Flooding protection for ships
A newbuild 150m twin-deck deepwater vessel, the Jascon 18, ordered by the Sea Truck Group and destined for use in pipeline construction, will be fitted with a PSM bilge level switch at 140 detection points, protecting the ship from potential flood risk.
According to PSM, bilge level switches are a safety critical component for the detection of liquid in dead spaces and voids that are rarely visited or inspected by the crew. They need to be rugged yet reliable should a rising liquid level indicate a leakage or flooding hazard. Unfortunately, says the company, ship builders and owners are increasingly taking the decision to install cheap devices of inferior quality, which it feels can compromise vessel and crew safety, and prove a false economy as maintenance and replacement costs will inevitably exceed those of installing on a ‘right first time’ basis.
PSM says its BLS 9200 bilge level switch is designed, manufactured and approved to meet and exceed the requirements for severe service applications on all classes of marine vessels and offshore installations. Featuring all-stainless steel design with EPR cable resistant to seawater, fuel oil and hydraulic fluid, the switches should provide reliable operation over years of service. The self-draining cage design prevents fouling of the float and interference with operation from obstructions or floating debris in the bilge, as well as protection from false-switching. The switches can be routinely using an integral switch lever that allows full testing of the float movement and switch functionality.
PSM says its bilge level switches are compliant with latest IEC and Marine Industry standards, and have been supplied in volume to various major shipbuilders and operators.
