MARINE ELECTRICAL

TECHNOLOGY
UNIT-1
POWER DISTRIBUTION AND
REGULATIONS

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 THE MARINE ENVIRONMENT
• Factors to be considered
1.Climatic condition
2.Vibrations
3.Continuous motion of a ship
4.Temperature
5.conditions of usage
• Load pattern has the considerable effect on the life of
equipment
• Marine industry electrical equipment is expected to last the
life time of equipment
• Maximum reliability is importent for propulsion and safety

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 EFFECTS OF INCLINATION
1.Main propulsion and auxiliary machinery
It is designed to operate when the ship is
upright and when inclined at angle of list up to
and including 15’ either way under static
conditions and 22.5’ under dynamic
conditions.

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 EFFECTS OF INCLINATION
2.The emergency generator and its prime mover
It is designed and arranged as to ensure
that they will function at full rated power
when ship is upright and when inclined at any
angle of list up to 22.5’

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 EFFECTS OF INCLINATION
3. Switch gear and relays
Operation of the contactors, switch gear
and relays are affected by the inclination.
Any apparatus containing oil such as
transformers (or) switches & solenoids will
also be affected.

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 EFFECTS OF INCLINATION
Installations, Athwart ship Fore & aft
components
Static dynamic Static dynamic
Propulsion & auxiliary 15 22.5 5 7.5
machinery
Safety equipment 22.5 22.5 10 10

Emergency power 22.5 22.5 10 10

installation
Emergency fire pumps 22.5 22.5 10 10
&their devices
Switch gear Electrical 22.5 22.5 10 10
&Electronic appliances
& control systems

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 GENERATORS
1. Generators driven by diesel engine, a steam (or)
gas turbine (or) main propulsion engine itself.
2. The type of prime mover is determined by the
design of the ship and by economic factors
involved
3. Generators may be connected to the systems
that are classified as
a) Single phase,two wire insulated
b) Three phase,three wire insulated
c) Three phase,Four wire earthed neutral system

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 GENERATORS
4. SOLAS require at least two generators for a ship’s
main electrical power system and atleast one
electrical generator to be independent of speed
&rotation of main propeller & shafting.
5. Many owners opt to provide three generators
one is used for the normal sea load, leaving two
available to meet any unusually high loads or to
provide security while manoeuvring.

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 GENERATORS
6. Alternatively, the third is retained, as a
standby set, able to provide power should one
set fail in service (or) require specific
maintenance work.
7. The output from each of these generators is
fed to the main switch board and then
distributed to various auxiliary services
comprising the electrical load.

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 Power supplies commonly available
1. Modern merchant vessels usually use alternating
current system
1) Three phase, three wire insulated neutral system
2) Three phase, Four wire system
2. Direct current system can also be used.
3. Ratings for different ships.
1) Large passenger ships have three or four large
generators rated at 2MW or more to supply the
extensive hotel services on board
2) A cargo ships may have two or more main generators
typically rated from 350 kw to a few MW which are
sufficient to supply engine room auxiliaries while at sea
& the winches or cranes for handling cargo while in port.

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 Power supplies commonly available
3) The emergency generators be rated from about 10 kw for a
small coaster to a about 700kw for a cargo vessel.

4) Electrical power onboard a ship is commonly generated at

440V,60HZ (some times 380V,50HZ)

5) Ships with a very large electrical power demand may be

designed to operate at 3.3Kv & even 6.6Kv

6) Lighting and other domestic supplies usually operate at

110V,115V or 220V AC(single phase)

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 Power supplies commonly available
7) Portable equipment is to be used operate at 55V,or 25V

8) Batteries for various services operate at 12V or 24V but some

times higher voltages are used
9) Maximum voltages
– 500V for generators, power, galley & heating equipment
permanently connected to fixed wiring

– 254V(1 phase) for lighting, heaters in cabins, public rooms

& other applications

– 15000V in very large a.c installations.

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 Main switch board
1. Main elements of a marine distribution system are
the main & emergency switch boards, power panel/
boards, Motor controllers , lighting & small power
panels/boards

2. Under all normal conditions of operations, power is

distributed from main switch board

3. MSB is generally located near the centre of the

distribution system & this is normally the main engine
room or machinery control room. These locations are
normally below the ships waterline or below the
uppermost continuous deck of the ship.

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 Main switch board
4. For shipboard installations specific protective
system are required to shutdown all
ventilation systems & all fuel oil system in the
event of a fire

5. Motor auxiliaries are grouped together and

supplied from a Motor control centre(MCC)

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 Motor Control Centre
1. The MCC consolidates all motor controlling
equipment for all major motors on board the
vessels. Over current & over load protection is
provided to the motor & its immediate circuitry
2. The auxiliary motors would be supplied from a
grouped motor controllers located either in the
engine room ,in a machinery control room
3. On small ships such grouping is not economical
& the major ship’s auxiliries are normally
supplied directly from the main switch board

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 Motor Control Centre
4. For ships that do not have automated machinery
operation, the most economic method of control is to
provide local starters for each auxiliary motor supplied
from power panels located in the same or adjacent
spaces

5. When fully automatic machinery control is required,

These techniques are now in common use &
microprocessor devices control the ship machinery
through video display units

6. The ships auxiliaries are generally controlled with PLC

installed inside the MCC

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 Emergency services
• To ensure that electrical supplies are available
to emergency and safety systems in the event
of a main power failure

• Emergency services would be supplied from

the emergency switch board using distributed
panels for navigation, safety & emergency
lighting services

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 Emergency stop panel
• Additional emergency stop circuits have to be
installed for certain consumers at a location
that is separate from their installation position
e.g. in order to switch off fans, the fuel or oil
pumps in the endangered area if there is a fire

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 Ship’s auxiliaries services
• Engine room pumps, fans, deck winches,
windlasses to several lighting, catering &air
conditioning

• The electrical power system on board a ship is

designed to provide a secure supply to all
loads with adequate built in protection for the
equipment & operating personal as well.

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 Load analysis
• Power rating of the generators is determined
by the power demand of the electrical load
• Principle design documents for the ship’s
auxiliary services should include
– Load list
– Load analysis
– Short circuit analysis

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 Load analysis
• In consultation with the client, all electrical
services on the vessels are identified , Kw
ratings are obtained for motors , lighting loads
are estimated from the ship’s general
arrangements & electronic aids are obtained
from similar vessels & then completed load list
compiled.
• Use the load list to estimate the expected
power demand of the electrical system under
specific conditions.

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 Load analysis
• By applying demand factor to each load &
summing all the loads for specific operating
conditions of the ships, the number & rating
of the main generators can be assessed.
• When complete system information is
available a short circuit current analysis is
completed

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 Electrical diagram

• Single line diagram

• Block diagram
• System diagram
• Circuit diagram
• Wiring diagram
• Branch circuit
• Power circuit
• Control circuit

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 Line diagram
• It generally depicts the
– The rating of machines,transformers,batteries etc
– All feeders connected to main and emergency switch
boards
– Section and distribution boards
– Cable information such as insulation type,size,and current
carrying capacity
– Details of CB and fuses etc

Kirchhoff’s current law useful to understanding of sequence

of events in the electrical system.

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 Block diagram
• A block diagram shows in simplified form, the
main inter-relationship of the elements in the
system and how the system works
• These diagram state the function of each
block but usually give no information of the
components therein or how the blocks are
interconnected.

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 System diagram
• A system diagram shows the main features of
a system and its bounds, without necessarily
showing cause-to-effect
• Its main use is to illustrates the ways of
operating the system.

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 Circuit diagram
• A circuit diagram shows in full, the functioning
of a circuit, all essential parts and connections
are depicted by means of symbols arranged to
show the operation as clearly as possible
– The rating of machines, transformers, batteries etc
– Earth fault indication and protection
– Instrumentation and protective devices
– Cable information such as insulation type, size, and current
carrying capacity
– Details of CB and fuses etc
– Circuit diagram is essential tool in troubleshooting

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 Wiring diagram
• A wiring diagram shows the detailed wiring
and connections between components
• Lines of different thickness can be used to
differentiate between power and control
connections.
• It is mainly to guide the wireman how to
construct and connect the equipment.

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 Inherent dangers and avoidance of
disastrous consequence
• High voltage circuits are potentially more dangerous
than low or medium voltage circuits
• High voltage circuits can retain lethal charge even
when switched off
• Dangerous potential can exist even some distance
from live high voltage conductors
• The distance being determined by conductor voltage
and dielectric strength of the insulating materials

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• It is therefore essential that all persons who may be
required to operate high voltage apparatus are fully
aware of the hazards and how to avoid the associated
danger
• Minimum clearance

Up to 6.6 kv 2.56m
>6.6kv and <11kv 2.59m
>11kv and <22kv 2.64m
>22kv and <33kv 2.74m

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 Safety Measures
• Low voltage-up to 1000V (AC) and 1200V(DC)
• High Voltage-above 1000V and up to 15KV
(AC)

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 Passive safety measures
• Component quality or reliability level
• Protection against erroneous operation
• Maintenance
• Personal protection

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 Component quality or reliability level

• Components must be selected according to

their actual use
• The rating must be selected according to the
prospective stresses applied on the
component by the system at location where it
is installed

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• The rules specify requirements regarding
installation
– Cables are very important in a ship’s electrical
system installation’s. They are usually of
specialized construction and incorporate
properties in conformity with IEC
recommendation such as flame retardant
capabilities and a high resistance to humidity ,
oil,vapour,and ageing.
– Large switchboards are normally divided in to
several cubicles to allow for maintenance work
while rest of the switch board is in operation

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• Enclosures are normally specified according to
IEC529. This standard gives requirements
against instrusion of solid objects and against
ingress of water.

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 Protection against erroneous operation

• As for as possible safeguards are built in to the

electrical system so that a system, component
will be ‘fail safe’ when operating conditions
exceed set limits, in terms of voltage,
current,temperature, speed etc

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 Maintenance
• It involves inspection and testing at regular
intervals,and the repair or replacement of any
component or part which is found to be
defective or malfunctioning.

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 Personal protection
• Enclosures
• Screening
• Warning signboards
• Limited accessibility
• Accidentally touching rotating and movable
parts

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 Active safety measures
• Redundancy requirements
• Circuit protection

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 Redundancy requirements
• Essential users-steering gear, auxiliary
machinery for main and auxiliary engines
• Essential Users which need to be in
continuous operation are duplicated. These
users have separate supplies from the main
switchboard.

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 Redundancy requirements
• Important users which are necessary to maintain the
main functions of installation are very often
duplicated or partly duplicated
• Safety of supply
• Main generators and prime movers
• Power transformers
• Cable installation-cables for the emergency system
must be separated from the main system
• Main lighting system.

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 Circuit protection
• Open circuit fault
• Earth fault
• Short circuit fault
• Overload
• Loss of system voltage

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 Dos and Don’ts while working with
electrical equipment
• Do
• ..get to know ship’s electrical system and equipment
• ….operate and maintain equipment according to the
manufacturers recommendations
• ….ensure that all guards, covers, doors are securely
fitted and all bolts and fixings are in place
• ….inform the officer of the watch before shutting
down the equipment for maintenance

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 Do
• …switch off and lock all supplies ,remove fuses
and display warning notices before removing
covers of equipment for maintanance
• ..confirm that circuits are dead before
touching conductors and terminals.

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 Don’ts
• Touch live conductors under any pretext
• Remove earth connectors on power cords and
within equipment
• Touch rotating parts
• Leave live conductors or rotating parts
exposed
• Overload equipment
• Neglect or abuse equipment.

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 Electric shock
• Micro shock
• Macro shock

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 Micro shock
• It describes an internal shock that may occur
as a consequence of certain medical
diagnostic or surgical procedures in which
electrically operated sensors are introduced in
to the human body.
• The effective current ranges from 10 to 100 uA

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 Macro shock
• It describes simultaneous contact between
the body’s surface and two electrical
conductors at different potentials.
• Due to the damp, saline conditions generally
encountered in the marine environment,quite
low a.c voltages can result in a electric shock.
• Passage of even a very small current through a
vital part of the human body can kill.

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 Macro shock
• Typical dry full contact body resistance is
about 5000 ohm at 25V,falling to about 2000
ohm. hand-to-hand resistance of a wet body
as low as 1000 ohm and as high as 10000 ohm
for a dry body

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 Macro shock
Current Level Effect on victim

1mA Sensation that shock is occuring

5mA Upper limit of safe or harmless

range

10 to 20mA The victim cannot shake loose

from the source of shock

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 Macro shock
30 to 40mA Sustained muscle contraction and
cramping
50 to 70mA Extreme pain, physical
exhaustion,fainting,irreversible nerve
damage, respiratory arrest with
possible asphyxiation
100mA Ventricular fibrillation and death if the
current passes through the body
trunk
>100mA Fibrillation,amnesia,burns,severe
electrolysis at contact sites
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 Macro shock
• >5A ---little likelihood of survival

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 First Aid
• Studies prove that only about 20% of victims
survive if there is a delay of up to 3 min in
rendering the right aid!
• The following steps are to be initiated
– Switch off the current---remove the casualty from
contact with the current.
– Lower the casualty to the floor taking care not to
damage the head
– If the casualty is conscious, make him comfortable

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 First Aid
• Should the casualty be unconscious but
breathing
– Loosen the clothing around the neck and waist
and place the casualty in the recovery position;
– keep a constant check on his pulse;
– Improvise a suitable method to keep him warm.

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 First Aid
• when the casualty is found unconscious but
not breathing
– Take immediate action and apply emergency
resuscitation technique (mouth-to-mouth)
– Once the person is stabilized, attend to the
physical injury as they would normally be treated

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 First Aid
• Keep the victim warm
• Treat any burns
• Elevate burned limbs
• Control the victim’s intake----do not give
drugs, food and liquids if medical attention
will be available within a short time.
• Transfer to hospital or seek medical aid

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 Mouth to mouth resuscitation
• Lay the casualty on his or her back and check
the mouth for blockages. if possible raise the
casualty’s shoulders with a padding of some
sort
• Make sure the head is well back and the air
way is clear
• Pinch the casualty’s nose, take a deep breath
and seal your lips around the open mouth of
the casualty

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 Mouth to mouth resuscitation
• Blow gently and firmly in to the casualty’s
mouth: the chest should rise slightly as the
lungs fill with air. repeat this until the casualty
shows signs of recovery.

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 Holger-neilson resuscitation
• Place the casualty face downwards with the
head to one side: check that the casualty’s
mouth is clear.
• Kneel down by the head side of the casualty
and place both your hands flats on the upper
part of the back.
• Rock forward applying pressure with your
hands.
• Rock backward sliding your hands under the
casualty’s arm-pits

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 Holger-neilson resuscitation
• Grasp the upper arm and lift the casualty
gently off the floor. this will bring air in to
his/her lungs
• Lower the casualty gently down again
• Repeat the sequence until there is a sign of
recovery
• Lay the casualty in the recovery position

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 Safe electrical equipment for hazardous
areas
• Areas where flammable or explosive gases ,
vapors , or dust are normally present or likely
to be present are known as hazardous areas
• It is more specifically defined for machinery
installation, storage spaces and cargo spaces

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 hazardous areas
• Zone 0—Flammable mixture continuously
present
• Zone 1---Flammable mixture not continuously
present but will be present during normal
operation
• Zone 2-- Flammable mixture would not
normally be present …it would be present for
a short period only

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 American safety’s standard
• Definition
– Earthed distribution system
– Essential services
– Explosion-proof equipment
– hazardous areas
– Hull return system
– Intrinsically-safe
– Increased safety

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 American safety’s standard
• Non-periodic duty rating
• Non-sparking fan
• Periodic duty rating
• Portble apparatus
• Pressurized equipment
• Semi enclosed space
• Separate circuit

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 American safety’s standard
• Short time rating
• Standard distribution system
• Voltage and frequency variation
• Materials.

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 American safety standards
• Earthed distribution system

– A system in which one pole of a 1 phase system or

the neutral point of 3 phase system is earthed.

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 Essential services
• Services essential for navigation , steering and
maneuvering or for special services
• Pumps for controllable pitch controllers
• Scavenging air blower,fuel oil supply
pumps,fuel valve cooling pumps,lubricating oil
pumbs and cooling water pumps for main and
auxiliary engines and turbines necessary for
propulsion

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• Ventilation necessary to maintain propulsion
• Forced draft fans,feed water pumps,water
circulating pumps
• Azimuth thrusters
• Electrical equipment for electric propulsion
• Electrical generators and associated power
sourses
• Hydraulic pumps
• Control,monitoring and safety devices
• Fire detection and alarms
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• Windlass
• Fuel oil transfer pumps
• Starting air and control air compressor
• Bilge,ballast and heeling pumps
• Ventilating fans
• Navigation lights,aids and signals
• Internal communication equipment
• Lighting system

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 Explosion proof equipment
• Equipment having an enclosure capable of
– (1) Withstanding an explosion
– (2) Preventing the ignition of a specified
flammable gas
▪ That operates at such an external temperature
that surrounding flammable atmosphere will not
be ignited

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 Hazardous area’s
• An area where flammable or explosive vapor,
gas or dust may normally be expected to
accumulate.

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 Intrinsically safe
• A circuit or part of a circuit is intrinsically safe
when any spark or thermal effect produced in
the test condition is incapable of causing
ignition of the prescribed gas atmosphere.

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 Increased safety
• Type of protection applied to electrical
apparatus that does not produce arcs or
sparks in normal service.

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 Non-periodic duty
• A rating at which the machine is operated
continuously or intermittently with varying
the load and speed within the permissible
operating range

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 Periodic duty rating
• A rating at which the machine is operated
repeatedly on a cycle of sequential loading
with starting, electric braking, no-load
running, rest and de-energized periods where
applicable.

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 Portable apparatus
• Any apparatus served by a flexible card.

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 Pressurized equipment
• Equipment having an enclosure in which
positive pressure is maintained to prevent
against the ingress of external atmosphere.

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 Short time rating
• A rating in which the machine operated for a
limited period which is less than that required
to reach the steady temperature conditions,
followed by a rest and de-energised period of
sufficient duration to re-establish the machine
temperature within 2 C of coolant

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 Short circuit
• A short circuit is an abnormal connection
through negligible impedance, whether made
accidentally or intentionally, between two
points of different potential in a circuit.

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 Standard distribution system
• Two wire DC
• Three wire DC
• Two wire single phase AC
• Three wire three phase AC
• Four wire three phase AC

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 Voltage and frequency variation

QUANTITY PERMANENT VARIATION TRANSIENT VARIATION

F 5% 10%(5s)

V 6-10% 20%(1.5s)

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 Materials
• All electrical equipment is to be constructed of
durable and flame-retardent materials.
• Materials are to be resistant to corrosion,
moisture, high and low temperatures.

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 British and European standards
• The standard to which the safe apparatus is
made may be british standard BS5501 or an
equivalent from IEC (international electro
technical commission)
• 1.Details of construction method and code
letter for flame proof equipment(d)

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 British and European standards

• 2.ex is the European union’s symbol of testing

and certifying authority and this is indicated
here by British approval service for electrical
equipment in flammable
atmospheres(BASEEFA)
• EX represent the general term ‘Explosion
proof’ which is used in europe for safety
practices of electrical equipment.

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 British and European standards
• 3.shows the IEC grouping of apparatus with
respect to certain gases.
– Group I-Gas encountered in coal mining where
methane and coal dust constiute the risks
– Group II comprises gases such as cellulose
vapour,petrol,benzene,amyl acetate
• II A-propane,which require higher ignition energy of 180
micro joules
• II B-ethylene, which require higher ignition energy of 69
micro joules
• IIC-hydrogen, which require higher ignition energy of 29
micro joules

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 British and European standards
• Group III-is a coal and coke gas and ethylene
oxide.
• Group IV-covers excluded gases

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 British and European standards
• The energy for ignition can be derived from a
spark or from contact with a hot surface.
• 4. The letter T indicates the maximum surface
temperature.
CLASS MAXIMUM SURFACE
TEMPERATURE(C)
T1 <450
T2 <300
T3 <200
T4 <135
T5 <100
T6 <85

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 Systems of AC distribution
• The general concept:
• The distribution system begins either at the
shore sub station where power is delivered by
overhead transmission lines and stepped
down by transformers or as in the case of
ships, in the engine room and associated
control room.

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 The general concept:

• When large areas are involved, primary and

secondary distribution system may be used
• Distribution system may be divided into
feeders, distributors, sub-distributors and
service mains.

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 The general concept:

• Feeders are the conductors which connect the sub

station to the distributors serving an allotted area.
• Various tappings are taken from distributors.
• Current loading of a feeder is the same throughout
its length.
• The connecting link between the distributors and the
consumers terminals are the service mains.

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 Single phase 2 wire system
• Generally used for domestic circuits and is
taken between one of the three phases and
the neutral.

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 Single phase 3 wire system
• The third wire or neutral is connected to the
centre of the transformer secondary and
earthed for protecting personnel from electric
shock

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 Three phase 3 wire system
• Three phase systems are used extensively.
three wire system may be delta connected or
star connected.

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 Three phase 4 wire system
• This system is generally applicable to
passenger vessals

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 Specific systems for ship’s service
• Generation
– 3 phase 3 wire insulated
– 3 phase 3 wire with the neutral earthed
– 3 phase 4 wire with the neutral earthed
▪ Primary distribution
– 3 phase 3 wire insulated
– 3 phase 3 wire with the neutral earthed
– 3 phase 4 wire with the neutral earthed
– Single phase 2 wire insulated

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 Specific systems for ship’s service
• Secondary distribution
– 3 phase 3 wire insulated
– 3 phase 3 wire with the neutral earthed
– 3 phase 4 wire with the neutral earthed
-Single phase 2 wire insulated
-Single phase 2 wire with one pole earthed
-Single phase 2 wire with the mid point of the
system earthed

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 Specific systems for ship’s service
• Frequency---
– 50Hz
– 60Hz
• Voltages
− 500V for generators, power, galley and heating
equipment permanently connected to fixed wiring
− 254V for lightning, heaters in cabins, public rooms &
other applications.

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- 15KV for large ac installation.(3.3 KV or 6.6KV
also used).

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 Distribution system onboard ships
• Distribution system is the means by which electrical
energy produced by the generators is distributed to
the ship’s electrical load.
• This is routed through modules such as main switch
board, emergency switch board, motor control
centre, motor switch gear, power and lighting
distribution systems, Test panels, shore connection
boxes and emergency stop panels operate in various
modes normal, emergency and a variety of special
modes including manual operation

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 Distribution system onboard ships
• Through proper design, large cables provide power
to bus bars inside the switch boards and each
distribution panel.
• Distribution system is also designed to protect the
overall electrical environment from electrical
component casualties.
• When all over current and short circuit protective
devices are properly selected and correctly adjusted,
preferential tripping can be provided.

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 Distribution system onboard ships
• Power distribution system sub divided in to
– Radial distribution
– Bus bar and cross linked type

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 Radial distribution system
• Number of independent feeders branch out
radially from a common source of supply.
• Distribution transformers were connected to
taps along the length of the feeders.
• Demerits-consumer has to depend on one
feeder only.
• There is no absolute guarantee of continuous
power supply.

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• Each emergency generator arranged to be an
automatically started, is to be equipped with
starting devices with a stored energy
capability for at least three consecutive starts.
• Stored energy for starting the emergency
generator set is to be maintained at all times.

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Operation

• The generator is provided with its own starting

system

• When power is lost, the emergency generator

must be able to automatically start & provide
power to the emergency switch board within
stipulated time.

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Emergency Switch Board

• It is to be installed as near as is practicable to

the emergency source of electrical power.

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 Interconnector feeder between emergency &
main switch boards
• The air CB of the emergency generator is
interlocked with the bus coupler from the
main switchboard.
• When power from MSB is lost, the
ABT(automatic bus transfer switch)
automatically connects the EG to the ESB.
• The ABT simultaneously disconnects the MSB
from ESB

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 Tanker scheme
• Ship’s service
• The following generation and distribution
system only be used
– DC 2 wire, insulated
– AC single phase,2 wire insulated
– AC 3 phase,3-wire,insulated(only for high voltage
generation and primary distribution)
– AC 3phase,3 wire, neutral earthed

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 Tanker scheme
• Ac offers a high power to weight ratio for
generation, distribution and utilization of
electricity.
• A majority of ships have a 3 phase 3 wire
440V,insulated neutral system.
• For european vessels a 380V,3 phase system.
• For very large electrical loads have generators
operating at high voltages of 3.3kV and even
6.6kV

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 Tanker scheme
• Distribution system at these voltages usually
have their neutral points earthed to the ship’s
hull through a resister called a neutral
earthing resister or neutral grounding resister
• Lighting and low power single phase supplies
usually operate at a lower voltage of
220V,110V is also used.

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 Primary power bus
• The power bus is supplied by the primary
power sources of the vessels (main alternator
and emergency alternator)
• Along the entire length of the power bus the
primary power sources are available
• Remote control and monitoring of the primary
power bus is achieved by data bus systems in
a centralized mode, from the machinery
control room.

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 Method of supplying emergency
power
• Emergency source of electrical power will be
capable of supplying all those services that are
essential for safety in an emergency.
• Emergency generator must be
– Driven by a prime mover with an independent
supply of fuel having a flash point of not less than
43 C
– Started automatically upon failure of the main
source of electrical power supply
– Automatically connected to emergency switch
board in not more than 45 sec
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 Method of supplying emergency
power
• Power rating of an emergency generator is
determined by the size and role of the ship
• This source of electrical power is to be capable
of withstanding starting currents and also
cater to the transitory nature of certain loads.
• On some small vessels a few kW will suffice
for emergency lighting only
• Larger vessels may require hundreds of kW for
essential services.

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 Method of supplying emergency
power
• The emergency generator must be capable of
being readily started in their cold conditions
at a temperature of 0 c . if lower temperature
are likely to be encountered , heating
arrangements must be operational
• Each emergency generator arranged to be
automatically started , is to be equipped with
starting devices with a stored energy
capability for at least three consecutive starts.

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 Method of supplying emergency
power
• The stored energy for starting the emergency
generator set is to be maintained at all times
– Electrical and hydraulic starting systems are to be
maintained from the emergency switchboard
– If started by air , a dedicated air bottle and
compressor is usually provided.
– All of these starting , charging and energy storing
devices are to be located in the emergency
generator space.

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 Method of supplying emergency
power
• Operation
– The generator is provided with its own starting
system
– When power is lost , the emergency generator
must be able to automatically start and provide
power to the emergency switch board within
stipulated time.

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 Emergency switch board
• It is to be installed as near as is practicable to
the emergency source of electrical power.
• Note:
– Emergency source of electrical power is an
accumulator battery it is to be capable of
• Automatically connecting to the emergency switch
board in the event of failure of the main source of
electrical power
• Carrying the emergency electrical load without
recharging while maintaining the voltage of the battery
throughout the discharge period within 12% above or
below its nominal voltage.

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 Shore supply

• The following requirements apply

– Connection box and cable
• A shore connection box is to be provided on the vessel
for the reception of the flexible cable from an external
source. Fixed cables of adequate rating are to be
provided between the shore connection box and the
main or emergency switch board.
• Cables is to be protected by fuses or a circuit breaker
located at the connection box.

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 Shore supply
• Interlock arrangement
– An interlocking arrangement is to be provided
between all generators , including the emergency
generator and the shore power supply to prevent
the shore power from being inadvertently
paralleled with shipboard power.

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 Shore supply
• Instrumentation
– An indicator light is to be provided at the main or
emergency switchboard to which shore power is
connected to show energized status of the cable .
Means are to be provided for checking the
polarity or phase sequence of the incoming supply
in relation to the vessel’s system.

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 Shore supply
• Earth connection
– An earth terminal is to be provided for connecting
the hull to an external earth.

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 Shore supply
• Information plate
– An information plate is to be provided at or near
the connection box giving full information on the
system of supply and the nominal voltage and
frequency of vessel’s system and the
recommended procedure for carrying out the
connection.

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 Shore supply
• Unquote:
– Shore supply is generally required so that the
ship’s generators and their prime movers can be
shut down for major overhaul during dry docking
period
– The connection box to connect the shore supply
cable is often located at the entrance to the
accommodation or in the emergency generator
room.

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 Shore supply
• The connection box must have suitable
terminals to accept the shore supply cable ,
including an earthing terminal to connect the
ship’s hull to the shore’s earth point.
• The voltmeter is fitted to indicate polarity of a
direct current shore supply.
• For alternating current shore supply , a phase
sequence indicator is fitted to indicate the
correct phase sequence of supply

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 Shore supply
• At the main switch board an lamp indicator is
provided to indicate that shore supply is
available.
• It is not normally possible to parallel the shore
supply with the ship’s generators. In fact it
must never be done.
• The ship’s generator must , therefore be
disconnected before the shore supply can be
connected to the main switchboard or
emergency switch board.

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 Shore supply
• When the shore supply cable is connected and
energised ,the phase sequence indicator,
when operated may indicate a reversed phase
sequence .
• This is overcome by interchanging any two
leads of the shore supply at connection box .
While doing so always ensure that shore
supply in cut off

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 Shore supply
• Effect of change in supply voltage on torque
and speed:
– Torque at any speed is proportional to the square
of the applied voltage
– If the stator voltage decreases by 10%, the torque
decreases by 20%
– If voltage V decreases then torque T also
decreases. Hence,for maintaining the same torque
,slip s increases
– Let V changes to V’,S to S’ and T to T’
– then T/T’ =sV2/sV’2

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 Shore supply
• Running at reduced voltage
– Starting and maximum torque will be low
– The current will be higher in order to maintain the
same power output
– Ageing of insulation will be accelerated due to
overheating.

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 Shore supply
• Running at increased voltage
– Increased voltage drop while starting will probably
make lights flicker
– The starting and maximum torque will be
increased
– Starting currents will be higher
– Increased motor current at same power will cause
over heating
– Ageing of insulation will be accelerated due to
overheating
– Power factor will be low

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 Shore supply
• Running at reduced Frequency
– The current must be increased to generate the
same torque
– In order to avoid excessive current, voltage must
be reduced
– The motor runs 20% slower
– Motor cooling by its built-in fan, running at lower
speed is affected

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 Shore supply
• Running at increased Frequency
– The motor runs 20% faster
– The starting torque is reduced
– For blowers and centrifugal pumps , the load
increases drastically for a slight increase in speed
– The motor overheats
– Ageing of insulation will be accelerated due to
overheating

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