[OldWarBaby]

One more tidbit on that whole “sea chest” question: ships that run on steam turbines have really big ones usually called the “main coolant sea chest.” Nukes use a lot of seawater for their condenser. And if they sit dockside , shut down for awhile, it becomes a “fish chest.”

[LonePalm]

Just before I reported, my first ship returned from a UNITAS (around South America) Cruise. Off of Ecuador, they ran through a MASSIVE shoal of anchovies. These weren't the little ones you put on pizza but the larger ones, about 5 inches.

Needless to say the main condenser did what it does best and sucked up sea water containing said anchovies. They plugged every single condenser tube. This crashed the steam system. Fortunately the ship's service diesel generator came on line. They could then bring back one boiler enough to roll a steam turbine generator.

They had to close the main coolant inlet and outlet valves so they could clean out the condenser tubes with a steam lance. I'm told it took six hours to do.

We deployed to the Med six months later and you could still get an occasional whiff of steamed anchovy in the main engine room.

WWG1WGA

Garde la Foi, mes amis! Nous nous sommes les sauveurs de la République! Maintenant et Toujours!
(Keep the Faith, my friends! We are the saviors of the Republic! Now and Forever!)
LonePalm, le Républicain du verre cassé (The Broken Glass Republican)