“Crash” word is generally used to describe some kind of accident or damage when one object slams into another. However, in the shipping world, when the word is combined with the term “manoeuvring”; it becomes a procedure which is performed to avoid any kind of collision or accident.

Why Crash Manoeuvring?

In a sea going vessel, unlike land transport, there are no brakes that are provided to stop the ship when needed. The stopping of the vessel is done by reversing the rotational direction of the Main engine and thereby This stops or reduces the speed of the vessel heading towards the collision course

The crash manoeuvring is usually done to avoid any type of collision or crashing of ship to any other ship or structure (Jetty, land, Iceberg etc). In this type of manoeuvring the main engine is subjected to severe stress and loading, but the safety of ship and life is assured.

How to Perform Crash Manoeuvring?

Crash manoeuvring is turning the engine in opposite direction to reduce the heading speed of the ship. After certain time, the ship stops and starts streaming in astern direction. This is done by supplying starting air at about 30 bars from the air receiver to the engine. The stopping air is known as the brake air.

The brake air when sudden injected inside the engine cylinder, will try to resist the motion of the piston and the rotation of the crankshaft and propeller.

Procedure

Following Procedure is to be followed when a navigational officer calls engine room and says that we have to stop immediately to avoid collision

When there is an emergency like collision, grounding etc. the controls are transferred immediately in to the Engine room controls

The bridge will give astern direction in the telegraph, acknowledge the same

When the telegraph is acknowledged only the starting air cam will reverse its direction but the fuel cam will remain in its running position due to running direction interlock since engine is still running in the ahead direction

The fuel lever in the engine control room is brought to ‘0’

As soon as the RPM of the engine drops below 40 % of the Maximum Continuous Rating or MCR rpm of the engine, give break air few times in short time frame

The break air will inject with astern timing setting inside the ahead moving piston which will resist the piston motion

Since fuel will not inject until running direction interlock opens, as soon as the rpm drops near to Zero, give fuel and air kick by bringing fuel lever to minimum start setting

When carrying out Crash Manoeuvring, some safeties need to be bypassed to avoid tripping of engine in mid of emergency

When the ship stops and situation is under control, a detailed Main engine inspection is to be carried out when there is a chance.