![]() ![]() ![]() There is a propeller mounted in this open tube which is powered by a separate engine. This is an open tube from port (left) to starboard (right) near the bow of the ship underwater. This is one side of one of Rainier’s two V-12 Diesel locomotive engines.Īnother device the crew can use to manipulate the ship in the water is called a ‘bow thruster’. This could be called a ‘split 6’ – where one prop is pitched forward 6 to match the other prop’s pitch backward of 6. This is how the Engineering Department can start the engines.Īs there are two engines and two propellers, the Rainier’s crew can run one prop forwards and the other backward to turn the vessel around nearly in place. Notice the silver digital actuator at the top which provides an electronic signal back to the bridge. This is the variable prop pitch control system. Now the water is pushed forwards by the prop so the water can push the ship backward. When reverse is desired, the props can each pitch back to a maximum of ‘6’. A pitch of “10” means that for each single rotation of the prop, the blades will move water ten feet back. Of course, this is really the water pushing the ship forward as the propellers push the water backward. When the prop pitched is increased in a forward direction – up to a pitch of 10, the ship is pushed forward. When the pitch is set to zero, the props spin but push water neither back or forward – and thus don’t force the ship to move. Instead, the two propellers utilize what is called ‘variable pitch’. There is no “transmission” on this vessel. Once up and running, the Rainier’s engines often run for several days at a time. After bathing the valves in fresh oil, each engine is started with compressed air at the press of a button. For propulsion, there are two V-12 Diesel Locomotive Engines. This vessel has quite a physical plant below deck maintained by the competent team in the Engineering Department. The bell on the bow of each ship is now plated in gold to celebrate the event. Rainier and her sister ship Fairweather celebrated their 50 th anniversary together this past March. ![]()
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