When a bulk carrier experienced electrical erosion in the main auxiliary reduction gears that drive the ship’s 1.5 MW generator, power to the ship’s many electrical motors was lost. The motors operate a variety of pumps, conveying equipment, and ventilation equipment in onboard systems as well as unloading and loading conveyors. Without the generator, the ship would not have been able to leave port, much less transport bulk materials.
The problem was discovered when, after an overhaul, the auxiliary reduction gears failed only 120 days out of port. The ship was forced to return to the Shanghai shipyard for repairs to the reduction gears. But, the shipping line soon realized that the damage to the gears was merely a symptom of larger problem — electrical arcing in the gearbox. The shipping line needed to find a permanent solution to this problem before the ship could leave port. And a cost of $10,000 per day for every day the ship remained in port, the shipping line needed to find a solution fast.
