Inspection and Maintenance - Decreasing Fuel Consumption and Exhaust Gas Emissions in Transportation - page 198

replacement or repair of a defective subsystem. Well organized prevention is less
costly than the loss in revenue caused by an inoperative ship [ 45 ].
The definition of the maintenance intervals requires an exact knowledge of the
influence of different loads, operating conditions, and wear and tear of ship
components. At this field, extensive checking and test stand examinations with
experiments are necessary. Life cycle is important criterion for the sustainability of
a component and for its efficiency during operation. This time can be determined
by on-board monitored signals of the main engine and the auxiliary equipment.
Marine engine manufacturers usually specify the maintenance intervals for certain
motor types based on the amount of fuel consumed and pollutants emitted [ 46 ].
The load of a ship crucially determines the life span of the engine and the
auxiliary parts. Life cycle is determined by the number and the amplitude of load
changes. This can be done using a data recorder and a diagnostic system [ 47 ].
Monitoring operation conditions determines the amount and the kind of
maintenance. Data monitoring systems can estimate the reasons and the conse-
quences of higher fuel consumption and exhaust gas emissions. Classification and
examination institutions increasingly define the maintenance intervals for certain
types of engines depending on the fuel consumption and exhaust gas emissions,
and the frequency and the seriousness of error messages reported by the on-board
micro controller system.
13.5.2 Crew's Responsibility
In inland shipping, specialists can be brought in. At sea, the crew does the
inspection and operates the diesel engines, pumps, compressors, steam generating
units, cooling systems, fresh water plants, fire-extinguishing systems, electric and
computer plants, etc. The crew has an increased responsibility because of the
increasingly complex technology on board [ 48 ].
Fuel accounts for 20-40%, in specific cases for 40-60% of an average shipping
company's total operating costs [ 49 ]. Therefore, fluctuations in oil prices directly
influence earnings. Fuel and exhaust gas emission saving measures adapted for
energy conservation and profitability are the most important tasks. In the future,
exhaust gas emissions devices can be effectively controlled not only with on-board
measurement technology but also by using remote sensing methods.
The working efficiency of mechanical and electrical equipment has a direct
impact on the fuel consumption, on the maintenance, and on the efficiency.
Nowadays, crew members must not only navigate ships, but must be able to adjust
the angle of fuel injection to the right position to reduce the lag time for ignition
and improve heat efficiency. Cleaning the air inlets and exhaust gas outlets can
also decrease fuel consumption and exhaust gas emissions by 2-3% [ 50 ].
Periodic checks of cylinders improve the timing of the valves and the injection
pressure, the mechanism of the fuel pump, the plunger coupling, the fuel injector
spring, and the needle valve coupling. Failures in the central elements of the