b. VLCC Ballast pump capacity and total electric generating capacity
Regarding VLCC's electric power generating capacity, the total capacity is determined by demand during cargo discharging conditions, and the main factor is the ballast pump's total head and loading capacity.
When planning the newbuilding of VLCCs at two different major shipyards almost simultaneously, the ships required similar equipment such as the gravity ballast system and a plan of loading/unloading calculations but a different capacity ballast pump was installed and it gave rise to a difference in the generator's rating. The differential design points were adjusted and finally united with the same generating capacity, but confusion still remained. This is a good example that standardization of specifications and designs should also be considered at the design stage.
c. Intermediate Shaft Bearing ─ Burn Damage
In a very recent example, burn damage was reported on the intermediate shaft bearing which was caused by human factor. Taking into consideration the probability of burn damage between the forced lubrication systems, from the viewpoint of design conditions, we are going to apply a self lubrication system on the intermediate shaft bearing as a basic design policy.
