Review of Legal Aspects of Electrical Power Quality in Ship Systems in the Wake of the Novelisation and Implementation of IACS Rules and Requirement

This paper deals with new challenges regarding power quality in ship technology resulting from the novelisation and implementation of IACS (International Association of Classification Societies) rules and requirements. These rules, known as IACS E24 2016/2018, address harmonic distortion for ship electrical distribution systems, including harmonic filters. The reasons for the legislative changes based on a short overview of power quality-related accidents are discussed, after which a brief presentation of the updated IACS rules illustrated by a related DNV GL (Det Norske Veritas Germanischer Lloyd) case study is shown. A key part of this paper includes proposals concerning harmonics and interharmonics, distortion indices and transient disturbances. The aim of these proposals is to unify power quality indices and measurement procedures to maintain effective and comparable criteria for monitoring distortion and establish requirements for ship owners, designers, shipbuilders, classifiers, and crew members of marine objects.