AMSA issued a marine notice that serves as a reminder of the requirements to test and maintain fuel isolation valves for multi-engine installations, following an increase that has been noticed in the failure of remotely operated isolation valves in the fuel supply lines to generators.
With regards to oil fuel piping, AMSA highlights that in the event of a fire on a generator, the fuel must be isolated to a single engine, without affecting the operation of other engines.
According to SOLAS Chapter II-2 Regulation 4.2:
In multi-engine installations which are supplied from the same fuel source, means of isolating the fuel supply and spill piping to individual engines, shall be provided. The means of isolation shall not affect the operation of the other engines and shall be operable from a position not rendered inaccessible by a fire on any of the engines.
One common solution is to install a quick closing valve on the fuel supply line to the engine between the fuel change over valves and the engine with a remote actuator in another part of the machinery space.
For ships built after June 2009, where possible the valves or the actuator for the remote closing valves should be at least 5m from the engine in any direction. Where this is not possible, protection by obstructions may be implemented.
With regards to testing, ship operators must have procedures to ensure that a ship is maintained. This includes the function of the isolation valves.
Port State control inspections can include testing quick-closing valves on a ships fuel system. This may include the remote operation of the fuel supply isolation valves.
Crew should be familiar with the remote operation of the valves, the reset procedures and how to ensure the valves are maintained in good working order.
A ship may be detained, if the remote quick-closing devices are:
• absent
• non-compliant
• substantially deteriorated to the extent that the remote quick-closing devices will not work if needed.
