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To: EngineDad

No obviously it was just more damage than one would be lead to believe by saying one engine out of 6 like the others still worked not the case Thanks for your input


53 posted on 11/11/2010 3:03:16 PM PST by al baby (Hi Mom REMEMBER FREE REPUBLIC IN YOUR WILL. I DID)
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To: al baby
Actually, it was obvious to anyone who has spent time in an engine room.

Even a small fire in an engine room can get out of control quick. The heat from the fire causes all the paint to burn, wires melt, automation controls melt, gaskets in the oil and fuel lines burn away - literally adding fuel to the fire. Fighting an engine room fire is like fighting a fire in the dark. The ventilation system get secured to prevent the fire from spreading and the area fills with black smoke. Most ships only carry the minimum fire fighting equipment required by their flag state.

As far as 1 out of 6 engines go, they are probably all in the same vicinity and when one burned up, the fire spread rapidly and the rest went as well. The 6 engines were most likely generators providing power for propulsion motors and the electricity used everywhere else. Cruise ships are designed to have as small an engine room as possible to allow the vessel to carry as many passengers as possible, thus increased profits.

I've seen crankcase doors blown across an engine room due to a crankcase explosion. It is literally an explosion with fire ball and all. When that happens, it is the luck of the draw whether a fire is started or not.

I sailed Chief on ships with 60,000 plus horsepower. The diameter on one piston is 98 centimeters (3 ft). Most marine engines are large. Those who have not sailed or have not seen one can have a hard time visualizing the size of them. One 12 cylinder slow speed engine can be the size of a small town house unit.

so yeah, it was obvious...

58 posted on 11/11/2010 4:43:05 PM PST by EngineDad
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