MX-P-3000/150m Bronze

Common issues

• Hydraulic drive motor leakage at the shaft seal - oil ingress into cargo is a contamination and pollution risk
• Line-shaft bearing wear from misalignment or cargo contamination
• Cavitation damage to the impeller during stripping or low tank level operation
• Corrosion/erosion of bronze wetted parts with aggressive or high-water-content cargoes
• Blocked or restricted suction strainer/bellmouth from cargo residue or scale
• Vibration from worn line-shaft bearings or a bent shaft after grounding or impact damage
• Hydraulic system contamination causing erratic pump speed control

Inspection checklist

• Check hydraulic oil condition and leak-test the pump top/shaft seal before and after cargo operations
• Verify pump performance (flow/discharge pressure) against the cargo plan at a known duty point
• Inspect line-shaft bearings for wear/play where accessible at dry-dock or pump removal
• Check the strainer/bellmouth for obstruction or damage
• Confirm vibration levels against baseline, especially during stripping or low-level running
• Test remote start/stop, speed control and emergency stop from the cargo control room
• Inspect the deck seal/gland for hydraulic and cargo leakage
• Verify earthing/bonding and ESD trip function

Service intervals

Typical intervals for this design class, not the manufacturer’s figures for your model. The manufacturer’s manual is binding.

Typical wear limits

Ranges are typical for this design class. Always confirm against the manufacturer documentation for your serial number.

Critical spares

• Line-shaft bearing set (bronze/composite bearings)
• Mechanical shaft seal at the hydraulic motor interface
• Impeller and wear ring set
• Hydraulic drive motor seal kit
• Deck seal assembly

Safety

• Loss of containment at the deck seal or shaft is a major spill and fire/explosion risk - part of why it is tied into the vessel's ESD system
• Hydraulic oil leakage into cargo can contaminate the product and create pollution liability
• Work on submerged cargo pumps involves tank entry - full gas-free and enclosed-space entry procedure required
• Static bonding must be confirmed before handling flammable cargoes

Class survey

Cargo pumps and their ESD/remote control functions are surveyed as part of the tanker cargo system survey and Continuous Survey Machinery; class expects a satisfactory operational test, confirmation of the ESD trip, and evidence of hydraulic oil condition monitoring given the contamination risk to cargo.

Estimated lifetime: Deepwell/submerged cargo pumps of this size typically remain in service through several dry-docking cycles (10+ years) with scheduled bearing and seal renewal; hour-based life depends heavily on cargo type and stripping duty.