VENTILATION AND

CONTROL
VENTILATION
 Shipboard ventilation systems supply and remove
air to/from spaces throughout the ship. In doing so,
these systems control quality of breathing air and
protect personnel and sensitive equipment from
potentially hazardous airborne contaminants, fires,
explosions, and excessive heat. The ability of
ventilation systems to protect personnel from these
hazards is particularly important aboard Navy ships,
which are like floating cities fitted into a very limited
space. Well designed and easily maintained
ventilation systems are critical to a safe and
comfortable shipboard work environment.
 Ventilation systems include a supply, or
makeup air system and an exhaust system.
Supply systems replace contaminated air
exhausted from a workspace with
uncontaminated outside air. Supply
ventilations systems also provide
replenishment air to air conditioning
recirculation systems.
 Exhaust system removes odors, heated air,
and airborne contaminants from the
workspace. Both supply and exhaust airflow
quantities must be balanced.
 All components of ventilation systems such

as fans, motors, ducts, dampers, air intakes

and outlets, filters, and access panels, must
work properly in order for the systems to
operate safely and efficiently.
 If air is cooled, the temperature below, which
the water vapour it contains condenser into
water droplets is the dew point.
 This phenomenon manifest itself in 2 ways

which are a major concern to the officer –

ships sweat and cargo sweat.
 Ship sweat occurs when the temp of structure
is lower than the dew points of the air.
Condensation takes place on the shell,
frames, bulkhead, etc and may form into the
cargo which may cause damage and give rise
to cargo claims.
FORMATION OF SWEAT IN SHIPS
CARGO HOLD
 SWEAT:
 Is formed when the water vapour in the
atmosphere condense out into water droplets
when the air is cooled below the dew point.
The water droplets may be deposited onto the
ship’s structure or onto the cargo. If the former
occurs, it is known as ship sweat and this may
run down or drip onto the cargo. The latter is
known as cargo sweat and occurs when the
cargo is cold and the incoming air is warm
 SHIP SWEAT:
 When condensation takes place directly upon

the ship structure e.g. Deck heads. Usually

found on voyage from warm places to cold
places.
 CARGO SWEAT:
 When condensation takes place directly upon

the cargo due to the temperature of cargo

being less than the dew point of the air.
Usually occurs on voyage from cold to
warmer places
CONDITION FOR SHIP AND CARGO
SWEAT TO OCCUR
 If the temperature of the outside air is less
than the dew point of the air already in the
compartment ship sweat will occur.
 If the temperature of the air in the

compartment is lower than the dew point of

the incoming air, cargo sweat will occur.
  
PRECAUTIONS TO RESTRICT SWEAT
 To avoid sweat and its effect, it is imperative
that wet and dry bulb temperatures of the air are
registered and the temperature of air contained
in the cargo compartment taken at frequent
intervals, say once a watch.
 Read temperature of holds and check its dew
point.
 Read wet and dry bulb thermometers and find
out dew point of the outside air.
 Compare the outside and inside temperature and
do the following to minimize sweat.
 Ventilate: when the temperature of the
outside air is lower than the dew point of the
inside air, ventilate otherwise danger of ship
sweat e.g. West Africa to Baltimore in Jamaica
with general cargo outside temperature -140C
Hygroscopic cargo. Dew point hold
temperature 150C.
 Restrict ventilation when the dew point of the
outside air is higher than the temperature of
the inside air otherwise danger of cargo
sweat e.g. warm hygroscopic cargo steel from
Cape Town to U.K (general cargo)
 Re-circulate ; outside dew point 200C
 Hold temperature 190C
 Note it should be noticed that indiscriminate
ventilation often does more harm to the cargo
than no ventilation whatsoever.
Sweat is formed when air is cooled below dew
point temperature. As such, water vapour in
the atmosphere condense out into water
droplets. The water droplets may be
deposited onto the ship structure or the cargo.
If the former occurs, it is known as ship sweat
and the latter is known as cargo sweat.
SYSTEMS OF VENTILATIONS
THROUGH VENTILATION (NATURAL)
 This type of ventilation depends upon the air
flow from the outside. The air flows occur
when the ventilation are turned to wind and
the weather ventilation are trimmed away
from the wind. It should be noted that
variation in the angles of the ventilators from
the wind cause very different rates of airflow
within the compartment. The angle which the
ship’s course makes with the wind also
affects the flow of air.
THROUGH VENTILATION (NATURAL)

Showing air circulation with lee vents on the wind and weather
vents off.
This is THROUGH VENTILATION.
MECHANICAL VENTILATION
(FORCED)
 With mechanical ventilations baffle plates are
fitted in the hold and tween deck ventilation
so that the air can be prevented from the
outside when conditions are unfavourable. At
these times, the air in the hold is re-
circulated and if necessary it can be died by
passing it through a dehumidifying unit.
 When ventilating, the air is drawn in from
outside through the natural vent fans.
 The air pass through the tween deck and

holds to be drawn out by the exhaust.

 The exhaust air is delivered to the outside air.
TO RECIRCULATE
 The cargo space is sealed from the outside
air. The fan draws air from the hold delivers it
to the drying unit and sent back to the hold
in the tween deck and this re-circulated air is
discharged once again into the hold and the
processes continue till it is stopped.
DP=20°C
VENTILATION PROBLEMS
 If the Hold is not ventilated, there will be little
chance of ship sweat or the dew point in the
hold is lower than the temp of the structure,
both above and below the waterline.
 There will be no immediate threat of cargo

sweat for the dew point is below the cargo

temperatures if the hold is ventilated.
 There is little chance is ship sweat as the dew
point of the outside air is well below the temp
of the structure above and below the
waterline.
 Cargo sweat is certain as the dew point of the

outside air is higher than the temp of the

cargo.
 Conclusions : It will be advisable to

recirculation the air or recirculation and add

dry air
 DP=12°C

b
If the hold is not ventilated
 There will be ship sweat as the dew point of
the air in the hold is higher than the temp of
the structures both above and below the
waterline.
 There is no likely hold of cargo sweat as the

dew point of the air in the hold is lower than

the temp of the cargo. If the hold is
ventilated
 Assuming the air in the hold can be replaced
and entirely by the outside air there will be no
ship sweat, since the dew point of the outside
air is lower than the temp of the ship
structure above and below the waterline.
 There will be no cargo sweat as the dew point

of the outside air is much lower than the

temp of the cargo.
 Conclusion: This situation requires
vigorous ventilation.
The End