Definition
A donkey boiler is a small, independent boiler used to power auxiliary equipment on ships, such as pumps and winches. It's called 'donkey' because it does the 'grunt work' 💪 of smaller tasks. Unlike a main boiler that drives the ship, a donkey boiler handles supplementary functions. It provides steam when the main boiler is cold or shut down. Think of it as the reliable workhorse ensuring essential functions keep running. Donkey boilers are typically compact and easy to operate.