Emergency Power Supply Testing from Tokyo MoU

With the attached bulletin in subject, the Tokyo MoU has decided to inform ship operators, shipmasters, classification societies, Maritime Administrations, their officers, investigators and technical advisors of the potential risk of testing of automatic start of emergency source of electrical power and connection to the emergency switchboard (SOLAS Ch. II-1, Regulation 42 / 43) using simulated blackout method. There have been numerous observations by PSCOs where the “simulated blackout” testing of the Emergency Generator is demonstrated as fully functional, but during an actual power blackout, the system does not meet the requirements of SOLAS Ch. II-1, Reg. 42 / 43.

ISM Management companies are recommended to :

• Ensure that any device such as “Sequential test” selector and/or “Routine Test Switch” (RTS), if fitted to the ship for the purposes of testing the simulated blackout, is designed and wired in such a way as to use the actual circuit paths required by SOLAS Chapter II-1 Reg 42.3.1.2 / 43.3.1.2. Be aware that “Sequential test” selector and/or RTS may not meet the requirements of Reg. 42.5.4 / 43.5.4 if it sends a signal to disconnect the inter-connector instead of automatically disconnecting on loss of main source of power and do not meet Reg. 42.7 / 43.7 when not testing the complete system.

As such, these simulated blackout tests of the emergency generator may give ships’ engineers a false sense of readiness of the ship’s emergency systems in the case of an emergency. This may endanger life, ship and the environment.

If modifications of routine/sequential test switch circuit paths are required to ensure proper functionality, these modifications should be approved by BV.

• Update Company Safety Management System (SMS) for emergency generator test procedures to include periodic ‘Controlled blackout tests’ (i.e. not using sequence test), in order to ensure the actual circuit paths required by SOLAS Chapter II-1, Reg 42.3.1.2 / 43.3.1.2 can be accomplished in a safe and practical manner while assuring functionality of the system. ‘Controlled blackout’ may be accomplished by opening Main Switch Board (MSB) bus-tie (aka transfer line) circuit breaker, while the switch is in normal mode and operation switches are in auto such as to be in a sea-going state.

During this test, the emergency generator is to be able to automatically start, provide transitional power and automatically connect to the emergency switchboard.