Shipyard Conversion Systems

Shipyards often have to test vessels destined for markets with electrical standards other than the one available on site. The shipyard converter solves this by acting as a universal test tool: it can power any boat at its rated voltage and frequency, allowing the onboard systems to be function-tested and the quality of the finished product to be validated before delivery.

The machine can be equipped with one or more independent outputs, each configurable to a different electrical standard. The operator can set the working voltage and frequency directly from the control panel, selecting single-phase or three-phase configurations according to the needs of the boat under test — flexibility that makes it possible to handle several tests with a single unit, reducing costs and the space taken up in the yard.

All the converter outputs are galvanically isolated from the input by an integrated isolation transformer. This physical separation between the yard network and the boat’s system eliminates current paths to earth through the hull, drastically reduces the galvanic corrosion typical of direct connections and protects both the operators and the systems of the vessel under test from disturbances and faults coming from the upstream network.

The converter includes a residual current monitoring system that constantly checks the balance between the phases and the neutral on each output. If leakage to earth is detected — even a few milliamperes — the system opens the supply and puts the boat’s installation in a safe state before the leakage can become dangerous for the operator. This is active, redundant protection, and it is particularly valuable in the shipyard environment, where hulls are often still being worked on and earth connections are not always complete.

The converter can be equipped with precision network analysers that give the yard a concrete picture of the electrical behaviour of the boat under test: instantaneous and cumulative consumption, inrush peaks when loads start, power factor, harmonic distortion (THDi and THDv) and phase imbalance. This data makes it possible to objectively validate the quality of the onboard installation before delivery and to document the electrical performance for the end customer.

The converter is housed in an enclosure designed for intensive shipyard use, with a robust structure sized to withstand the working conditions typical of outfitting departments. The base is fitted with fork pockets for handling by forklift, while lifting eyes on the top are sized for lifting with an overhead crane. The unit can therefore be moved easily from the outfitting area to the test bench, on board or out in the yard, following the workflow of the yard with no need for specialized equipment.