Discussion » Questions » Science and Technology » How do they start the engines on those big ships like an ocean liner cruise ship?
Kittigate

How do they start the engines on those big ships like an ocean liner cruise ship?

What do they do if the engines won't start? 

Posted - March 28, 2020
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Responses


  • 10515
    I was thinking they might have a small  engine to help start the big engine. Cheers and  happy weekend!
      March 28, 2020 11:26 AM MDT
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  • 6988
    Yes, sometimes called a 'pony motor'.  E99 should know since he was in the Navy.
      March 28, 2020 11:37 AM MDT
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  • 44232
    Dude, you were in the Navy...you should know how. Remember boilers and turbines and reduction gears and stuff?
      March 28, 2020 11:39 AM MDT
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  • 13395
    I was just asking for the benefit of landlubbers who ask why there are sometimes tugs towing ships around..

    "it's to try and get them started, stupid!" This post was edited by Kittigate at March 28, 2020 12:05 PM MDT
      March 28, 2020 11:55 AM MDT
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  • 44232
    Tugs only towed us out into the shipping channels...we were already under power for the harbour-pilot to take over.
      March 28, 2020 11:59 AM MDT
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  • 13395
    Yeah,  the harbor entrance to Halifax is wide but there is only a narrow deep water channel to navigate so we always needed a pilot supervise the sailor manning the helm. This post was edited by Kittigate at March 28, 2020 8:40 PM MDT
      March 28, 2020 12:06 PM MDT
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  • 19942
    Landlubber here.  Aren't the tugs used to guide the big ships safely in and out of port?  
      March 28, 2020 12:59 PM MDT
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  • 13395
    Yes sometimes if there is difficult manoeuvres to get a large vessel in or out of Port but usually to help guide the huge ships tying up alongside and departing. 
      March 28, 2020 6:16 PM MDT
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  • 19942
    Isn't that what I said?
      March 29, 2020 3:01 PM MDT
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  • 13395
    Pretty much. 
      March 29, 2020 3:49 PM MDT
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  • 19942
    LOL ... I thought so.
      March 29, 2020 3:49 PM MDT
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  • 14795
    Gas Turbine, Heavy crude oil that needs to be heated to make it liquid first...diesel or Nuclear Powerd ships......

    With the old Roman ship Galley .....you just start whipping your SLAVES ...after finding out how heavy the Anchor is that is......:)D 
      March 29, 2020 4:11 PM MDT
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  • 3684
    Most commercial ships now use enormous diesel-engines, either driving the screws directly or via a generator and electric motors; and a long-established way to start those is by injecting a blast of compressed-air into the cylinders to start the engine turning.

    A lot of warships have gas-turbine engines, and those are spun up electrically.
      April 8, 2020 4:25 PM MDT
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