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 (2) and strainers. The water sucked in by the engines flows through the strainers (1) 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 (3)
  Sea water is drawn in by the pump of the generators themselves through the sea cock equipped with an interception valve and filter. 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 sea water through the services sea water intake (4) equipped with a shut-off valve and strainer and sends it to the fire hose, as well as to services supplied by sea water such as black waters tanks washing and anchor chain washing.
  
• Services system (A/C unit cooling)
  The circuit consists in a sea suction cock with cut-off valve, an inspectable sea water strainer (4) and a valved manifold (5) for supply to the air-conditioning.
  
• Gyroscopic stabilizer cooling system (6)
  The sea water is sucked by the pump dedicated to cooling the stabiliser through a sea cock equipped with a shut-off valve and strainer.
  The suctioned water passes through the strainer before being sent to the heat exchanger of the gyroscopic stabiliser and then discharged outboard.

CAUTION

Before cleaning the strainer of the sea cocks, check that the utilities supplied with sea water are switched off and not 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. Replace if necessary.
• Reinstall the basket and the strainer cover.
• Open the valves upstream of the relevant strainer.
• Before restarting the system circuit, ensure that the screws and relevant washers are correctly fastened with the ring and disc on the strainer body.
• Completely reopen the overboard intake valve and check that there are no leaks 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 sea cock strainers of the various devices through the transparent cover.

Sea water distribution system