Electrical
Marine Electrical Engineering
Navtech provides marine electrical design for newbuilds, conversions and retrofits — electrical load analysis, single line diagrams, protection coordination, cable schedules and routing, lighting and alarm systems, delivered to class requirements.
Electrical load analysis and power balance
Every retrofit changes the power picture, and generators that were adequate for the original design are often marginal once new equipment is added. We prepare and update the electrical load analysis across all operating conditions — seagoing, manoeuvring, in port, cargo handling and emergency — so that generator adequacy is demonstrated rather than assumed.
- Electrical load balance for all operating conditions
- Generator sizing and adequacy assessment after equipment additions
- Emergency power and emergency generator load verification
- Battery and UPS sizing calculations
Single line diagrams and protection studies
We produce and update main and emergency single line diagrams, and back them with the calculations that make them defensible — short circuit levels at each board, protective device selection, and discrimination between upstream and downstream devices so a local fault does not black out the vessel.
- Main and emergency switchboard single line diagrams
- Short circuit calculations and equipment withstand verification
- Protection coordination and discrimination studies
- Switchboard, distribution board and starter panel design
Cable schedules, routing and installation design
Electrical scope on a retrofit is usually where schedule is lost, because cable routes cross every other discipline. We size and schedule cables, design the routing and tray arrangements against the 3D model, and detail penetrations so that structural and fire integrity are maintained.
- Cable sizing, voltage drop calculations and cable schedules
- Cable tray and routing layouts coordinated with piping and structure
- Bulkhead and deck penetration details preserving fire and watertight integrity
- Equipment arrangement and termination drawings
Lighting, navigation, alarm and as-built packages
We cover the outfitting side of marine electrical work as well — lighting design with illumination calculations, navigation and signal light arrangements to COLREG, fire detection and alarm layouts, and the as-built documentation that keeps a vessel’s electrical records usable for the next project.
- Interior and deck lighting design with lux calculations
- Navigation light arrangement and control panel design to COLREG
- Fire detection and alarm system (FDAS) layouts and cause-and-effect matrices
- Emergency lighting, escape route and low-location lighting arrangements
- As-built electrical drawing packages and energy-saving studies
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a new load analysis for a BWTS or scrubber retrofit?
Almost certainly. Class will want to see that the existing generators can carry the additional load in every operating condition, including the case where the treatment system runs during ballasting. It is also the point at which any generator upgrade needs to be identified — much better found during design than during commissioning.
Can you update drawings when the existing electrical documentation is out of date?
Yes. On older vessels the as-fitted arrangement has usually drifted a long way from the drawings. We survey the installation on board, reconcile it against whatever records exist, and issue an updated set that reflects reality — which then serves as a reliable baseline for future work.
Do you prepare documentation for class approval?
Yes. Electrical deliverables are prepared to the reviewing society’s templates and requirements, submitted, and carried through the comment cycle to approval. We work regularly with BV, DNV, RINA, ABS, IRS and Tasneef.
Can you help reduce fuel consumption through electrical measures?
We carry out energy-saving studies covering lighting upgrades, pump and fan motor control, variable frequency drives and load management. These feed naturally into EEXI and CII compliance work, which we handle alongside the electrical scope.
What information do you need to quote electrical work?
Vessel particulars and class society, the existing single line diagram and load analysis if available, details of the equipment being added, and your target submission or dry-dock dates. If the existing documentation is missing or unreliable, we can include a survey in the scope.
Have a vessel and a scope in mind?
Share your drawings, class society and target dates — we respond within 24–48 hours.