🔍 Key Concepts

• Engine room status during different phases: normal operations, pre-departure checks, and maneuvering/standby • How long it realistically takes to bring main engines and auxiliary systems to full readiness from a cold or normal operating condition • Typical bridge–engine room communications and engine order telegraph (EOT) practices before getting underway

💭 Think About

• Think about what has to be done in the engine room just before departure: which systems need to be on line and closely monitored when the ship is about to start maneuvering? • Compare each time option with real-world practice: would engineers be able to maintain an actual maneuvering/standby state for that entire period without wasting fuel and personnel effort? • Consider the sequence: pre‑departure inspections and warming up, then final readiness for maneuvering—at which stage is the ‘standby’ order normally rung?

✅ Before You Answer

• Verify what standby means on the engine order telegraph: it indicates the engines must be ready to respond instantly to speed and direction orders. • Ask yourself whether long-duration standby (many hours) is practical or whether standby is a short, final phase just before letting go lines. • Make sure you distinguish between the time when checks and preparations begin and the moment when the engine room is placed on immediate maneuvering readiness.