valve but doesn't specify a cooling-down period or PPE. What should you do?

Accepted Answer

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 The FEBIMA investigation into the MV Amazone incident found that although the crew followed company procedures, those procedures lacked clear instructions for safely draining a thermal oil system. A procedure that's silent on cooling time and PPE for a hazardous task is a gap to be closed before the job starts — not a green light to skip those precautions.