15PPM BILGE ALARM
Fellow Kogyo Co., Ltd.
Refurbished
Fellow Kogyo Co., Ltd.
Japan
15ppm Bilge Alarm / Oil Content Meter / Oily Water Separator Monitoring Unit
Continuous monitoring of oil concentration in bilge water discharge lines connected to oily water separator systems, with alarm and discharge protection functions to support MARPOL compliance
The Fellow Kogyo FOCAS-1800 is a 15ppm Bilge Alarm system designed for use with marine oily water separator (OWS) installations. Its main purpose is to continuously monitor the oil content of discharged bilge water and provide alarm or protective action when the oil concentration exceeds the permitted discharge limit.
On board ships, oily bilge water treatment is not just an operational issue — it is a regulatory and environmental compliance requirement. The bilge alarm unit plays a vital role in ensuring that water discharged overboard from the oily water separator remains within the allowable oil content level, typically 15 ppm, in accordance with MARPOL pollution prevention requirements.
The product shown in your image is a complete FOCAS-1800 15ppm Bilge Alarm assembly consisting of the main electronic control unit and detector/sensor section. This type of equipment is commonly installed in the engine room bilge treatment line and works together with the ship’s oily water separator system, overboard valve logic, and discharge monitoring arrangement.
The FOCAS-1800 is a marine oil content monitoring device that measures the concentration of oil in water passing through the oily water separator discharge line. It is used to confirm whether the treated bilge water is clean enough to be legally discharged overboard.
If the oil concentration rises above the allowable limit, the bilge alarm system can:
In practical shipboard use, this means the unit acts as a safety and compliance monitor between the oily water separator and the vessel’s overboard discharge arrangement.
The system is normally installed in the discharge line of the oily water separator. As treated water passes through the detector section, the instrument measures the oil content level. The control unit processes that signal and displays the oil concentration value in ppm.
The bilge alarm then compares the measured value against the allowable threshold. If the oil content becomes too high, the system activates alarm outputs and may also interact with the separator control system or overboard valve arrangement depending on the ship’s wiring and automation setup.
In simple operating terms, the sequence is usually:
This is why the 15ppm bilge alarm is one of the most important environmental monitoring devices in the engine room.
The FOCAS-1800 continuously monitors oil concentration in the discharge line of the oily water separator, helping engineers verify that discharge water remains within permitted limits.
The front panel typically provides clear status indications such as:
These indications help engineers quickly identify whether the problem is actual oil contamination or an equipment-related issue.
The bilge alarm is designed to work as part of the ship’s oily water separator arrangement rather than as a standalone display only. It can support discharge control logic, warning functions, and compliance monitoring.
The system combines an electronic control section with a detector block suitable for engine room installation. This allows it to be fitted near the oily water separator or discharge monitoring line depending on the vessel design.
The core purpose of the FOCAS-1800 is environmental protection and legal compliance. In marine operations, this makes it far more important than a normal local indicator because it directly relates to bilge discharge legality.
A typical Fellow Kogyo FOCAS-1800 arrangement includes the following functional sections:
This is the front electronic panel where the operator sees:
The detector section is connected to the bilge discharge sample or flow path and performs the actual oil concentration measurement.
The internal electronics convert the detector signal into a readable ppm value and compare it with programmed or built-in alarm logic.
The unit can provide alarm output to the oily water separator control circuit, engine room alarm system, or overboard protection logic.
As seen in your image, the lower cable entries connect the unit to power, detector signals, alarm outputs, and related control wiring.
The Fellow Kogyo FOCAS-1800 is primarily used in:
It may be found on:
Like most marine bilge alarm systems, the FOCAS-1800 may develop faults due to contamination, poor sample quality, electrical issues, or aging components. Below are common service problems engineers may encounter.
Possible causes
Troubleshooting
Possible causes
Troubleshooting
Possible causes
Troubleshooting
Possible causes
Troubleshooting
Possible causes
Troubleshooting
The detector part is one of the most sensitive areas of any 15ppm bilge alarm. Oil film, sludge, or deposits can create false readings and repeated alarms. Regular inspection and cleaning are essential.
Poor flow, blocked sample lines, trapped air, or dirty piping can cause unstable or incorrect readings. Always inspect the sample path when troubleshooting.
This equipment is installed in a harsh engine room environment. Cable glands and enclosure sealing should be checked to prevent moisture ingress and electrical faults.
A bilge alarm is not only for display. It must also reliably provide alarm output and protective response. Functional testing should be included in planned maintenance routines where permitted by vessel procedures.
Because bilge alarms are compliance-related instruments, calibration validity and certification status should be checked according to vessel, class, and regulatory requirements.
Many bilge alarm problems are actually caused by poor separator performance rather than a defective alarm unit. The OWS and the bilge alarm should always be considered as one operating system.
Ships continue to use the FOCAS-1800 and similar bilge alarm systems because 15ppm monitoring is not optional — it is a critical part of lawful oily bilge discharge control. Even on older vessels, replacing or servicing an existing Fellow Kogyo unit is often more practical than redesigning the full OWS alarm arrangement.
Marine engineers and technical buyers still search for units like this because they need:
It is used to monitor the oil content of treated bilge water discharged from an oily water separator and to give alarm if the oil concentration exceeds the allowed limit.
Yes. It is typically installed as part of the OWS discharge monitoring and alarm arrangement and works together with the separator and discharge control system.
It refers to a bilge monitoring device designed to ensure that oil content in discharge water does not exceed 15 parts per million, which is the commonly referenced marine discharge limit for oily bilge water systems.
Yes. Oil film, sludge, or contamination in the detector section can cause unstable readings, false oil alarms, or fault conditions.
Yes. SM MARINE SERVICE™ can support sourcing of 15ppm bilge alarms, oil content meters, oily water separator automation equipment, marine detector units, and related spare parts subject to stock and availability.
The Fellow Kogyo FOCAS-1800 15ppm Bilge Alarm is a marine oil content monitoring unit used with shipboard oily water separator systems to continuously measure oil concentration in bilge discharge water. It provides alarm and monitoring functions to help prevent non-compliant overboard discharge and supports pollution prevention requirements on board marine vessels.
For this model, I recommend using the exact name below when searching onboard documentation or maker files:
Fellow Kogyo FOCAS-1800 15ppm Bilge Alarm
বন্ধু, চাইলে আমি পরের ধাপে এই FOCAS-1800-এর জন্য official/manual links খুঁজে এনে পুরো Final premium blog বানিয়ে দিতে পারি।
এই মডেলের জন্য আমি আলাদা করে খুঁজে দিতে পারি:
- Operation Manual
- Maintenance Manual
- Wiring / terminal reference
- Common alarm explanation
- Calibration / detector cleaning notes
Available Condition:
• New Equipment • Used Equipment • Refurbished Equipment • Reconditioned Equipment
Stock Location:
• Bangladesh • China
Services:
• Worldwide Shipping • Technical Support • Spare Parts Supply • Marine Equipment Sourcing
SM MARINE SERVICE™ Samir Market, DT Road, Pahartali, beside CDA Market, Chattogram, Bangladesh
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