How
to pump the bilges on a Vessel
(1)
Open
up the overboard valve (discharge valve) (Full Open)
(2)
Open up the main sea-cock for the pump (Full open) This will
prime the bilge pump
(3)
Start the bilge pump
(4)
Open the valve (Full open) that is used for the compartment
you want to pump
(5)
Slowly close the main sea-cock (closing it slowly will help
prevent air-locking the system)
(6)
Check the overboard to make sure you are pumping bilge water
over the side
(7) If
you're not pumping bilge water, check the following;
(a)
You've air locked the bilge pumping system
(b)
You have a hole in a pipe drawing air into the system
(c)
The bilge pump impeller is worn or broken
(d)
The bilge pump is broken
(e)
The main intake is choked with some debris
(Q)
What are you going to do with any oil in your bilges?
(a)
Pump it into a sludge tank
(Q)
What if you had no sludge tank, what will you do with the oil
in the bilges now?
(a)
Pump the bilges until there is a trace of oil being pumped overboard,
as soon as this happens stop your bilge pump, then manually
pump the oil in the bilges into 5 gallon oil drums, then when
you get ashore inform the port authorities and they will dispose
of it for you
(Q)
What is an oil/water separator?
(a)
A system that separates water from oil, so that no more that
15 P.P.M. (Parts Per Million) of oil is being discharged overboard
(Q)
How does an oil/water separator work?
(a)
By using thousands of ball bearings spinning centrifugal pushing
the water out and letting the oil sink into a holding tank
(Q)
How often would you empty your sludge tank?
(a)
You should empty your sludge tank at the first chance you get
