Section 9 Electrical equipment

9.1.1 The requirements of Pt 1, Ch 3, 2 Annual Surveys – Hull and machinery requirements and Pt 1, Ch 3, 3 Intermediate Surveys – Hull and machinery requirements are to be complied with as far as applicable.

9.2.1 An electrical insulation resistance test is to be made on the electrical equipment and cables. The installation may be subdivided, or equipment which may be damaged disconnected, for the purpose of this test.

9.2.2 The fittings on the main and emergency switchboard, section boards and distribution boards are to be examined and over-current protective devices and fuses inspected to verify that they provide suitable protection for their respective circuits.

9.2.3 Generator circuit-breakers are to be tested, so far as is practicable, to verify that protective devices, including preference tripping relays, if fitted, operate satisfactorily.

9.2.4 Air circuit-breakers for essential or emergency services and rated at 800A and above are to be surveyed to ensure that the manufacturer’s recommended number of switching options has not been exceeded. See Pt 6, Ch 2, 7.3 Circuit-breakers 7.3.6 of the Rules for Ships. Where a breaker is not fitted with an automatic counter, a written record is to be kept.

9.2.5 The electric cables are to be examined, so far as is practicable, without undue disturbance of fixtures or casings unless opening up is considered necessary as a result of observation or of the tests required by 9.2.1.

9.2.6 The generator prime movers are to be surveyed as required by Pt 1, Ch 3, 7 Turbines – Detailed requirements and Pt 1, Ch 3, 8 Reciprocating internal combustion engines – Detailed requirements and the governing of the engines tested. The motors concerned with essential services, together with associated control and switch gear, are to be examined and if considered necessary, are to be operated, so far as is practicable, under working conditions. All generators and steering gear motors are to be examined and are to be operated under working conditions, though not necessarily under full load or simultaneously.

9.2.7 Where transformers associated with supplies to essential services are liquid immersed, the Owner is to arrange for samples of the liquid to be taken and tested for dissolved gases, breakdown voltage, acidity and moisture by a competent testing authority, in accordance with the equipment manufacturer’s requirements, and a certificate giving the test results is to be made available to the Surveyor on request.

9.2.8 Navigation light indicators are to be tried under working conditions, and correct operation on the failure of supply or failure of navigation lights verified.

9.2.9 The emergency sources of electrical power, their automatic arrangements and associated circuits are to be tested.

9.2.10 Emergency lighting, transitional emergency lighting, supplementary emergency lighting, general emergency alarm and public address systems are to be tested as far as is practicable.

9.2.11 Where the unit is electrically propelled, the propulsion motors, generators, propulsion transformers, propulsion conversion equipment, cables, harmonic filters, neutral earthing resistors, dynamic breaking resistors and all ancillary electrical equipment that forms part of the propulsion drive and control system, exciters and ventilating plant (including coolers) associated therewith are to be surveyed and the insulation resistance to earth is to be tested. Special attention is to be given to windings, commutators and sliprings. Where practicable, the low voltage and high voltage windings of resin coated propulsion transformers are to be subjected to boroscopic inspection, to assess the physical condition of their insulation and for signs of mechanical and thermal damage. The operation of protective gear and alarm devices is to be checked, so far as is practicable. Insulating oil, if used, is to be tested in accordance with 9.2.7. Interlocks intended to prevent unsafe operations or unauthorised access are to be checked to verify that they are functioning correctly. Emergency over-speed governors are to be tested.

9.2.12 A general examination of the electrical equipment in areas which may contain flammable gas or vapour and/or combustible dust is to be made to ensure that the integrity of the safe type electrical equipment has not been impaired owing to corrosion, missing bolts, etc., and that there is not an excessive build-up of dust on or in dust-protected electrical equipment. Cable runs are to be examined for sheath and armouring defects, where practicable, and to ensure that the means of supporting the cables are in good order. Tests are to be carried out to demonstrate the effectiveness of bonding straps for the control of static electricity. Alarms and interlocks associated with pressurised equipment or spaces are to be tested for correct operation. Particular attention should be given to cable runs in way of articulated joints and breaks in process deck boundaries.

9.2.13 Shipboard Automatic and Remote-Control Systems. In addition to the requirements of Annual Surveys, the following parts are to be examined:

9.2.14 For production and oil storage units five years old and over, 9.2.11 is to be complied with. In addition, an electrical insulation resistance test of the circuits terminating in, or passing through, the dangerous areas is to be carried out.

9.2.15 Where batteries with charging power higher than 2kW provide the source of power for any essential or emergency services, their installation, including charging and ventilation arrangements, is to be examined.

9.2.16 Sufficient battery capacity shall be verified for Lithium-Ion battery system installations used as the primary power source for emergency systems.

9.2.17 Where Lithium-Ion batteries with total system capacity exceeding 20 kWh are used as the primary power source for essential or emergency systems, a test of all required monitoring and safety functions shall be carried out.

9.2.18 A test of the safety functions in spaces or compartments containing Lithium-Ion batteries with total system capacity exceeding 20 kWh used as power source for essential and emergency services shall be carried out, i.e., fire detection and extinguishing, gas detection, ventilation etc. as applicable to the installation.