Instruments offered for Marine Technologies

Marine (UK & Ireland): Instrumentation for Fuel, Utilities, Hydraulics & Hazardous Areas

The UK and Irish marine sector demands compact, durable and certifiable instrumentation that thrives in cramped machinery spaces, corrosive atmospheres and hazardous locations. From fuel bunkering to HVAC and bilge protection, operators need reliable control and clear indication—often with ATEX/IECEx compliance and marine approvals.

On this page, you’ll find targeted solutions for typical vessel and port applications: mass flow and density for fuels, precision regulation for steam and gases, robust visual indication for cooling and lube circuits, intrinsically safe metering for analyzer streams, and dependable hydraulic diagnostics. Our portfolio spans sliding gate control valves, high accuracy Coriolis meters, rugged variable area indicators and switches, intrinsically safe flow/pressure instruments, and back pressure regulators engineered for stability in demanding service. Where applicable, we reference UK relevant certifications such as ATEX/IECEx and third party marine approvals to support adoption on British and Irish flagged vessels and in local shipyards.

Typical applications

Fuel bunkering and custody transfer

Bunkering operations require accurate, tamper resistant measurement that stands up to changes in temperature, viscosity and backpressure. Coriolis mass flow metering has become the standard for custody transfer because it measures mass directly and provides density for on line fuel quality checks. Flexible installation is important on crowded manifolds, as are broad materials and pressure/temperature options for heavy fuels through to MGO. Marine approvals help accelerate acceptance in shipyard and classification reviews. Data needs to be consistent across flow ranges, with stable measurement during start/stop and varying pump conditions. Integrated diagnostics and rugged construction help achieve repeatable results between UK and Irish ports.

Relevant products:

Rheonik RHM series Coriolis flow meters - (e.g., RHM30) with RHE transmitters - Mass flow and density for marine fuels across a wide operating envelope, with models approved for use on marine vessels by the American Bureau of Shipping (ABS). High pressure ratings, wide temperature span and hazardous area options suit shipboard bunkering lines, and the torsion oscillator design maintains accuracy under vibration. Pair with RHE transmitters for custody grade outputs and diagnostics.

Key benefits:

Direct mass & density for custody transfer; compensates temperature/pressure effects automatically.
ABS marine approval available on selected models to streamline acceptance.
Wide pressure/temperature capability for HFO/MDO/MGO with robust materials options.
Stable under vibration, supporting reliable figures at sea and alongside.

Day tank transfer and fuel consumption monitoring

Between bunkering and main engine supply, ship fuel systems need trustworthy indication for daily transfers, return lines and consumption balance. Engineers often prefer a visual indicator with optional transmitter/switch to supervise flows, verify filter changes and confirm supply/return differentials. Instruments should withstand fuel temperatures and pressures while fitting into compact, vertical runs near day tanks. Reliable scale readability helps operators balance consumption during various engine loads. Stainless steel wetted parts and high maximum pressures offer longevity in marine environments. Optional outputs provide simple tie in to ship control systems.

Relevant products:

King Instrument 7710 series rotameters (all 316L) with transmitter/switch options - A robust variable area indicator for liquid fuels with 316L wetted parts, elevated temperature/pressure ratings, and optional 4–20 mA transmitter or NAMUR switch for alarm and trending. The dial display provides long, linear scales for better readability at a glance, supporting daily transfer checks and fuel return balancing.
Key benefits:
- All 316L construction for durability with marine fuels.
- High temp/pressure capability to suit engine room conditions.
- Optional transmitter/switches for alarm/reporting into the ship’s PLC.
- Clear, linear scales for fast visual checks during transfers.

Lube oil circulation and filter skid monitoring

Lube systems protecting engines, gearboxes and deck equipment need “at a glance” flow visibility and reliable trip points to protect bearings and seals. Instruments must tolerate viscous media at elevated temperatures and high pressures, with minimal sensitivity to mounting position and vibration. On portable filter trolleys and skid frames, compact meters help keep layouts small and serviceable. Adjustable alarms support proactive maintenance, alerting crew to blocked filters or pump issues. Rheology changes over temperature make repeatability and clear scales valuable. Rugged housings suit harsh vessel duty cycles.

Relevant products:

Lake B Series variable area flow meters (up to 414 bar) - High pressure VA meters with multiple body materials, large range of connections and excellent repeatability, ideal for lube circuits and filter carts. They provide individual calibration and maintain readability across a wide viscosity range, with minimal effect from orientation thanks to their magnetically coupled indicator.
Lake M & N Series variable area flow switches - Add single or dual adjustable switch points to trigger alarms or shutdowns on low flow conditions. The design retains unrestricted mounting with clear local indication and robust, UL/CSA rated contacts suited to shipboard panels.
Key benefits:
- 414 bar capability for high pressure lube/hydraulic branches.
- Adjustable alarm set points (single/dual) for filter clog or pump fail protection.
- Wide material/port options to match shipyard standards.
- Orientation insensitive indication simplifies skid layouts.

Steering and deck machinery hydraulic troubleshooting

Mobile diagnostics shorten downtime for winches, cranes, steering gear and stabiliser hydraulics. Portable test rigs that combine flow, pressure and temperature indication enable rapid root cause analysis and confirmation after maintenance. Rugged cases and simple hose hook ups are essential on deck. Being self contained avoids the need for ship power, and integrated safety features protect the instrument during fault testing. Engineers can verify pump performance curves, valve operation and system heat load quickly. Repeatable readings support trend analysis across voyages.

Relevant products:

PCT HydraPro Mobile Hydraulic Test Unit - A portable analyser that measures flow, pressure and temperature to diagnose hydraulic circuit faults quickly. Built around high pressure Lake meters and gauges, it’s fully portable, requires no electrical power, and includes over pressure protection to survive field use on deck.
Key benefits:
- Field portable with rugged construction for shipboard use.
- Instantaneous multi parameter reading (flow/pressure/temperature).
- No external power required, ideal for dockside or at sea.
- Built in safety (blow out disc) to protect during fault testing.

Cooling water branch indication and alarm

Seawater and freshwater cooling branches benefit from straightforward visual confirmation at each consumer, plus alarms where minimum flow must be maintained. Enclosed meters protect glass from impact in tight spaces and offer switch options for local or remote annunciation. Corrosion resistant wetted parts and seals improve longevity. Clear, readable scales help crews during commissioning, flushing and post maintenance checks. Where branches serve heat sensitive equipment, alarms can prevent nuisance trips by catching flow loss early. Integration to PLC/DCS should be simple.

Relevant products:

King Instrument 7610 series glass tube rotameters (stainless enclosure) - A versatile indicator for water/glycol with stainless case, vertical connections and optional reed switch alarms. Good temperature and pressure capability suit engine room cooling circuits, and the 10:1 turndown supports a broad operating range during manoeuvring and voyage.
Key benefits:
- Stainless enclosure for protection and durability.
- Alarm contacts for early loss of flow warnings.
- Wide flow ranges & turndown to cover multiple branches.
- Straightforward installation with vertical NPT connections.

Boiler/steam pressure regulation and conditioning

Marine boilers and steam users require compact, quiet and responsive pressure control with reliable shut off. Sliding gate architectures reduce turbulence and noise compared to globe valves, ideal in engine rooms. Self operated regulators simplify control where utilities are critical but space and air supply are limited. Materials and diaphragm selections must tolerate temperature while delivering stable set points. Downstream equipment sees fewer pressure upsets, improving heater and tracing performance. Where temperature trips are required, robust mechanical switches provide independent protection.

Relevant products:

Jordan Valve Mark 60 Series self operated PRVs - Sliding gate seat design offers quiet operation, fast response and compact size, with broad materials and set point ranges for steam/water/gas service. The straight through flow path reduces turbulence and seat wear, delivering reliable Class IV shut off and better stability in marine boiler rooms.
Key benefits:
- Quiet, compact pressure control reduces footprint and noise.
- Stable set points with sliding gate mechanics for smoother steam supply.
- Independent over temperature safety with dual switches.
- Explosion proof/Ex options align with engine room zoning.

Engine room HVAC coil control

Air handling and chilled water heaters on vessels need compact control valves with high Cv in a small body, plus reliable temperature measurement for coil control loops. Sliding gate control valves can deliver fast, accurate modulation with lower air consumption. Wafer or short face to face patterns help in tight HVAC skids. Pairing with an ATEX in head transmitter simplifies wiring runs and enables HART diagnostics. Reduced turbulence lowers wear and noise inside accommodation spaces. Stainless trim options improve longevity in marine atmospheres.

Relevant products:

Jordan Valve Mark 70 Series sliding gate control valves - Pneumatic diaphragm valve with short stroke and quiet, straight through flow; wide materials and end connections fit compact coil stations. The multi spring actuator minimises deadband, improving temperature stability across varying loads.
Status SEM310X ATEX in head temperature transmitter - Universal RTD/TC input with HART for coil inlet/outlet measurement inside hazardous areas (intrinsically safe variants), offering flexible range configuration and stable 4–20 mA output.
Key benefits:
- Accurate, fast modulation in a compact form factor.
- Lower noise and wear from sliding gate flow path.
- ATEX transmitter integrates neatly in fan rooms/ER zones.
- HART diagnostics aid commissioning and maintenance.

Tank blanketing with inert gas

Fuel and lube day tanks, chemicals and provisions tanks benefit from nitrogen blanketing to mitigate oxygen ingress and reduce evaporation losses. Low set points, tight shut off and stable control are central to minimising gas consumption while protecting product quality. A self operated regulator covers most needs; where tighter accuracy is required across very low pressures, a piloted design helps. Materials and elastomers should match the media and temperature ranges. Compact bodies with standard flanges enable simple retrofit on existing blanketing manifolds. ATEX compliance supports installation in hazardous zones on tank tops.

Relevant products:

Jordan Valve Mark 608 low pressure gas regulators: Self operated, extra large diaphragm design for sensitive control from 2″ w.c. up to 5 psi, with ANSI Class VI shut off. Bronze, carbon steel and stainless bodies offer flexibility for marine tank farms.
Jordan Valve Mark 695 piloted tank blanketing regulators (¾″–1″) : Piloted design achieves very low set points with excellent stability, supporting minimal blanket gas usage; compact sizes and flanged options ease installation.
Key benefits:
- Low pressure accuracy reduces N₂ consumption.
- Tight shut off protects headspace and product.
- Piloted stability for demanding low set points.
- Compact footprints simplify retrofit on tank tops.

Analyzer/sample conditioning flow control in hazardous areas

Gas analyzers and sample conditioning systems aboard vessels and in terminals often sit in hazardous zones. Intrinsically safe instrumentation enables real time flow/pressure control without purge cabinets, reducing complexity and footprint. Fast response supports accurate ratio control and recovery after upsets. A rugged, IP rated enclosure resists engine room moisture and washdown. Field selectable gas calibrations and diagnostics reduce change out times and spares. Certification to ATEX/IECEx accelerates acceptance with UK/IE operators.

Relevant products:

Alicat IS Max™ (flow) & IS Pro™ - intrinsically safe meters/controllers – Zone 0 ATEX/IECEx certified devices that combine live flow/pressure/temperature measurements with control capability in a compact, IP rated package. They reduce system complexity for analyzer skids while offering digital comms and batching features. (Certificate details: IECEx DEK 22.0078X.)
Key benefits:
- ATEX/IECEx Zone 0 for direct installation in Ex gas atmospheres.
- Integrated measurement + control simplifies sample systems.
- Rugged IP66 class enclosures for marine environments.
- Digital comms & batching for automation and QA.

Ballast water treatment dosing and monitoring

Ballast water systems may dose oxidants or neutralising chemicals and must document flows for compliance. Branch lines need compact instruments with clear indication and signals into the control rack. For OEM skids, panel mount acrylic meters with optional valves suit tight compartments, while transmitter equipped meters provide analogue output for trending. Material compatibility and seal choices help address chemical handling. Clear, legible scales support commissioning and service. Alarm outputs aid rapid fault isolation.

Relevant products:

Lake T Series variable area flow transmitter - A VA meter architecture with transmitter capability for liquids/gases, enabling both local indication and electrical output for ballast treatment loops. Suitable across a range of flows with the robustness of Lake’s piston/indicator design.
King Instrument 7520/7530 series panel mount rotameters - Compact acrylic block meters with optional inlet valve, multiple scale sizes, and PVC/316L/brass fittings—ideal for OEM ballast dosing panels and lockers.
Key benefits:
- Local + transmitter output for compliance logging and control.
- Panel mount form factor with optional valve for manual set up.
- Material/seal options tailored to treatment chemicals.
- Clear scales expedite commissioning and service.

Bilge and pump protection (minimum flow assurance)

Bilge, transfer and fire pumps benefit from minimum flow protection to avoid overheating and cavitation during low demand operation. A stable back pressure element maintains flow through a bypass or recirculation leg, ensuring cooling and preventing seal damage. Where temperatures are elevated or media vary, diaphragm sealed designs offer precise control and turndown. Compact bodies mount close to the pump discharge in tight machinery spaces. Simple, passive operation improves reliability. Materials and gaskets should match marine media and temperatures.

Relevant products:

Equilibar High Temperature (HT) Series back pressure regulators - Multi orifice, direct sealing diaphragm BPRs providing precise back pressure control with options for high temperature service (up to 648°C with suitable construction) and very wide turndown—ideal where stable minimum flow bypass is required.
Key benefits:
- Fast, stable back pressure to keep pumps within safe envelopes.
- High temperature configurations for challenging services.
- Wide material options to suit marine fluids.
- Compact, low maintenance design for reliability.

Gas purge and vent pressure control

Purge and inerting lines on analyzers, fuel systems and tank spaces require accurate pressure measurement—often with digital visibility—to confirm safe conditions. Compact transmitters with fast response and optional ATEX are preferred. Local display aids walk up checks while serial/analogue outputs integrate into PLCs. Differential options help verify filters and orifices. Rugged construction suits machinery space environments. Minimal warm up and rapid settling times support operational readiness.

Relevant products:

Alicat P Series digital pressure transducers - Fast, accurate pressure transmitters with local display, serial + analogue outputs, differential/absolute/gauge variants and optional ATEX Zone 2 classification—ideal for purge lines and ventilation headers where confirmation is required.
Key benefits:
- High speed response for live confirmation of purge status.
- Local readout + comms ease checks and integration.
- ATEX Zone 2 option aligns with hazardous area zoning.
- Wide pressure ranges suit multiple services on board.

Application Selection Guide

Application	Recommended Technologies	Why It Helps
Fuel bunkering & custody transfer	Rheonik RHM Coriolis + RHE transmitter	Direct mass & density, high accuracy; ABS approval available for marine service.
Day tank transfer & consumption	King 7710 rotameters	All 316L, high temp/pressure capability; optional transmitter/switch for trending/alarms.
Lube oil circulation & filter skids	Lake B Series VA meter; Lake M/N flow switches	High pressure indication up to 414bar with adjustable low flow alarms for protection.
Steering/deck hydraulic troubleshooting	PCT HydraPro mobile test unit	Portable flow/pressure/temperature diagnostics with no external power.
Cooling water branch indication & alarm	King 7610 rotameters	Stainless enclosure, optional alarms, broad turndown for branch supervision.
Boiler/steam PRV & conditioning	Jordan Valve Mark 60 PRV; Barksdale L2H temp switches	Compact, quiet PRV control with independent temperature trip for safety.
Engine room HVAC coil control	Jordan Valve Mark 70 control valve; Status SEM310X transmitter	Fast, accurate modulation plus ATEX temperature feedback with HART.
Tank blanketing (N₂)	Jordan Valve Mark 608 regulator; Mark 695 tank blanketer	Sensitive low pressure control (self op) and piloted stability at ultra low set points.
Hazardous area analyzer flows	Alicat IS Max / IS Pro (IS flow/pressure)	ATEX/IECEx Zone 0 instruments unify measurement and control in Ex zones.
Ballast dosing & monitoring	Lake T Series VA transmitter; King 7520/7530 panel meters	Local indication + electrical output, compact panel mount with optional metering valve.
Bilge/pump minimum flow assurance	Equilibar HT Series back pressure regulators	Precise, stable back pressure with high temperature options and wide turndown.
Gas purge & vent pressure control	Alicat P Series pressure transducers	Fast, digital pressure with local display and optional ATEX Zone 2.

FAQs

Do these instruments support UK/IE hazardous area requirements?

Yes—several products are available with ATEX/IECEx certifications, including Alicat IS Max/IS Pro (Zone 0) and optional ATEX on Alicat P Series. Many Jordan Valve regulators also list ATEX on specific models. Check each product page and your vessel’s zoning before selection.

Helpful resources

How Does an Instrumentation Pressure Regulator Work? - Principles of regulator selection and control behaviour (useful background for steam and blanketing).
King rotameters used in biostore process - Panel mount acrylic meters with valves; relevant to compact dosing panels (methodology parallels ballast dosing).