Funnel Flaps Working, Construction and regulations

Funnel flaps in a ship refers to the movable closures or windows present in the aft head of the funnel ( generally). Light weight gases from the engine room escapes to the outer atmosphere through the grills in the funnel or the funnel flap openings.

Hydraulic or pneumatic arrangements are provided for closing and opening the funnel flaps. By regulation, the funnel flaps should have provisions to be opened from a remote location. Usually, Fire control stations houses the remote control arrangements for funnel flap operation.

Funnel flaps are to be closed before releasing of C02 or doing a composite boiler or exhaust gas boiler cleaning by pressurizing the engine room.

Funnel flaps are to be always kept clean and lubricated well, It is a main component of the engine room, a favourite choice of psc inspectors and various other surveyors. A poorly maintained funnel flap will invite bad reports and will pose a serious threat to safety of the engine room.

It is a part of saturday routines to check the remote and local operataion of the funnel flaps , and is usually done by the fourth engineer or third assistant engineer.