NEW GENERATOR KEEPS ENGINEERS TRAINING TICKING OVER

South Tyneside College has added to its world class marine training facilities and given its cadets a head start at the same time.

Engineer cadets at South Tyneside College, the UKs National Nautical Centre of Excellence have improved their own training prospects by adding a new engine to their facilities - after dismantling it at its former home themselves.

The English Electric medium speed engine was in use as an emergency generator at Hartlepool water board before being offered to the College. The existing engine facilities for students to train on included a high speed Rolls Royce emergency generator running at 1800 rpm and a slow speed Doxford engine running at 120 rpm. The new English Electric engine is a welcome addition to the training facilities as it is a medium speed generator, operating at 750 rpm, letting engineer cadets gain experience of a range of different equipment and features, that they are likely to encounter in their careers.

The College was alerted to the possibility of taking possession of the engine and expanding its training, by an ex-student who has decided to return to sea after working at the water board for six years. College staff and current students made the trip to dismantle it themselves in situ before it was moved to its new home and reassembled.

The process of reassembly and installation has taken nearly three months and has involved the College using their engineering skills to make the bedplate, stool and pipework to install it in its new location.

Gary Hindmarch, from the Faculty of Marine and Mechanical Engineering, said: It is very skilled work to keep the engines running and the new addition will give the cadets excellent experience of maintaining a range of equipment. Even the chance to dismantle the engine was an excellent opportunity to develop hands-on knowledge and skills."

Gary added: The better and more varied we can make the training, the better equipped the cadets will be by the time they qualify to go to sea for real."

ENDS