Overview of Shore Power Sockets and Plugs - 1
Summary - This blog provides a (European/Dutch-centered) overview of shore power sockets and plugs for shipowners. Sockets and plugs are categorized into three groups, depending on a vessel installed power:
1) Small ship < ∼100 kW
2) Medium ship < ∼2.000 kW
3) Large ship > ∼2.000 kW
Especially below 100 kW, there is great diversification of plugs which would merit the creation of a ‘universal adapter’ for ships. There are also others standards commonly used for the mid-sized segment. Expanding this overview and exploring other standards is subject matter for a future blog. You can help your fellow shipowners by sharing your experiences and problems below.
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CEE plugs are suitable for small vessels, up to around 100kW, and are commonly used for industrial applications. They are easy to use and available in several forms, typically arranged by their maximum current rating. 16A, 32A, 63A and 125A are very common types, although they can have current ratings up to 800A, with a maximum voltage of 1000V AC.
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Powerlock are suitable to medium-sized and large vessels, up to 1MW (roughly), and consist of single-pole electrical connectors used for temporary high-current, low-voltage (up to 1000 V AC) industrial applications. Most commonly used are ‘400A Powerlocks’ with a power output of around 300kW per set of five connectors. Multiple sets can be combined to obtain a higher power output, for example three sets of Powerlocks which are connected to a switchboard on-board.
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‘Specials’, like those made by Cavotec, are suitable for any type of vessel, but typically designed as high-voltage connectors by marine suppliers for heavy duty shore power purposes, following the standards as shown above. These connectors can go as high as 5MW or more, making them suitable for the largest vessels in the world. These could have a combination of higher water ingress protection, communication cables built-in, special earthing for marine purposes if needed etc. Contact your supplier or the Sustainable Ships helpdesk to learn more.
Technical Specs and Standards
Sockets and plugs need to interface with existing switchboard or equipment provided by your equipment supplier. The following standards will apply internationally for shore power plugs.
IEC 62613-1: Plugs, socket-outlets and ship couplers for high-voltage shore connection systems (HVSC Systems) – Part 1: General requirements
IEC 62613-2: Plugs, socket-outlets and ship couplers for high-voltage shore connection systems (HVSC-Systems) – Part 2: Dimensional compatibility and interchangeability requirements for accessories to be used by various types of ships
Find more on technical specs and standards for shore power below.
Equipment providers
Our preferred partner is Shore-link, who can help you with detailed equipment specifications suitable for your vessel. You can also download our shore power feasibility study to contact more suppliers.
