5.4 Emergency source of electrical power
Clasification Society 2024 - Version 9.40
Statutory Documents - IMO Publications and Documents - International Codes - 2009 MODU Code - Code for the Construction and Equipment of Mobile Offshore Drilling Units, 2009 – Resolution A.1023(26) - Chapter 5 - Electrical Installations for All Types of Units - 5.4 Emergency source of electrical power

5.4 Emergency source of electrical power

  5.4.1 Every unit should be provided with a self-contained emergency source of electrical power.

  5.4.2 The emergency source of power, the transitional source of emergency power and the emergency switchboard should be located above the worst damage waterline and in a space not within the assumed extent of damage referred to in chapter 3, and be readily accessible. They should not be forward of the collision bulkhead, if any.

  5.4.3 The location of the emergency source of power, the transitional source of emergency power and emergency switchboard in relation to the main source of electrical power should be such as to ensure to the satisfaction of the Administration that a fire or other casualty in the space containing the main source of electrical power or in any machinery space of category A will not interfere with the supply or distribution of emergency power. As far as practical, the space containing the emergency source of power, the transitional source of emergency power and the emergency switchboard should not be contiguous to boundaries of machinery spaces of category A or of those spaces containing the main source of electrical power. Where the emergency source of power, the transitional source of emergency power, and the emergency switchboard are contiguous to the boundaries of machinery spaces of category A or to those spaces containing the main source of electrical power, or to spaces of zone 1 or zone 2, the contiguous boundaries should be in compliance with section 9.2.

  5.4.4 Provided that suitable measures are taken for safeguarding independent emergency operation under all circumstances, the emergency switchboard may be used to supply non-emergency circuits, and the emergency generator may be used exceptionally and for short periods to supply non-emergency circuits.

  5.4.5 For units where the main source of electrical power is located in two or more spaces which have their own systems, including power distribution and control systems, completely independent of the systems in the other spaces and such that a fire or other casualty in any one of the spaces will not affect the power distribution from the others, or to the services under paragraph 5.4.6, the provisions of paragraph 5.4.1 may be considered satisfied without an additional emergency source of electrical power, provided that the Administration is satisfied that:

  • .1 there are at least two generating sets, meeting the provisions of paragraph 5.4.15 and each of sufficient capacity to meet the provisions of paragraph 5.4.6, in each of at least two spaces;

  • .2 the arrangements under paragraph 5.4.5.1 in each such space are equivalent to those under paragraphs 5.4.8 and 5.4.11 to 5.4.14 and section 5.5 so that a source of electrical power is available at all times to the services under paragraph 5.4.6;

  • .3 the location of each of the spaces referred to in paragraph 5.4.5.1 is in compliance with paragraph 5.4.2 and the boundaries meet the provisions of paragraph 5.4.3 except that contiguous boundaries should consist of an “A-60” bulkhead and a cofferdam, or a steel bulkhead insulated to class “A-60” on both sides.

  5.4.6 The power available should be sufficient to supply all those services that are essential for safety in an emergency, due regard being paid to such services as may have to be operated simultaneously. The emergency source of power should be capable, having regard to starting currents and the transitory nature of certain loads, of supplying simultaneously at least the following services for the periods specified hereinafter, if they depend upon an electrical source for their operation:

  • .1 For a period of 18 h, emergency lighting:

    • .1.1 at every embarkation station on deck and over sides;

    • .1.2 in all service and accommodation alleyways, stairways and exits, personnel lift cars, and personnel lift trunks;

    • .1.3 in the machinery spaces and main generating stations including their control positions;

    • .1.4 in all control stations and in all machinery control rooms;

    • .1.5 in all spaces from which control of the drilling process is performed and where controls of machinery essential for the performance of this process, or devices for emergency switching-off of the power plant are located;

    • .1.6 at the stowage position or positions for fire-fighters’ outfits;

    • .1.7 at the sprinkler pump, if any, at the fire pump referred to in paragraph 5.4.6.5, at the emergency bilge pump, if any, and at their starting positions;

    • .1.8 on helidecks, to include perimeter and helideck status lights, wind direction indicator illumination, and related obstruction lights, if any;

  • .2 For a period of 18 h, the navigation lights, other lights and sound signals, required by the International Regulations for the Prevention of Collisions at Sea, in force;

  • .3 For a period of four days signalling lights and sound signals required for marking of offshore structures;

  • .4 For a period of 18 h:

    • .4.1 all internal communication equipment that is required in an emergency;

    • .4.2 fire and gas detection and their alarm systems;

    • .4.3 intermittent operation of the manual fire alarms and all internal signals that are required in an emergency; and

    • .4.4 the capability of closing the blow-out preventer and of disconnecting the unit from the well-head arrangement, if electrically controlled;

    unless they have an independent supply from an accumulator battery suitably located for use in an emergency and sufficient for the period of 18 h;

  • .5 For a period of 18 h, one of the fire pumps, if dependent upon the emergency generator for its source of power;

  • .6 For a period of at least 18 h, permanently installed diving equipment, if dependent upon the unit’s electrical power;

  • .7 On column-stabilized units, for a period of 18 h:

    • .7.1 ballast control and indicating systems under paragraph 4.10.10; and

    • .7.2 any of the ballast pumps under paragraph 4.10.3; only one of the connected pumps need be considered to be in operation at any time;

  • .8 For a period of half an hour:

    • .8.1 power to operate the watertight doors as provided under paragraph 3.6.5.1, but not necessarily all of them simultaneously, unless an independent temporary source of stored energy is provided; and

    • .8.2 power to operate the controls and indicators provided under paragraph 3.6.5.1.

  5.4.7 The emergency source of power may be either a generator or an accumulator battery.

  5.4.8 Where the emergency source of power is a generator it should be:

  • .1 driven by a suitable prime mover with an independent supply of fuel, having a flashpoint of not less than 43°C;

  • .2 started automatically upon failure of the normal electrical supply unless a transitional source of emergency power in accordance with paragraph 5.4.8.3 is provided; where the emergency generator is automatically started, it should be automatically connected to the emergency switchboard; those services referred to in paragraph 5.4.10 should then be connected automatically to the emergency generator; and unless a second independent means of starting the emergency generator is provided, the single source of stored energy should be protected to preclude its complete depletion by the automatic starting system; and

  • .3 provided with a transitional source of emergency power, as specified in paragraph 5.4.10, unless the emergency generator is capable of supplying the services mentioned in paragraph 5.4.10 and of being automatically started and supplying the required load as quickly as is safe and practicable but in not more than 45 s.

  5.4.9 Where the emergency source of power is an accumulator battery it should be capable of:

  • .1 carrying the emergency load without recharging while maintaining the voltage of the battery throughout the discharge period within plus or minus 12% of its nominal voltage;

  • .2 automatically connecting to the emergency switchboard in the event of failure of the main power supply; and

  • .3 immediately supplying at least those services specified in paragraph 5.4.10.

  5.4.10 The transitional source or sources of emergency power, under paragraph 5.4.8.3, should consist of an accumulator battery suitably located for use in an emergency, which should operate without recharging whilst maintaining the voltage of the battery throughout the discharge period within plus or minus 12% of its nominal voltage, and be of sufficient capacity and so arranged as to supply automatically, in the event of failure of either the main or the emergency source of power, the following services for half an hour at least if they depend upon an electrical source for their operation:

  • .1 the lighting under paragraphs 5.4.6.1 and 5.4.6.2. For this transitional phase, the required emergency lighting, in respect of the machinery space and accommodation and service areas, may be provided by permanently fixed, individual accumulator lamps which are automatically charged and operated;

  • .2 all essential internal communication equipment under paragraphs 5.4.6.4.1 and 5.4.6.4.2; and

  • .3 intermittent operation of the services referred to in paragraphs 5.4.6.4.3 and 5.4.6.4.4,

unless, in the case of paragraphs 5.4.10.2 and 5.4.10.3, they have an independent supply from an accumulator battery suitably located for use in an emergency and sufficient for the period specified.

  5.4.11 The emergency switchboard should be installed as near as is practicable to the emergency source of power and, where the emergency source of power is a generator, the emergency switchboard should preferably be located in the same space.

  5.4.12 No accumulator battery fitted to meet the provisions for emergency or transitional power supply should be installed in the same space as the emergency switchboard, unless appropriate measures to the satisfaction of the Administration are taken to extract the gases discharged from the said batteries. An indicator should be mounted in a suitable place on the main switchboard or in the machinery control room to indicate when the batteries constituting either the emergency source of power or the transitional source of power, referred to in paragraphs 5.4.9 or 5.4.10, are being discharged.

  5.4.13 The emergency switchboard should be supplied in normal operation from the main switchboard by an interconnector feeder which should be adequately protected at the main switchboard against overload and short circuit. The arrangement at the emergency switchboard should be such that the interconnector feeder is disconnected automatically at the emergency switchboard upon failure of the main power supply. Where the system is arranged for feedback operation, the interconnector feeder should also be protected at the emergency switchboard at least against short circuit.

  5.4.14 In order to ensure ready availability of emergency supplies, arrangements should be made where necessary to disconnect non-emergency circuits automatically from the emergency switchboard to ensure that power is available automatically to the emergency circuits.

  5.4.15 The emergency generator and its prime mover and any emergency accumulator battery should be designed to function at full rated power when upright and when inclined up to the maximum angle of heel in the intact and damaged condition, as determined in accordance with chapter 3. In no case need the equipment be designed to operate when inclined more than:

  • .1 25° in any direction on a column-stabilized unit;

  • .2 15° in any direction on a self-elevating unit; and

  • .3 22.5° about the longitudinal axis and/or when inclined 10° about the transverse axis on a surface unit.

  5.4.16 Provision should be made for the periodic testing of the complete emergency system. This should include the testing of transitional sources and automatic starting arrangements.


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