Shipboard Earthing Systems
Why earthing on ships is designed for continuity — and why it becomes deadly when misunderstood Introduction — ships don’t earth systems the way shore plants do A lot of shore electricians arrive onboard expecting one comforting rule: earth faults trip the breaker. On many ships that’s not what you want — and not what […]
IMO & SOLAS Electrical Requirements
What Port State Control actually enforces Introduction – SOLAS is not abstract law SOLAS electrical rules are often treated as “design-stage requirements”. In reality, Port State Control enforces them operationally, years after delivery. When PSC inspects electrical systems, they are not checking theory. They are checking: If power fails when it shouldn’t, SOLAS has already […]
IEEE vs IEC — What Ships Actually Use (and Why It Matters)
Why mixing standards blindly causes design errors, blackouts, and detentions Introduction – Two standards, one ship, zero margin for confusion Many ETOs arrive onboard with strong IEEE or shore-based electrical backgrounds. Others were trained under IEC-centric maritime systems. The mistake is assuming these frameworks are interchangeable. They are not. On ships, IEC governs legality, IEEE […]
Power Factor on Ships
Why poor power factor causes blackouts before alarms Introduction – Power factor is invisible until it hurts you Power factor is one of the most misunderstood concepts on ships because nothing visibly “breaks” when it is bad. Lights stay on. Motors run. Generators appear healthy. Meanwhile: By the time alarms appear, you have already lost […]
IEC Marine Electrical Standards (IEC 60092 Explained)
Why ships have their own electrical rulebook Introduction – IEC 60092 exists because ships kept burning Marine electrical systems are not governed by general industrial rules for one simple reason: industrial rules failed at sea. Before IEC 60092, ships were fitted with electrical systems adapted from shore installations. Fires, blackouts, electrocutions, and propulsion losses followed […]
Checklists, SOPs & Job Cards
Why paperwork saves lives — when crews actually use it Estimated read time: 75–90 minutesAudience: Cadet → AB → Junior Officer → Chief Mate Introduction – Paperwork is not the enemy Few things on board attract as much quiet resentment as paperwork. Checklists, permits, toolbox talks, job cards — all are seen as obstacles to […]
Stores & Provisions Handling
Why “routine lifting” quietly causes crush injuries and fatalities Estimated read time: 70–85 minutesAudience: Cadet → AB → Junior Officer → Chief Mate Introduction – The most underestimated lifting operation on deck Stores and provisions handling is one of the most frequent lifting activities carried out on deck — and one of the least respected. […]
Pollution Prevention on Deck
Why most pollution incidents start as “nothing serious” Estimated read time: 75–90 minutesAudience: Cadet → AB → Junior Officer → Chief Mate Introduction – Pollution doesn’t start with disasters Major pollution incidents are rarely caused by catastrophic failures. They start with small, local, manageable releases: a drip at a manifold, residue after bunkering, hydraulic mist […]
Signs, Markings & Deck Plans
Why people die standing in the right place — marked wrong Estimated read time: 75–90 minutesAudience: Cadet → AB → Junior Officer → Chief Mate Introduction – Visual control is a safety system Signs, markings, and deck plans are often dismissed as administrative clutter. Paint fades. Signs peel. Plans get outdated. Because they are static, […]
Drills & Exercises (MOB, Fire, Abandon Ship)
Why drills fail when the emergency doesn’t follow the script Estimated read time: 80–95 minutesAudience: Cadet → AB → Junior Officer → Chief Mate Introduction – Drills are not rehearsals, they are diagnostics On paper, drills are meant to prepare crews for emergencies. In reality, drills are diagnostic tools. They reveal how people move, where […]