6.2 SEA WATER SYSTEMS

The sea water systems on board are:

• Engine cooling system
  This system consists of two circuits, one for the starboard engine and the other for the port engine. Sea water is sucked directly by the inner pumps of the same engines, by means of two sea cocks equipped with two cut-off valves and strainers. The water sucked in by the engines flows through the strainers and is then delivered to the heat exchangers of the gear boxes and to the heat exchangers of the same engines, and then discharged overboard. Moreover, suitable circuit branches cool the exhaust manifolds.
• Generators cooling system
  Sea water is drawn in by the pump of the generators themselves through the sea cock equipped with an interception valve and strainer. The water drawn in by the generators, after passing through the strainer, is sent to the heat exchangers of the generators themselves and then discharged overboard. To discharge the water and fumes coming out of the yacht, the generators convey the exhausts through the muffler and then pass to a separator.
• Seawater fire extinguishing/washing system
  It consists of an electric pump that sucks in seawater through a seawater intake equipped with a shut-off valve and strainer and sends it to the fire hose, as well as to the water-based functions such as the sewage tank and anchor chain washing units.
• Air conditioning unit cooling system
  The circuits consist (one per air conditioning unit) of sea suction with shut-off valve, inspectable sea water strainers and connections for distribution to the air conditioning units.
• Gyroscopic stabiliser cooling system
  Sea water is directly sucked by the stabilizer cooling pumps by means of a sea cock provided with cut-off valve and strainer. The water sucked in by the generator flows through the strainer and is delivered to the heat exchanger of the interceptors and then discharged overboard.

CAUTION

The watermaker should only be used in water that is definitely clean, to avoid contaminating its membranes, tanks and the entire circuit.

CAUTION

Before carrying out cleaning of the sea cock strainers, check that uses supplied with sea water are not on and used.

WARNING

It is good practice to close all sea cocks when leaving the yacht in the water for a long time.

Clean the sea cock strainers according to the schedule and to the pollution condition of the water taken on (seaweed, mucilages, etc..).

• Close the valve of the relevant sea cock (by means of the handwheel or lever).
• Cut-off valves upstream of the relevant strainer.
• Remove the strainer cover by loosening the screws.
• Remove the strainer basket and wash away all impurities with fresh water. If necessary, replace them.
• Reinstall the baskets and the cover.
• Open the valves upstream of involved strainer.
• Before restarting the system circuit, ensure that the screws and relevant washers are correctly fastened with the ring and disc on strainer’s body.
• Re-open the sea cock valve completely and check for leaks presence from the strainer cover.

WARNING

Before carrying out maintenance on the sea water circuit, disable its operation and close the sea cock valve.
Before restarting the system circuit, make sure that the cut-OFF valve is completely open.

WARNING

During navigation, regularly check the cleanliness of the sea water strainer baskets.
If the yacht is crossing a dirty sea area, check the condition of the strainers and proceed with their cleaning.
Taking suitable precautions is very important to prevent damage to mechanical parts (engines, generators, etc..), discharge systems and to not jeopardize the safety of the yacht.

CAUTION

In case of sinking hazard, if the escaping conditions allow it, close all ball valves of the sea intakes.

DANGER

The lack of care while cleaning each sea intake strainer can cause serious damage to the on-board devices and, in some cases such as fire, it may have extremely serious consequences. Check before undertaking the navigation and at regular intervals during navigation, the condition of the strainers of the various devices through the transparent covers.

WARNING

It is advisable, when leaving the yacht in water for a long time, to close all seacocks.

Sea water system diagram: