04 Maintenance

Maintenance
Much of the work of the Deck Department on board

a ship concerns the maintenance of the ship and her
fittings. This is the responsibility of the Chief Officer.
He and the men in his charge must protect the ship
from the damaging effects of salt water, changes in
temperature and the action of waves.
The principal material used in building a ship is mild

steel, and steel of different types is used for making
most fittings and equipment. Unfortunately, steel
under-goes a chemical change known as rusting when
in contact with air, water or salt solutions. This causes
the metal to deteriorate rapidly, unless some form of
protection is given.
To try and prevent this corrosion, the metal is coated

with cement wash, bitumen and paint. Cement wash
is a mixture of cement powder and fresh water. It is
used in freshwater tanks and double bottom tanks.
Bitumen is used in bilges and peak tanks. It is also
used on metal decks before they are sheathed with
wood.
However, the principal protective coating is paint.

There are many types of paint available nowadays
in a wide variety of colours and it is no longer
necessary for the Boatswain to mix his own. Paints
are stowed in the paint locker, which is usually
situated under the forecastle head.
The most common kinds of paint found on board

ship are as follows: metal primers, which are
applied to a bare surface to give protection against
rust and to act as a key to the next coat;
undercoats, which are used over the primer before
the top coat; top coats, which provide a hardwearing surface and give the required colour; heatresistant paints for radiators and pipes and for the
ship's funnel; non-slip paints for use on weather
decks and other suitable surfaces such as
companion-ways; and varnishes to give a clear
protective coat to woodwork. For painting, the
surface of a ship's hull is divided into three distinct
areas: the topside, boot-topping and bottom.
For painting, the surface of a ship's

hull is divided into three distinct
areas: the topside, boot-topping and
bottom.
Topside paint is supplied in the company's colours

or in light grey, if the vessel is a warship. It is
applied to the area of the ship's hull which is out of
the water when the ship is loaded. Boot-topping is
applied to that area of the hull which is out of the
water when the ship is in the light condition and
under water when the ship is loaded.
A ship's bottom is given a coating of antifouling paint. Anti-fouling paints contain

toxicants which are poisonous to marine life.
The toxicants have to dissolve out of the
paint into the surrounding water in order to
be effective.
Before an area can be repainted, proper

preparation is essential. The area must be
cleaned and washed with a cleaning solution to
remove all salt, dirt and oil. The paintwork must
then be rinsed with clean fresh water and all
trace of the cleaning solution removed.
Loose paint and scale is removed

with a scraper and any heavy rust
with a chipping hammer. Finally, a
wire brush should be used on all bare
metal to remove the last of the scale,
before the first coat of paint is
applied.
GRAMMAR
(A) Noun compounds
Compounds are common in technical writing. They
provide a way of creating new words to describe
new objects and processes. They also permit a
very condensed form of writing.
Here are three forms of noun compound.
Noun + noun
compounds are formed as follows:
A ship for cargo A for B
becomes a cargo ship B A
Many different kinds of relationship are possible

in such noun + noun compounds. Some more
are listed below:
A of B
A with/has B
A contains B
A made of /from B
A in/on/at B
A operated by B
A shaped like B
A uses B
A invented by B
e.g. The cover of a cylinder - The cylinder cover

e.g. Water with salt in it => Salt water
e.g. The house contains the wheel - The
wheelhouse
e.g. Wire made of copper - Copper wire
e.g. The plate at the back - The back plate
e.g. A pump operated by hand => A hand pump
e.g. A nut shaped like a butterfly A butterfly nut
e.g. A turbine driven by steam => A steam
turbine
e.g. Calipers invented by Vernier => Vernier
calipers
Exercise 1.
Try and identify the relationships in the
following compounds:
a needle valve
carbon steel
a petrol tank
a wire rope
corner bolts
a foot pump
floor plates
a MacGregor hatch
a diesel engine
a container ship
2. Present participle + noun compounds are formed

as follows:
valves which regulate - regulating valves
water which cools - cooling water
Past participle + noun compounds are formed as follows:
bolts which have been fitted => fitted bolts
iron which has been cast
=> cast iron
air which has been compressed ..
oil which is used for lubricating..
ropes which are used for mooring
a joint which has been riveted
a surface which has been machined..
oil which has been heated.
air which is used for scavenging
a joint which has been welded
rags which are used for cleaning
(B) Purpose links

Purpose for doing something can be expressed in several
ways.
1. By using the infinitive
e.g. He went to college to study engineering.
2. By using so as
e.g. He worked hard so as to pass his exams. The ship
docked in order to take on fuel. He ran so as not to be late.
3.By using so that (can/could +infinitive { will/would.
shall/should)
(This is used when the person to whom the purpose refers
is mentioned.)
e.g. The captain looked through his binoculars so that he
could see more clearly. He ran so that he would not be late.
Exercise 1.
Use your imagination to complete these
sentences to show the purpose for the
action:
Ships carry lifeboats.

Engines must be regularly serviced..
He opened the window
Safety valves are fitted.
Ships are taken on sea trials..
Goggles should be worn ..............
He set his alarm clock..
Warships are painted grey .

04 Maintenance

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Maintenance

Much of the work of the Deck Department on board

The principal material used in building a ship is mild

To try and prevent this corrosion, the metal is coated

However, the principal protective coating is paint.

The most common kinds of paint found on board

For painting, the surface of a ship's

Topside paint is supplied in the company's colours

A ship's bottom is given a coating of antifouling paint. Anti-fouling paints contain

Before an area can be repainted, proper

Loose paint and scale is removed

Many different kinds of relationship are possible

e.g. The cover of a cylinder - The cylinder cover

2. Present participle + noun compounds are formed

(B) Purpose links

Ships carry lifeboats.

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