Salt water service system

The salt water service system is the seawater piping that draws from the sea chests through the mud-box strainers and pumps to cool and serve shipboard machinery. On a central-cooling ship it supplies the central freshwater coolers; on a direct system it cools the main engine jackets, lubricating oil and air coolers, condensers, and auxiliaries directly, and it also feeds firefighting, deck wash, ballast eductors, and the bilge system. High and low sea suctions let the crew switch source by draft and water condition, and the pumps run as duty and standby pairs. Strainer fouling, biofouling inside the pipes, and erosion-corrosion are the main failure modes the engine room watch monitors.