Maritime English Exercises for Ship Engineers and Engine Room Personnel-  Part 2

Designed for Ship Engineer Cadets, Marine Engineering Students, and Engine Officers
In line with IMO SMCP and Model Courses 3.17 & 3.18

🌐 This Course Description

This fully integrated Maritime English program is tailored for marine engineers at all levels. It strengthens professional communication skills across the four core language competencies—Reading, Writing, Listening, and Speaking—in authentic engineering contexts. The course draws from real-world engine room operations, IMO standards, and video-based learning tools.

📥 Need answers for this course’s exercises? Contact us here !

📘 Section A: Reading Comprehension & Technical Terminology

This section enhances vocabulary recognition, reading comprehension, and applied knowledge of marine engineering systems. Exercises align with IMO Model Courses 3.17 and 3.18.

1. Engine Room Terminology – Multiple Choice
Complete each sentence by choosing the correct engineering term:

1.1 The starting air receiver is used to start the main __________ unit.
A) propel
B) propeller
C) propulsion
D) propulsive

1.2 Air is __________ in compressors and stored in receivers.
A) pressed
B) pressure
C) pressured
D) pressurised

1.3 The main engine converts fuel energy to mechanical work to __________ the propeller.
A) activate
B) rotate
C) reverse
D) actuate

1.4 The hydrophore unit ensures a __________ supply of fresh water to accommodation spaces.
A) non-stop
B) non-return
C) non-circular
D) non-drying

1.5 Fresh water coolers work by circulating water, which is cooled by __________.
A) freshwater
B) coolant
C) oil
D) seawater

2. Engine Function Sentences – Fill-in-the-Blanks
Complete each sentence with the correct technical term:

2.1 Compressed air is used to start diesel engines and during __________ procedures.
Answer: __________

2.2 The emergency control station is used during control system __________.
Answer: __________

2.3 The air receiver resembles a large __________ that holds compressed air.
Answer: __________

2.4 Lubrication oil must be monitored for __________ and cleanliness.
Answer: __________

2.5 Engineers must drain the cooling water system before __________.
Answer: __________

3. Unit Identification – Engine Parameters
Fill in the units for the following engine performance measures:

• Cylinder output: __________
• Power range: __________
• Stroke length: __________
• Piston speed: __________
• MEP (Mean Effective Pressure): __________
• Bore: __________

4. Concept Check – True or False
State whether the following statements are True or False:

4.1 Scavenging removes exhaust gases from the cylinder. ( )
4.2 A diesel engine is an external combustion engine. ( )
4.3 The crankshaft makes only one revolution per cycle. ( )
4.4 Four-stroke diesels lack intake valves. ( )
4.5 A piston may close the exhaust port in certain engines. ( )

5. Functional Terminology – Matching Definitions
Match the terms on the left with the correct definitions on the right:

Maritime Term	Definition
A. Lubrication System	a) Air supplied to the cylinder for combustion
B. Heat Exchanger	b) Reduces friction between moving parts
C. Governor	c) Regulates engine speed
D. Scavenge Air	d) Transfers heat between two fluids
E. Cylinder Head	e) Seals the top of the engine’s cylinder

6. Safety and Backup Systems – Reading Practice
Read the short passage and answer questions below:

“Hydrophore units are used to ensure fresh water is supplied under pressure to accommodation areas. Air compressors serve many functions on board, including starting main engines and powering tools. Freshwater generators convert seawater into freshwater through evaporation and condensation. Cooling systems use seawater to cool fresh water circulating through engine components.”

Comprehension Questions:

6.1 What function does a hydrophore unit perform?
Answer: _______________________________________

6.2 What is one role of an air compressor in ship operation?
Answer: _______________________________________

6.3 What process is used by freshwater generators?
Answer: _______________________________________

6.4 What fluid is used to reduce engine temperature?
Answer: _______________________________________

 

✍️ Section B: Writing Practice and Reporting

 

7. Grammar and Error Correction
Correct the following:

7.1 The piston move up and down inside the cylinder.
7.2 The chief engineer give instructions every morning.
7.3 Lubrication oil is used for clean the engine.

8. Fill-in Vocabulary (Sentence Completion)
Complete the sentences using these words: viscosity, compressor, generator, maintenance, overhaul.

• The refrigeration ______ keeps cargo holds at the right temperature.
• Routine ______ of equipment prevents breakdown.
• The chief scheduled an engine ______ next week.
• We must monitor oil ______ for engine efficiency.

9. Engine Report Writing: Log Entry Format

Scenario: Fuel purifier malfunction due to clogged filter at 14:30. Repaired and restarted at 15:10.

Sample Entry:

• Date: ____________
• Time: ____________
• System Affected: ____________
• Issue: ____________
• Action Taken: ____________
• Status: ____________

10. Descriptive Writing: Procedure Explanation
Choose one and write a 5-sentence paragraph:

• How to reset a main engine alarm.
• How to manually start the emergency generator.
• How to check for water in a fuel oil separator.

11. Daily Maintenance Report (Short Writing)
Write 3-4 sentences describing one of the following:

• Turbocharger inspection
• Lubricating oil filter change
• Cooling water pump routine check

12. Dialogue Completion: Technical Communication
Fill in the blanks:

Chief Engineer: “Have you inspected the ______ system?”
Second Engineer: “Yes, sir. No leaks found but the ______ temperature was slightly high.”
Chief Engineer: “Okay. Monitor it and check the ______ pump.”

 

🌊 All exercises above support IMO SMCP and help develop critical maritime English skills for engine room communication. Listening and speaking sections to follow in the next part of the module.

 

🎧 Section C: Listening Comprehension with Video Support

13. Video 1 – Engine Performance Analysis
YouTube: Combustion Pressure & Pmax
Task: Note five performance metrics and summarize measurement methods.

14. Video 2 – Cold Crankshaft Deflection
YouTube: Crankshaft Measurement Procedure
Task: List tools used, explain the purpose, and describe two safety considerations.

15. Audio Exercise – Engine Room Announcement  

Listen here:

Answer comprehension questions on an engine alert message: cause, affected system, and recommended action.

📝 Comprehension Questions:

1. What system has failed?
2. What consequence has resulted from the failure?
3. What does the engineering team recommend doing immediately?
4. What is the engineering team currently doing?
5. Who is the message addressed to?
6. What kind of language is used to communicate urgency in the message?

📘 (SMCP: Engine Room Emergency Reports / IMO Model Course 3.17)

–

16. Audio – Daily Briefing Summary 

Listen here:

Identify the day’s tasks, PPE reminders, and follow-up procedures as described by the Chief Engineer.

📝 Comprehension Questions:

1. What three main tasks are assigned for today?
2. What is the scheduled start time for auxiliary engine maintenance?
3. What are the PPE requirements for engine room personnel?
4. Which operations specifically require goggles?
5. What documentation must be cross-checked?
6. When must the maintenance report be submitted, and to whom?

📘 (SMCP: Engine Room Routine Operations / IMO Model Course 3.17)

–

🗣️ Section D: Speaking, Communication & SMCP Roleplay

This section is focused on oral communication skills and use of Standard Marine Communication Phrases (SMCP) in real-world engine room scenarios. Activities involve simulations, roleplays, and structured sentence-building exercises.

✅ Exercise 17: Fault Reporting Simulation (Using SMCP)

Task: Practice reporting faults to senior officers using correct SMCP format.

Instructions:

• Form pairs: One plays the Duty Engineer, the other the Chief Engineer.
• Use the structure:
  

  “Chief Engineer, this is Duty Engineer. [System] is [status/problem]. Immediate action [required/being taken]. Over.”

Sample Faults to Report:

1. Main cooling water pump abnormal
2. Fuel injector leakage observed
3. Scavenge drain temperature too high
4. Lubricating oil pressure dropping
5. Generator not starting after first attempt

✅ Exercise 18: Command Structuring – Sentence Reordering

Task: Rearrange technical jumbled phrases into functional spoken commands using SMCP tone.

Instructions:

• Rearrange the following phrases into clear engine room orders.
• Read aloud and confirm with a partner.

Examples:

1. now / open / fuel / filter / the / please → “Please open the fuel filter now.”
2. drain / the / water / cooling / system / before / refilling →
3. inspected / the / be / air / scavenge / should / system →
4. pump / immediately / shut down / the / lube oil →

✅ Exercise 19: Emergency Drill Roleplay (SMCP-Based)

Task: Simulate emergency communication procedures during critical engine room incidents.

Scenario Examples:

• 🚨 Fire in the engine room
• 🚀 Blackout (main power failure)
• ⚠️ Fuel oil leakage on hot surface

SMCP Framework to Follow:

“Bridge, this is Engine Room. We have an emergency: [state problem]. Immediate action is being taken. Recommend [state recommendation]. Over.”

Checklist:

• Identify incident
• Use concise, structured phrases
• Recommend action
• Confirm understanding

✅ Exercise 20: Real-World Engine Conversations (Pair Speaking)

Task: Engage in realistic spoken dialogues between engine officers.

Pairs: Chief Engineer ✉️ Third Engineer / Second Engineer ✉️ Oiler

Topics to Cover:

1. Reporting an engine temperature rise
2. Discussing filter replacement
3. Confirming daily inspection tasks
4. Giving PPE reminders

Example Prompt:

• Third Engineer: “Sir, we have an issue with the jacket cooling system.”
• Chief Engineer: “What seems to be the problem?”
• Third Engineer: “The pump discharge pressure is lower than normal.”
• Chief Engineer: “Alright. Monitor it closely and prepare to start the standby unit.”

✅ Exercise 21: Situational Speaking – 3-Line Emergency Responses

Task: Deliver structured verbal responses to emergency situations.

Instructions:

• Respond to each situation using a three-line format:
  1. Identify the issue.
  2. State your immediate action.
  3. Suggest or request further steps.

Scenarios:

1. 🚨 Bilge Alarm Activation → “Bilge water level is rising. Activating bilge pump now. Please confirm if engine room bilge system is clear.”
2. 🔌 Electrical Blackout → “We have lost power in the engine control room. Starting emergency generator. Request bridge standby for status update.”
3. ⚡️ Main Engine Failure → “Main engine stopped suddenly. Checking fuel line and cooling system. Recommend preparing for possible drift.”

 

---

–

🧪 Section E: Assessment and Applied Learning Tasks

This final section of the Maritime English course allows students to apply everything they’ve learned in realistic, scenario-based assessments. It emphasizes accuracy, emergency response fluency, safety communication, and structured reporting aligned with IMO SMCP and Model Course 3.17.

22. Comprehensive Troubleshooting – Matching Exercise
Objective: Match engine room problems with likely causes.
Instructions: Draw lines or number matches between each problem and its probable cause.

Problem	Likely Cause
Engine knocking	a. Injector failure
Crankshaft vibration	b. Bearing misalignment
Main engine overheating	c. Seawater pump failure
Low lube oil pressure	d. Oil pump malfunction
Fuel leakage	e. Faulty sealing ring
Exhaust smoke is black	f. Incomplete combustion

23. Engine Faults – Fill-in-the-Gaps
Objective: Accurately describe engine failures using technical vocabulary.
Instructions: Fill in the missing word from the options given: (blockage, leakage, overheating, seizure, detonation, contamination)

1. Crankcase _______ can be caused by dirty fuel.
2. Cooling water _______ leads to high temperature alarms.
3. Cylinder liner _______ occurs when lubrication fails.
4. Oil _______ might happen if a gasket is damaged.
5. Turbocharger _______ may result from carbon deposits.
6. Fuel _______ may cause uneven combustion.

24. Engine Maintenance – Multiple Choice
Objective: Identify correct routine or fault-response actions.
Instructions: Choose the correct action for each scenario.

1. If lube oil pressure drops:
   a. Increase engine speed
   b. Check oil pump and filters
   c. Ignore if temporary
2. For injector blockage:
   a. Replace fuel filter
   b. Clean or change injector
   c. Adjust scavenging timing
3. If cylinder head temperature rises:
   a. Increase cooling water flow
   b. Shut engine immediately
   c. Reduce fuel injection

25. Emergency Procedures – 3 Step Plans
Objective: Write 3 action steps per scenario using SMCP.
Instructions: List three clear, logical steps for each case below.

A. Engine Room Fire

1. Raise fire alarm and report location.
2. Shut fuel supply and activate fixed fire system.
3. Evacuate and seal engine room.

B. Bilge Flooding Detected

1. Start bilge pump immediately.
2. Investigate source of flooding.
3. Inform Bridge and log action.

C. Main Engine Suddenly Stops

1. Inform Bridge and shift to standby propulsion.
2. Investigate possible causes (fuel/lube).
3. Attempt controlled restart or maintain standby.

26. Communication Practice – Fault Dialogue Completion
Objective: Practice structured fault reporting.
Instructions: Fill in missing parts of the dialogue using proper technical terms.

Third Engineer: Chief Engineer, we have a problem with the _____. It’s showing an abnormal vibration.
Chief Engineer: When did it start?
Third Engineer: Around _____ hours during engine rounds.
Chief Engineer: What actions have you taken so far?
Third Engineer: We checked the coupling and found _____. We are isolating it now.
Chief Engineer: Log it and inform the bridge. Monitor closely.

27. Safety Evaluation – True or False
Objective: Test safety awareness and equipment knowledge.
Instructions: Mark each statement as True or False.

1. Bilge water must always be logged before discharge.   ✅ ❌
2. Wearing earplugs is optional during fuel testing.         ✅ ❌
3. Crankcase relief doors must be checked weekly.           ✅❌
4. Emergency generator must be tested monthly.             ✅ ❌
5. A cracked piston crown is a minor issue.                        ✅ ❌

28. Final Writing – Role-Specific Log Entry
Objective: Practice professional engine room documentation.
Scenario: A purifier suddenly stopped operating during fuel transfer.

Log Entry Example:
Date/Time: 21 June 2025, 14:32 LT
Event: Fuel oil purifier tripped during operation.
Action Taken: Alarm acknowledged. Manual inspection showed bearing overheating. Purifier switched to standby unit. Maintenance scheduled.
Status: Fuel transfer resumed via standby purifier. Primary unit tagged for repair.

29. Capstone Roleplay – Operational Coordination
Objective: Use SMCP in real-time engine incident simulation.
Instructions: Pair with a partner. One is Chief Engineer, the other is Third or Duty Engineer.

Scenario 1: Main seawater pump fails during transit.
Scenario 2: Fire detected in purifier room.
Scenario 3: Emergency generator fails to start.

Each participant must:

• Report incident clearly using SMCP.
• Propose actions and delegate tasks.
• Follow up with a written summary or log.

📄 End of Section E. These exercises evaluate applied knowledge and fluency across all maritime communication and technical functions expected from ship engineers.

✅ Outcomes of This Course:

By completing this program, participants will be able to:

• Communicate clearly during engine operations and emergencies.
• Use IMO-compliant SMCP for reporting.
• Understand and describe all major engine systems in English.
• Read and write operational documentation (logs, procedures).
• Listen to and act on engineering announcements and videos.

📥 Need answers for this course’s exercises? Contact us here !