Cart (
Overview
Crankcase oil mist detection is one of the oldest and most well-established safety requirements in marine engineering — and for good reason. A crankcase explosion on a diesel engine is not a recoverable event: it happens in milliseconds, the pressure damage is immediate and severe, and the secondary oil fire that typically follows puts the entire engine room at risk. The engineering community’s answer to this risk has been continuous crankcase oil mist monitoring, and over decades of field service, one detector system has established a reputation for reliability in this application that few competitors have matched: the Schaller Visatron.
The Visatron VN115/87 Plus Oil Mist Detection System by Schaller OMD is one of the most widely recognised and widely installed crankcase oil mist detectors in the commercial marine sector. Suitable for use on both two-stroke and four-stroke diesel engines, the VN115/87 Plus operates as a detection system with switch-type output — when oil mist concentration rises to a dangerous level or a dangerous friction situation is detected, the system releases an alarm signal to the vessel’s alarm and safety system, triggering either an immediate engine stop or an automatic slowdown depending on the classification rules and engine purpose applicable to the vessel.
What sets the Visatron VN115/87 Plus apart from alternative oil mist detection systems is not a single feature — it is the weight of its service history. The Visatron name is recognised by class surveyors, marine engineers, and engine manufacturers globally as the benchmark detector in this application. When a vessel’s main engine specifies a Visatron detector in its technical documentation, procurement teams are not evaluating whether the Visatron is the right choice — they are sourcing the specified unit. That level of OEM specification recognition, built over decades of field installation and proven operational reliability, is not a characteristic that a newer detector system can replicate in the short term.
Key Features
Compatible with Both Two-Stroke and Four-Stroke Diesel Engines
The VN115/87 Plus is specified for both two-stroke and four-stroke diesel engine applications — covering the full range of main engine and auxiliary engine types found in the commercial marine fleet. Two-stroke engines and four-stroke engines present different crankcase conditions: different internal pressures, different lube oil circulation rates, and different physical crankcase geometries. The VN115/87 Plus’s detection architecture and sampling design accommodate both engine types, making it a single detector platform applicable across mixed engine fleets without requiring different detector models for different engine configurations.
Switch-Type Detection with Alarm and Safety System Integration
The VN115/87 Plus operates as a detection system with switch-type output — providing a direct signal output to the vessel’s alarm and safety system when oil mist concentration exceeds the detection threshold. The switch output integrates directly with the vessel’s existing engine safety system to trigger either an automatic engine stop or an automatic slowdown mode, depending on the classification society rules applicable to the vessel and the operational mode of the engine at the time of alarm. This integration means the VN115/87 Plus is not a standalone alarm instrument — it is a functional component of the vessel’s engine protection system, with a defined protective response wired into the engine management architecture.
Dangerous Friction Detection — Beyond Simple Oil Mist Threshold
Beyond straightforward oil mist concentration threshold alarming, the VN115/87 Plus detection system is designed to respond to dangerous friction situations — conditions where localised heat generation from bearing contact or journal wear produces a rapid, localised oil mist spike characteristic of a friction event rather than a gradual overall concentration rise. Detecting dangerous friction as a distinct event type — not simply waiting for overall crankcase oil mist to reach a static threshold — provides an additional layer of protection relevant to the sudden, high-consequence bearing failure scenarios that present the greatest crankcase explosion risk.
Measuring Head with Toroid Detection Technology
The VN115/87 Plus uses a toroid-based measuring head (referenced in the MK-5 designation) for oil mist concentration measurement. The measuring head is a field-replaceable component — spare part number 11651 — allowing the sensing element to be replaced during scheduled maintenance without requiring the entire detector unit to be removed from service or returned to the manufacturer. Measuring head replaceability is a significant maintenance advantage in an engine room environment where detector downtime directly affects the vessel’s crankcase monitoring compliance status. The measuring head design is supported by a comprehensive spare parts inventory covering all serviceable components of the VN115/87 Plus system.
Fresh Air Filter and Scavenging Air Filter System
The VN115/87 Plus incorporates a fresh air filter (spare part 10042) and scavenging air filter system as part of its sampling architecture — providing clean reference air for the detection measurement process and protecting the optical and sensing components from contamination by the engine room atmosphere. Filter maintenance is a standard part of the VN115/87 Plus service schedule, and replacement filter components are available as individual spare parts (circlip for scavenging air filter: 10041). Maintaining clean filter elements is one of the most important routine maintenance tasks for the VN115/87 Plus — contaminated filters affect measurement accuracy and can cause missed alarms or nuisance triggering.
Elastic Mounting System for Vibration Isolation
The measuring head of the VN115/87 Plus is mounted on upper and lower elastic mounting systems (spare parts 10018 and 10019) — vibration isolation mounts that protect the precision optical and sensing components of the measuring head from the continuous vibration environment of a diesel engine installation. Engine vibration is one of the primary causes of premature failure in engine-mounted instrumentation. The elastic mounting system extends the service life of the measuring head’s internal components and maintains measurement stability under the vibration conditions of continuous engine operation — a design detail that reflects the VN115/87 Plus’s origins as an engine-mounted instrument, not a general industrial instrument adapted for engine room use.
Comprehensive Spare Parts Availability
The VN115/87 Plus is supported by a complete spare parts inventory covering all serviceable components of the detection system. Available spare parts include: Measuring Head (11651), Fresh Air Filter (10042), Inspection Cover (10798), Gasket for Inspection Cover (10166), U-Tube Plug 1/4″ (10083), U-Tube Plug Gasket (10082), Circlip for Scavenging Air Filter (10041), Screw Plug Seal R1/2″ (10209), Screw R1/2″ (10208), Connection Casing VN115/87 Plus (11652), Gasket for Measuring Head (10022), Upper Elastic Mounting System (10018), Flexible Bellow (10023), Lower Elastic Mounting System (10019), Seal (10206), Valve Box Seal (10049), Connection Socket (11004), and Base Plate (11076). This level of spare parts availability supports planned preventive maintenance, emergency in-service repairs, and long-term system sustainability on vessels where the VN115/87 Plus is a specified component of the engine’s safety system.
Technical Specifications
Maker: Schaller OMD Visatron
Model: Visatron VN115/87 Plus
Description: MK-5 Oil Mist Detector — Toroid detection technology
Engine Compatibility: Two-stroke and four-stroke diesel engines
Detection Method: Toroid-based measuring head (MK-5)
Output Type: Switch-type — direct integration with vessel alarm and safety system
Protective Response: Engine stop or slowdown (per classification rules and engine purpose)
Measuring Head: Field-replaceable, Part No. 11651
Mounting: Upper and lower elastic mounting system for vibration isolation
Condition: Refurbished
Benefits
OEM specification recognition eliminates compatibility uncertainty at procurement and survey. When the engine technical manual specifies a Visatron VN115/87 Plus, the procurement decision is already made — the question is sourcing a unit that satisfies the specification, not evaluating alternatives. Procuring the specified Visatron unit eliminates the class survey risk associated with installing a non-specified replacement detector, and avoids the technical justification process that substituting an alternative system requires. For vessels where the VN115/87 Plus is the OEM-specified detector, sourcing the correct Visatron unit is the straightforward path to compliant crankcase monitoring.
Refurbished availability provides access to a specified detector within operational timelines and budgets. New Visatron VN115/87 Plus units may carry lead times or pricing that is incompatible with a vessel’s port-call maintenance window or maintenance budget allocation. A refurbished unit — inspected and tested before supply, confirmed functional against the VN115/87 Plus specification — provides the same OEM detector performance at a procurement cost and lead time that an in-service replacement situation demands. For vessels with an urgent crankcase monitoring defect requiring rectification before the next class survey or port state control inspection, refurbished availability through a Singapore-based distributor with regional delivery capability is a practical operational solution.
Switch-type output with stop/slowdown integration provides active engine protection, not just an alarm. A detector that only sounds an alarm transfers the entire engine protection decision to the crew — and in an unmanned machinery space, or in a situation where alarm response is delayed, that means no protective action may occur before oil mist reaches ignition concentration. The VN115/87 Plus’s switch-type output integrates directly with the engine’s safety system to trigger an automatic protective response — engine stop or slowdown — without requiring crew intervention. That active protection architecture is the standard that SOLAS and class society requirements for crankcase explosion protection are built around.
Comprehensive spare parts availability supports long-term system sustainability. A detector installed on a vessel’s main engine will be in service for the life of that engine — potentially 20 or more years. A system with limited spare parts availability will become unmaintainable before the end of that service life, forcing a full replacement that could have been avoided with component-level maintenance. The VN115/87 Plus’s comprehensive spare parts inventory — covering all serviceable components down to gaskets, seals, and mounting elements — supports the preventive maintenance schedule that keeps the system reliably operational across an extended service life.
Elastic mounting system extends measuring head service life under continuous engine vibration. Vibration-induced component fatigue is one of the primary causes of sensor failure in engine-mounted instruments. The VN115/87 Plus’s built-in elastic mounting isolation protects the measuring head’s precision components from the vibration environment of a running diesel engine — extending the interval between measuring head replacements and reducing the total maintenance cost of the crankcase monitoring installation over its service life.
Who It’s For
The Chief Engineer Sourcing a Like-for-Like Replacement for a Defective Visatron
Your main engine’s VN115/87 Plus has developed a measuring head fault — the unit is still physically installed but is no longer giving a reliable reading. You’re calling at Singapore in three days and you need a replacement unit ready for collection or vessel delivery. You don’t want an alternative detector that requires engineering justification for the class surveyor — you want the Visatron VN115/87 Plus specified in your engine documentation, in refurbished condition, available immediately. Alright Engineering Solutions holds Schaller Visatron units and can confirm availability and coordinate vessel delivery within your port call window.
The Technical Superintendent Managing a Fleet with Schaller Visatron Installations
Your fleet was outfitted with Visatron crankcase detectors across the main engines, and you maintain a fleet-wide spare parts programme for the VN115/87 Plus to support planned maintenance across your managed vessels. You need a reliable Singapore-based supply source for VN115/87 Plus units, measuring heads (11651), fresh air filters (10042), elastic mounting systems, and the full range of VN115/87 Plus spare parts — with consistent availability, correct part numbers, and supply documentation appropriate for your ISM Code spare parts records. Alright Engineering Solutions can provide both complete refurbished units and individual spare parts for your fleet Visatron maintenance programme.
The Marine Procurement Officer Responding to a Class Survey Deficiency
A vessel under your management has received a class survey observation: the crankcase oil mist detector is defective, and the surveyor has issued a recommendation for replacement before the vessel’s next trading leg. You need to confirm the correct replacement unit — Visatron VN115/87 Plus as specified for that engine installation — source it in refurbished condition within budget, arrange delivery to the vessel at its current or next port, and have the supply documentation ready for the surveyor’s follow-up inspection closure. Alright Engineering Solutions handles exactly this type of time-critical marine safety equipment procurement — contact our team with the vessel and engine details to start the sourcing process.
Possible Applications
- Large bore two-stroke main engines — bulk carriers, tankers, and container ships — Direct replacement of defective or life-expired VN115/87 Plus units on MAN B&W, Wärtsilä, and Sulzer two-stroke main engines where the Visatron VN115/87 Plus is OEM-specified in the engine technical documentation
- Medium speed four-stroke main engines — ferries, offshore vessels, and ro-ro ships — Crankcase oil mist detection on four-stroke propulsion engines where the VN115/87 Plus is the engine manufacturer’s specified detector or the vessel operator’s established fleet standard
- Auxiliary diesel generator engines on commercial vessels — VN115/87 Plus installation or replacement on vessel auxiliary generators where Schaller Visatron detection is specified or where fleet standardisation on the Visatron platform is the operator’s policy
- Port state control and class survey deficiency rectification — Urgent replacement sourcing for vessels where a defective VN115/87 Plus has been identified as a class or PSC deficiency requiring rectification before the vessel can continue trading
- Fleet spare parts provisioning — ship management companies — Procurement of refurbished VN115/87 Plus units and individual spare parts (measuring heads, filters, mounting systems, gaskets) for fleet spare parts inventories on companies managing vessels with Visatron crankcase monitoring installations
- Drydock and special survey maintenance programmes — Scheduled VN115/87 Plus measuring head replacement, filter servicing, and gasket renewal during class renewal surveys and planned drydocking maintenance periods
- Offshore platform support vessels and anchor handling tugs — VN115/87 Plus installations on offshore support vessel main engines where crankcase monitoring reliability and OEM specification compliance are rigorous operational requirements
- Newbuild outfitting and engine commissioning spare parts — Supply of VN115/87 Plus commissioning spares and first-service maintenance kits for vessels being outfitted with Schaller Visatron crankcase detection as the OEM-specified system
Trust and Certifications
Schaller OMD Visatron — The Industry Reference for Crankcase Oil Mist Detection
Schaller OMD is the manufacturer of the Visatron range of oil mist detectors — a product line that has accumulated a position as the reference standard for crankcase oil mist detection in the commercial marine sector over decades of field service. The Visatron name appears in the technical documentation of diesel engines from every major marine engine manufacturer — MAN B&W, Wärtsilä, Sulzer — as the OEM-specified or recommended crankcase detector. That OEM specification recognition is not a marketing claim; it is the product of sustained field reliability and the engineering confidence of the world’s largest marine engine manufacturers, which is a more meaningful credential than any number of marketing certifications.
Class Society Acceptance — Established Across All Major Classification Societies
The Visatron VN115/87 Plus has established class society acceptance across all major international classification societies — Lloyd’s Register, DNV, Bureau Veritas, ClassNK, ABS, and others. Class surveyors conducting machinery surveys and UMS notation assessments are familiar with the Visatron system, reducing the documentation and justification burden associated with installing a less-recognised alternative system. For procurement teams sourcing a crankcase detector for a classed vessel, Visatron’s established class acceptance history simplifies the installation survey process and reduces the risk of class observations on the installed detector.
SOLAS Chapter II-1 Regulation 26 — Crankcase Explosion Protection
SOLAS Chapter II-1 Regulation 26 requires diesel engines above specified bore and crankcase volume thresholds to be fitted with oil mist detectors or equivalent crankcase protection devices, with automatic engine stop or slowdown capability. The Visatron VN115/87 Plus satisfies this requirement through its switch-type detection output integrated with the engine’s stop and slowdown safety system — providing the SOLAS-compliant active crankcase protection response required for commercial vessels on international service.
Refurbished Condition — Inspected and Tested Before Supply
The Visatron VN115/87 Plus unit available through Alright Engineering Solutions is supplied in refurbished condition — inspected and functionally tested before supply to confirm that the unit operates correctly against the VN115/87 Plus specification. For marine safety system components where the functional reliability of the installed unit directly affects the vessel’s crankcase explosion protection status, tested refurbished condition provides documented functional assurance that untested used components cannot offer.
Supplied Through Alright Engineering Solutions — Authorised Singapore Distributor
The Visatron VN115/87 Plus is supplied through Alright Engineering Solutions Pte. Ltd., an authorised distributor of marine safety monitoring equipment and engine room safety systems based in Singapore. Alright Engineering Solutions provides procurement support, spare parts sourcing, and technical documentation assistance for Schaller Visatron equipment across the Singapore and Southeast Asia regional market — with delivery capability to vessels in port and at regional ship repair and drydock facilities.
Accessories and Variants
VN115/87 Plus Spare Parts — Complete Component Coverage
Alright Engineering Solutions can supply individual spare parts for the VN115/87 Plus to support planned maintenance programmes and in-service repairs. Available parts include all serviceable components of the VN115/87 Plus system:
11651 — Measuring Head — The primary detection component; replace on schedule or following measuring head fault indication
10042 — Fresh Air Filter — Replace at each scheduled service to maintain measurement accuracy
10798 — Inspection Cover — Replacement cover for the detector inspection access point
10166 — Gasket for Inspection Cover — Seal replacement for inspection cover maintenance
10083 — U-Tube Plug 1/4″ — Sampling line plug component
10082 — U-Tube Plug Gasket — Seal for U-tube plug
10041 — Circlip for Scavenging Air Filter — Retention component for scavenging air filter assembly
10209 — Screw Plug Seal R1/2″ — Seal for screw plug connection
10208 — Screw R1/2″ — Connection screw component
11652 — Connection Casing VN115/87 Plus — Replacement connection casing for the complete detector unit
10022 — Gasket for Measuring Head — Seal for measuring head installation; replace with each measuring head service
10018 — Upper Elastic Mounting System — Vibration isolation mount for measuring head; replace if vibration damping performance is degraded
10023 — Flexible Bellow — Flexible connection component for sampling architecture
10019 — Lower Elastic Mounting System — Lower vibration isolation mount for measuring head
10206 — Seal — General system seal component
10049 — Valve Box Seal — Seal for the valve box assembly
11004 — Connection Socket — Electrical connection socket for alarm and safety system integration
11076 — Base Plate — Mounting base plate for VN115/87 Plus installation
Related Schaller Visatron Products and Alright Engineering Solutions Range
Specs Oil Mist Detector COMD — Alternative crankcase oil mist detector for vessels where the Specs COMD is the specified or preferred system; available new and refurbished
Specs Oil Mist Detector AOMD — Engine room ambient oil mist detector complementing crankcase monitoring on vessels requiring open engine room oil mist coverage
GX-8000 Sample Draw Multi-Gas Monitor — Portable confined space entry gas monitor for engine room, pump room, and cargo hold gas testing procedures
Get in Touch
If you need to source the Visatron VN115/87 Plus Oil Mist Detection System — as a complete refurbished unit for an in-service replacement, or as individual spare parts for a planned maintenance programme or in-service repair — contact Alright Engineering Solutions to confirm current availability and request a quotation.
Our team can confirm spare part numbers, support class survey documentation requirements, and coordinate delivery to vessels in Singapore and regional ports within your operational timeline.
📍 3791 Jalan Bukit Merah #06-01, E-Centre @ Redhill, Singapore 159471
