In the maritime industry, ship maintenance is a big part of the operational costs. Almost all ship owners follow a certain schedule to maintain and regulate the maintenance of their marine vessels. Investing in a shipping vessel is a big-time investment. But to ensure that you gain profits from your purchase, you must keep your vessel in top condition. Before you start looking at fast ferries for sale, it is important to understand the basics of ship maintenance. Ships are made of complex machinery that needs regular maintenance to have a long life. Below, let us take a closer look at the ship maintenance programs.
Types of Ship Maintenance
Corrective or Breakdown Maintenance
Corrective maintenance is carried out when machinery or equipment breaks down. It aims to make the most out of the broken parts to prevent a total machinery failure. The objective is to avoid any emergency situations. Sudden breakdowns in a ship can be dangerous. Corrective maintenance might turn out to be costly if the breakdown causes damage to other parts of the ship too. This is why regular inspection is better advised.
Preventive or Scheduled Maintenance
Preventive maintenance, also known as Planned Maintenance System, runs as per a pre-determined schedule. This could be either based on the running hours of the ship such as 4000 hours or 8000 hours, or it could be periodic intervals like 6 months or 12 months. The maintenance is carried out as per schedule, irrespective of the condition of the machinery. Machinery parts are periodically replaced as per schedule, even if they are fully functional. The objective here is to prevent any potential damage and taking precautionary measures to avoid it.
Condition Maintenance
Machinery parts are inspected regularly to check their working condition. In case any faults are found, maintenance is done accordingly to repair or replace the malfunctioning equipment. This type of maintenance requires experienced specialists as a wrong interpretation of the machinery condition could lead to serious damage.
Why Choose Preventive Maintenance System for your Ship?
Prevents any emergencies
Periodic maintenance and the regular inspection of machinery parts can help prevent any major breakdowns in your ship vessel. When the equipment is monitored regularly, it allows crew members to better predict the life cycle of certain parts and let them be ready for replacements.
Protects the on-board crew
Many times, injuries or accidents happen due to faulty equipment. Fully functional machinery ensures the safety and protection of your crew members. Preventive maintenance checks minimize the chances of an accident or injury.
Saves fuel energy
Any machinery that is not up to its full operational capacity has to work extra harder to successfully perform its function. And on a large ship, the equipment has to keep running to keep the vessel moving. In terms of fuel consumption, machinery working overtime consumes a lot more energy. This can even increase the ship’s operating costs. Preventive maintenance system ensures all machinery is kept in optimal working condition.
Extends life of the equipment
Ship owners need to protect their machinery and equipment to the best of their ability to ensure a long and productive life for their maritime vessels. Preventive maintenance carries out routine inspections on all your equipment to keep them working effectively for a long time.
Conclusion
For anyone considering a purchase of fast ferries for sale, it is important to carry out a vessel inspection to find out if the equipment is in good condition or not. Contact Norwegian Ship Sales for a consult.
