On a regular basis, containerised generator sets (CGS) are placed on board ships to provide replacement power in case of a damage to one of the ship's generator sets, or additional power, e. to provide power to extra deck equipment or reefer containers.
What is a containerised generator set?
On a regular basis, containerised generator sets (CGS) are placed on board ships to provide replacement power in case of a damage to one of the ship's generator sets, or additional power, e.g. to provide power to extra deck equipment or reefer containers. There are currently no clear rules and requirements for such time limited installations.
A cargo ship may have two or more main generators typically rated from 350 kW to a few megawatts, which are sufficient to supply the engine room auxiliaries while at sea, and the winches or cranes for handling cargo while in port.
Do merchant ships produce electricity?
main engine output on certain type of merchant ships (e.g. container ships with a large number of refrigerated containers), minimalization of electricity produ- ction costs has gained in the last decade a vital meaning, hence a steady prog- ress in electricity production methods on board ships built in shipyards all over the world.
Can gensets be used in shipping?
Integral generator sets are not often used in shipping as they either restrict internal volume or are longer in size, making them unviable for shipping on standard chassis or ocean vessels. Undermount gensets, also commonly referred to as underslung gensets, are installed directly underneath a truck's container chassis.
How does a reefer container genset work?
However, when a reefer container is transported, the generator set is not able to draw power through an electrical socket. Therefore, it requires an external power source, which is fuel (typically gas, diesel, or petrol). Due to the different modes of transport that a reefer container is moved by, there are various types of gensets.
Last but not least a shaft generator installed on board ships can also act in a reverse manner, namely as a shaft mounted electric motor driven by electric power supplied from conventional diesel generators.