🔍 Key Concepts

• 46 CFR requirements for oil-fired main propulsion boilers on inspected vessels • The difference between pumps, heaters, and strainers in a fuel oil system • Why the Coast Guard focuses on redundancy and protection of fuel lines/equipment for safety

💭 Think About

• Ask yourself which item (pumps, heaters, or strainers) is most directly tied to protecting the boiler and fuel system from contamination or blockage rather than just providing flow or temperature control. • Think about whether regulations usually require redundant pieces of equipment (like two of something) in all cases, or if they more often require a specific protective component to always be present. • Consider the typical layout of a fuel oil service system: where does fuel pass immediately before reaching the burner, and what must be in place there by regulation?

✅ Before You Answer

• Verify in 46 CFR which specific fuel oil system fitting is explicitly required for oil-fired main propulsion boilers. • Confirm whether the regulations say “at least two” pumps or heaters for all vessels, or if that kind of redundancy is only mandated in certain vessel classes or arrangements. • Check if the regulation mentions a combined suction and discharge protective device in the fuel line, and note what type it is.