FTV Engine Lab

From 3/c Peter Hamill

3/C Thomas Gels and 3/C Peter Hamill assembling the
split seal.

The sophomore engineers had a great lab today. They were assigned they we assigned to work with the onboard Chesterton representative. Chesterton is a company that specializes in mechanical seals and mechanical packing and is based in Massachusetts. Chesterton donated the time of one of their representatives, MMA alumni Mike McGrail, to work on the ship with the cadets for this sea term. The Chesterton representative first taught the cadets in a classroom setting about how the mechanical seal came about, and how far it has come to be what it is today. After being taught what a mechanical seal is and how it works, the cadets were given the opportunity to install one of Chesterton’s Split seals.

In the Engine Lab Classroom cadets learn to use the appropriate tools for fabrication and repair operations typically performed on ships.This hands on classroom instructs cadets to use hand tools, electrical and electronic measuring and test equipment for fault finding, maintenance, and repair operations.

Cadets in the marine engineering major learn these important skills through hands on lesson on the Kennedy:

• Maintain a safe engineering watch. 
• Operate main and auxiliary machinery and associated control systems. 
• Operate pumping systems and associated control systems. 
• Operate alternators, generators, and associated control systems. 
• Maintain marine engineering systems, including control systems. 
• Ensure compliance with pollution-prevention requirements. 
• Maintain seaworthiness of the ship. 
• Monitor compliance with legislative requirements. 

Try some of these lab activities to build the types of skills needed by Marine Engineering Cadets.

Leaky seal In this activity, like these cadets, you'll explore the mechanics of waterproofing a seal.

In this activity become a problem solver using these skills water meter/measurement, leak detection, toilet components, water efficiency, water conservation, water savings calculations.

Marine engineers are involved in the design, construction, and maintenance of ships, boats, and related equipment. They design and supervise the construction of everything from aircraft carriers to submarines, and from sailboats to tankers. Marine engineers work on the propulsion, steering, and other systems of ships. Marine engineers apply knowledge from a range of fields to the entire design and production process of all water vehicles. Try this lesson to do the work of a Marine Engineer.

Explore how engineers have solved problems such as developing and improving metal parts by adding a layer of another material to the surface. You will work in teams to develop a chemical system to add a layer of copper to another metal product. 

In this activity you will learn how switches control the flow of electricity, and how to draw a wiring diagram. 

Build a spring scale and test it with several different items. See if your scale can distinguish between one golf ball and two, or one onion and two for example. Make any adjustments during construction that you like