Electrical and generator systems decide how the ship gets its power and what happens when the supply fails. Auto start and load sharing keep the generating sets matched to the demand, the power management system sheds the right loads in the right order, shore power takes the hotel load from the grid, and the battery bank has to be ready for the emergency arrangement at every moment. The guides below cover the acceptance criteria, the test method and the black start and blackout evidence.
Key facts and acceptance criteria
The values below decide whether a system passes at survey and at maintenance. They come from the maker documentation and the applicable rules, not from general practice.
| Parameter | Requirement | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Load sharing | Per the maker sharing characteristic and droop curve | Maker technical manual |
| Power management | Load shed in the maker priority order | SOLAS II-1/25 |
| Shore power | Synchronisation, interlock and earthing proven | SOLAS II-1/44 |
| Batteries | Capacity and state of charge established by test | SOLAS II-1/43 |
| Blackout | Automatic restoration per the vessel procedure | SOLAS II-1/34 |
Guides in this group
- Generator Load Sharing Systems — Generator auto start and load sharing panels: droop setting, load sharing, grid tie, blackout prevention and load acceptance testing for marine gensets.
- Power Management Systems (PMS) — Power management systems: generator scheduling, load sharing, load shedding, blackout prevention, power balance and preference management testing.
- Shore Power Connection Systems — Shore power connection panels: cold ironing, voltage and frequency conversion, phase synchronisation, earthing, interlock and power quality testing.
- Battery Charging and Monitoring Systems — Battery charging and monitoring systems: charger control, battery management, state of charge, cell monitoring, load sharing and alarm testing.
How Seanav Marine services this group
Each guide in this group follows the same method, so the work is predictable and the record is comparable between visits and between vessels.
- Scope confirmation. The vessel particulars, the equipment identity, the maker documentation, the class survey plan and the access window are established before anyone boards.
- As-found capture. The existing configuration, settings and condition are recorded before anything is changed, so the record shows what was found and not only what was done.
- Proof against criteria. The functions are proved against the maker and class acceptance criteria, not against an operational impression, and the test conditions are recorded with the results.
- Restore and document. The approved settings are restored, the critical proving tests are repeated, and the report is issued with the as-found and as-left values and the outstanding defects.
A service report records the work performed and the observed results. It does not by itself issue or renew a statutory certificate, and it does not imply direct OEM agency or universal class approval.
Scope, parts and attendance depend on the equipment identity, the access, the engineer availability and the confirmed job. Send the vessel name and IMO number, the port, the ETA and ETD, the equipment maker and model, the fault description and any alarm screenshots or logs.
Frequently asked questions
What should a load sharing test produce?
The measured sharing across the load range, the transfer results, the droop values proved, and the as-found and as-left settings, so that the record shows what the set actually did rather than what it should do.
Can a blackout test be done during a port call?
Yes, with an agreed blackout plan, the vessel ready for the limitation, and the emergency arrangements and shore support in place. The test is normally coordinated with the class so the witnessing and the test happen together.
Why is battery capacity tested rather than assumed?
Because a bank on float for weeks is rarely at full charge, and the nameplate says nothing about the condition of the individual cells. A controlled discharge test is the only way to establish what the bank will actually deliver.
Reference framework
These sources explain the relevant regulatory context. They do not replace the installed equipment manual or prove the applicability of a particular rule to every vessel.
- IMO: SOLAS convention and chapter scope
- IMO: MSC resolutions and circulars
- IACS: Unified Requirements index
service@seanav.org · +971 58 568 1197 · Contact the operations desk
About this guide
Published by Seanav Marine. Editorial and source review: . This general service guide is based on the references shown; it is not a signed vessel-specific engineering procedure. Equipment manuals and the responsible technical personnel determine the job requirements.
For technical assessment or a factual correction, contact Seanav Marine with the equipment identity and supporting documents.