Troubleshooter

My function description on board is the shortest of all: only to be on the right place at the right time, without making too much damage. For the Chief Engineer on board, this is not so simple. He is supposed to know everything, repair anything and understand everything. On board ships, and not only on older ships, technical failures occur every day. They vary from not working bathroom light bulbs to complete main power black-outs. Classic telephone call to inform the Engine Room is: 'Winch is not working, we need it now, you fix!'. As Chief Engineer you have to think and react very fast. It is not only about diesel engines, it is about electrical and digital as well. You have to be an all-round technician to keep all this running. Especially when towing, you hardly have time for proper thinking. The most serious is a propulsion black-out of course. Your tow will follow you and finally collide with your tug. With only one man and his team on board to prevent this. Here you see our Chief Engineer Johan battling with a nest full of diodes of the shaft generator powering the bow thruster.