The report is written in a formal report/letter style addressed to the Superintendent.

Report to Superintendent Engineer

From: Second Engineer Officer, M.V. [Vessel]

Re: Conversion of engine room to Unattended Machinery Space (UMS) classification - essential requirements

I have reviewed the requirements for operating the vessel's engine room in the UMS (unattended) mode and list the essential requirements for UMS classification and the additional work required.

Essential system requirements for UMS classification

• Comprehensive engine room alarm and monitoring system: a centralised alarm panel/bridge console with audible and visual alarms for all essential parameters (engine lube oil pressure/temperature, FW/jacket cooling, sea water, fuel oil, scavenge, turbocharger lube, piston cooling, air/bilge, electrical supplies), with a chief and duty engineer alarm (in cabin/recreation area) and a watch alarm system.
• Automatic/remote control of the main engine from the bridge with emergency stop and remote controls, and a "fault oil/emergency" bridge control; automatic starting/stopping and a start-air system.
• Automatic functions: automatic fuel change-over (heavy oil/light oil) and transfer, automatic purging, automatic standby/lube oil priming, automatic reduction of capacity (e.g. turbocharger/stern tube), automatic control of boilers (auto combustion control and low-water cut-out), normally unmanned boiler operation with automatic water level and alarm.
• Alarm/watch systems: duty alarm to bridge/engineer, watch alarm with automatic call, and an early-warning/high-priority alarm arrangement for fire, bilge and critical equipment.
• Fire detection/alarm system in the machinery space interlocked with the ventilation/Foam/water-mist so that a fire in the space activates the fire alarm and the fire-fighting system while the space is unmanned.
• Bilge/level alarms and automatic bilge pump operation; starting of standby generators and auto-synchronisation; automatic start of essential pumps; electrical protection against overload/no-volt; automatic low-pressure/lube oil-trip of engines and turbochargers.
• Remote indication of tank levels, temperatures and pressures; the engine alarm system must be fed to the bridge and duty locations, and there must be a means to take over control from the ECR.
• Adequate redundancy and reliability of essential services, and provision of the alarm system's fail-safe and test facilities.

Additional work required

• Fit/extend the centralised monitoring and alarm system to the bridge, engineer's accommodation and duty engineer watch receiver; install the watch/patrol call system.
• Automate the auxiliary boiler combustion and water level controls, bilge and pump change-over.
• Provide automatic start and load-sharing of generating sets and synchronising equipment; install the engineers' room and bridge warning lamps/sirens.
• Fit fire detection (heat/smoke) and automatic fire-fighting interfacing, and the ventilation damper interlocks.
• Prepare the documentation (UMS operation and emergency procedures, watchkeeping and alarm log books), crew familiarisation/training, and obtain the Class society survey for the UMS notation.
• Modify the main engine starting and reversing controls for bridge operation and add emergency override arrangements.

I would be grateful for instruction before work is programmed, and confirm the vessel can be prepared, subject to approval of the above schedule and budget.

Second Engineer Officer