Power Management Systems (PMS) on Yachts
Why “Smart” Power Still Fails Without Human Understanding Introduction — PMS makes yachts look sophisticated, not resilient Power Management Systems on yachts are often showcased as advanced technology: seamless generator synchronisation, automatic start/stop, load sharing, and optimisation for silence and efficiency. These systems are powerful — but they are also opaque. When crews don’t understand […]
Electric Load Shedding on Yachts
When Automation Protects Equipment but Endangers the Situation Introduction — load shedding feels intelligent until it isn’t Modern yachts rely heavily on automated load shedding to maintain electrical stability. The concept is simple: when demand exceeds supply, non-essential loads are dropped to protect generators and batteries. In practice, yacht load shedding systems often shed the […]
UPS Reality on Yachts
Why “Protected Power” Often Protects the Wrong Things Introduction — UPS systems give confidence, not resilience Uninterruptible Power Supplies are widely fitted on yachts to protect: Their presence creates a powerful psychological effect: the belief that critical systems are protected. In practice, yacht UPS installations often protect comfort and convenience far more reliably than safety-critical […]
Blackouts at Anchor on Yachts
Why “Nothing Was Running” Is the Most Dangerous Assumption Introduction — anchor is when yachts feel safest and fail hardest Most yacht crews associate electrical risk with manoeuvring, heavy weather, or shore power. Anchor is seen as electrically benign: engines stopped, low loads, calm conditions. This belief is wrong. A large proportion of yacht electrical […]
Silent Mode, Batteries & ESS on Yachts
When Comfort Systems Quietly Remove Your Safety Margin Introduction — silence is seductive and dangerous Silent mode is one of the most desirable features on modern yachts. No generator noise. No vibration. Guests sleep. Anchorages feel serene. From an electrical perspective, silent mode replaces a rotating safety buffer with finite stored energy. When poorly understood […]
Shore Power Changeover on Yachts
Why Marinas, Shipyards, and “It Worked Last Time” Burn Boats Introduction — shore power is the most abused electrical interface on yachts For most yachts, shore power is treated as benign utility supply: plug in, lights stay on, generators stop. In reality, shore power is the single most variable and least controlled electrical source a […]
Generator Load Cycling & Wet-Stacking on Yachts
How “Quiet Running” Slowly Destroys Engines Introduction — yacht generators die politely Yacht generators rarely fail violently. They start easily, run quietly, and carry light loads for long periods. When they finally fail, it often feels sudden and unfair. In reality, the damage was done slowly — through chronic under-loading and excessive cycling, driven by […]
Yacht Power Philosophy vs SOLAS Ships
Why “It Meets the Rules” Does Not Mean It Is Safe Introduction — yachts are legal, not resilient by default A commercial ship’s electrical system is designed around survivability under failure. A yacht’s electrical system is designed around comfort, silence, and aesthetics. Both may comply with their respective codes, but they are built to solve […]
Fatigue, Social Pressure & Human Factors on Yachts
Why Good Crew Make Bad Decisions in Perfect Conditions Introduction — yachts don’t look like fatigue environments, but they are Fatigue on yachts rarely looks like exhaustion. There are no cargo watches, no heavy weather passages day after day, and no round-the-clock machinery operations in the commercial sense. Instead, yacht fatigue is cumulative, social, and […]
Charter vs Private Yachts
How Commercial Pressure Quietly Changes Risk Tolerance Introduction — the yacht hasn’t changed, but the pressure has From a systems perspective, a charter yacht and a private yacht may be identical. Same hull. Same machinery. Same crew size. Same flag. Same class. Operationally, they are not the same vessel. Charter operations introduce time pressure, expectation […]