Question 13 DDE04 - Designated Duty Engineer - 1000-4000 HP

The Correct Answer is B. **Why Option B ("Engine lubricating oil supply header pressure") is correct:** Upon starting any internal combustion engine, especially a high-load machine like a towing winch drive engine, the immediate establishment of proper lubricating oil pressure is critical. Lubrication prevents metal-to-metal contact between moving parts (like bearings, piston rings, and cylinder liners). If the oil pressure is low or zero immediately after start-up, the protective oil film collapses, leading to catastrophic failure due to friction, overheating, and seizure within seconds or minutes. Therefore, checking the engine lubricating oil supply header pressure is the **first** priority to ensure the engine is not immediately damaged. **Why the other options are incorrect:** * **A) Winch gear oil pump discharge pressure:** This pressure relates to the equipment being driven (the winch gearbox), not the engine itself. While important for safe winch operation, it is secondary to the immediate protection of the prime mover (the engine). Engine damage would occur before damage due to poor winch lubrication. * **C) Fuel oil supply header pressure:** The engine cannot run without adequate fuel pressure, but a slight deviation in fuel pressure at start-up does not typically cause immediate mechanical damage to the engine itself. Lack of fuel pressure would cause the engine to stall or fail to start, not seize or catastrophically fail like lack of lube oil would. * **D) Cylinder jacket water pump discharge pressure:** Cooling system pressure is vital for long-term engine survival by dissipating heat. However, thermal damage takes time (minutes) to develop after start-up. Lack of lubrication causes damage within seconds, making lube oil pressure the more immediate parameter to check upon the first revolutions of the engine.