Dockside Transformers

Dockside transformers allow marinas to offer an additional, high-quality service whenever a vessel arrives with specific voltage, phase or neutral requirements that the fixed dock installation cannot meet. A ready-to-use, temporary solution that means the marina never has to turn a customer away and can stand out for its operational flexibility — with no work on the fixed distribution system.

The dockside transformer is also the ideal solution for the owner in the event of a fault in the onboard converters: it keeps the vessel powered while the technical work is carried out, with no interruption to onboard comfort and no risk to the equipment. It is what turns an emergency into routine service management — ensuring operational continuity while the main system is repaired or replaced.

Many docks, especially in older ports or in some areas abroad, provide a distribution system with no neutral conductor (typically IT systems or delta configurations). The dockside transformer recreates the neutral downstream through the star connection of the secondary winding, making it possible to supply the onboard loads that require it — both single-phase and three-phase with neutral — and to restore the earth reference that residual current protection devices need in order to work correctly.

Each unit is built and delivered with all the electrical protection required by law: main circuit breaker, residual current protection, line isolator and surge arresters. Sizing follows the requirements of the international standards, for example, IEC 60364 for low-voltage installations — with particular attention to the section covering berths and port facilities.

The units are equipped with a forced ventilation system sized to guarantee operation even at the ambient temperatures typical of docks in summer, where direct sunlight and reflection off surfaces can push temperatures beyond 45–50 °C. The fans are driven by an internal thermal probe and cut in gradually, keeping the windings within their rated insulation class and preserving the service life of the transformer even under sustained load.

The enclosure is made entirely of stainless steel with an epoxy-polyester powder coating, a treatment specifically formulated to withstand the salt, the constant humidity and the UV exposure typical of the marine environment. All dockside transformers are supplied with an IP55 protection rating, which means full protection against dust and against splashing water from any direction — an essential requirement for installation outdoors on the dock. This combination ensures maximum resistance to mechanical wear, immunity to galvanic corrosion and a long cosmetic life even after years of direct exposure on the most demanding docks.