Blackwatch 40 Ventilation System

January 30, 2025

Brad Marsden

Director - Marine Air Flow International

35 Years Experience in the Marine Industry

Do You Have a Black Watch With Overheating and Salt Mist Intake Challenges?

Black Watch 40 with retro fitted Intake Grilles

Even though Black Watch is a great sea boat, when the ocean is less than flat calm they can and usually do have quite a challenge with salt mist coming into the engine room. This can cause some increased maintenance bills and the need to replace valuable engine room equipment more often than you maybe would like.

What you might not know is that here at Marine Air Flow we can retro fit both new intake grilles and fans so that not only are your water issues resolved, but your engine room will overall be much cooler as well.

What we do is remove the fashion teardrop on the outside and a single stage separator grille is fitted in its position. We can powder coat to almost any marine colour so you don't have to be concerned about the aesthetic look either.

You can see in the photo above that our colour match to the boats hull was perfect. We recently did one of these retrofits for a client who was very happy with the result.

For the best outcome with this particular boat, the Best position for the fans is to be mounted is on the forward bulkhead as high as practical. If they are installed on a 45° mounting bracket, the discharge velocity from the fans will push the air down to the keel ensuring the engine room has great circulation.

The last item we added to this project was our manual fan speed controller. This control system results in a reduction of noise and power consumption when you turn the fans down to a lower speed. This is really helpful when trawl fishing as your engines are doing low rpm and producing minimal DC power via the alternators, but pending sounders etc you may still be pulling a lot of amps. So reducing power consumption may become essential, pending your set up.

We did manage to turn this project around in just a few weeks as we had the grilles in stock. However our lead time can be up to 12-16 weeks for custom projects, so be sure to get in touch in advance so we can be sure to provide the equipment when you need it.

Equipment Supplied:

2 teardrop shaped Mist Eliminator Grilles,
2 DC compact fans (12 volt and 12" diameter)
A compact fan mount bracket and finger safety guard
Dc Fan Speed controller with reversing switch

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56 Meter RORO Ferries Project For Abu Dhabi

By Brad Marsden • June 10, 2025

Optimising Engine Room Ventilation for Abu Dhabi’s High-Speed Ro-Pax Ferries As part of Abu Dhabi’s ongoing investment in advanced maritime infrastructure, the AD Ports Group commissioned two high-speed Ro-Ro ferries to operate between the UAE mainland and Delma Island. Carrying 250 passengers and 25 cars per trip at a service speed of over 30 Knots is pretty impressive , and you'd have to agree they are certainly very tidy looking Roll On Roll Off Ferries!! Designed for both passenger comfort and operational performance, these cutting-edge vessels required a ventilation solution that could meet the rigorous demands of the Gulf’s climate and the intense operating conditions of four powerful MTU engines per vessel. Our team was proud to be selected to design and deliver the engine room ventilation system for these state-of-the-art ferries, ensuring they remain safe, efficient, and reliable at sea. Engineering the Future of Fast Ferry Travel Built to carry up to 194 passengers and 25 vehicles, each of the 56-metre-long catamarans has been equipped with four MTU 16V4000M65L high-performance engines driving Kongsberg KaMeWa waterjets. This powerful propulsion setup enables cruising speeds of up to 35 knots, making the ferries among the fastest in their class within the region. Inside, the vessels feature modern amenities such as a VIP lounge, children’s play area, two cafes, five toilets, and full wheelchair accessibility, highlighting AD Ports Group’s commitment to both efficiency and passenger experience. Operating in the heat of the Persian Gulf, however, presents unique engineering challenges. The heart of this lies within the engine room where temperatures, airflow, and safety systems must be tightly controlled to prevent overheating, ensure compliance, and protect both crew and machinery. A Tailored Ventilation Solution for Demanding Conditions The brief for this project was clear: create a ventilation system that could not only manage the extreme thermal loads generated by four high-output marine engines but also comply with international marine safety standards, including fire isolation and redundancy protocols. Key features of the system we delivered include: Marine-Grade Ventilation Dampers : Built from corrosion-resistant stainless steel, our dampers are designed for longevity and reliability in a saltwater environment. Integrated Auto Close Capability : The dampers are configured to close rapidly in the event of a fire, helping to isolate the engine room and restrict oxygen supply. High Airflow Capacity : Designed specifically for the compact, high-output layout of the engine rooms, the system allows for maximum airflow and heat dissipation under full load. Moisture and Salt Mist Defence: Our Intake grilles are known globally for their excellent capability of reducing salt mist and spray into your engine room. Here they allow a vessel operating in already extreme conditions to require far less ongoing equipment replacement. Redundancy & Safety : With automated control options and manual overrides, the system ensures continuous operation and safety during engine shutdowns or emergencies. Delivering Results at Sea With the ventilation system now fully installed and operational, the Ro-Pax ferries have successfully completed sea trials and are ready to begin service. The performance of the engine room ventilation under load has exceeded expectations, maintaining optimal operating temperatures even during high-speed runs in the peak Gulf heat. In addition to thermal performance, the system’s fire isolation capability offers an added layer of safety, helping these ferries meet stringent international compliance standards while delivering peace of mind for operators and passengers alike. Reflecting on the Project This project underscores the critical importance of high-performance ventilation systems in modern vessel design. From the intense thermal loads of multi-engine configurations to the need for rapid fire response and corrosion resistance, every detail matters when it comes to marine safety and reliability. We’re proud to have played a key role in supporting this milestone for AD Ports Group and Abu Dhabi’s maritime future and we look forward to bringing this level of engineering excellence to future vessel builds across the region and beyond. Talk to Us About Your Marine Ventilation Needs Whether you’re designing a new-build high-speed ferry or retrofitting an existing vessel, we offer tailored ventilation solutions that combine safety, efficiency, and performance. Get in touch with our team today to learn how we can support your next marine engineering project.