Marine Power Management Systems (PMS)

Power Management Systems (PMS)

The PMS is the system that decides, without asking anyone, how many generators run and what gets dropped when demand exceeds available power. Set up correctly, the crew never notices it. Set up badly, they notice it as a blackout.

We take on the study, the setup and the verification of the whole power-management logic — from load-dependent start through to the restart sequence after a blackout, proven by real testing rather than simulation alone.

Scope of work

Power-balance study and load-dependent start / stop thresholds
Generator priority and running-hours rotation setup
Heavy-consumer request logic for bow thrusters, cargo pumps, compressors, deck machinery
Staged load shedding — group definition and trip timing
Blackout detection and automatic restart sequence, including emergency-generator handover
PMS interface to the alarm monitoring system and event recorder
Acceptance testing against real load or a load bank

Typical symptoms & failures

Blackout on a sudden demand step — bow thruster or a large motor starting
Generators hunting: starting and stopping repeatedly around the same load point
Load shedding that never triggers, or drops the wrong consumer group
No automatic recovery after a blackout; the vessel needs a manual procedure
The emergency generator takes over and will not release when main power returns

What you receive

Documented power balance and threshold table
Load-shedding group table with order and timing
Blackout-recovery test protocol
A one-page operating note for bridge and engine room

Equipment & protocols

DEIF-based and PLC-based PMS platforms
Integration with ATS, tie breakers and shore connection
Load banks for acceptance testing
Operation aligned with SOLAS II-1 requirements for electrical power and restoration

Frequently asked questions

Does the vessel have to be taken out of service for testing?

Blackout-recovery tests need a controlled interruption and are scheduled with the vessel in a safe condition — usually at anchor or in dock, fully coordinated with the technical department.

Can a PMS be added to an older vessel without replacing the switchboard?

Often yes. If the breakers have motorised operation and CT/VT are present, the PMS goes in as a control upgrade with the switchboard left in place.

How often should PMS settings be reviewed?

After every change to the vessel's electrical load — new machinery, a retrofit, a change of trade. A 2015 power balance does not describe the 2026 vessel.