A Full Mission Simulator of the Ship’s Automated Electric Power System for Training and Competence Testing of Marine Engineers

This article describes practical preparation of marine engineers on the full mission simulator complex of the ship’s automated electrical power plant. A full mission simulator complex of the ship’s automated power management system meets International Convention STCW (Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping) 78 (with Manila amendments 2010) requirements in part of adequate reproduction of its operational modes corresponding to the actual configuration and layout of the ship’s automated power management system with real consumers and typical loads. The simulator is fully consistent with the goals and objectives of the practical training, as well as the goals and objectives of proficiency testing engine department officers on issues of technical maintenance of real ship’s equipment (high voltage installations included) and means of automation. The simulator’s complex is designed for training and proficiency testing of cadets and students of maritime educational institutions, as well as training and proficiency testing of marine specialists (mechanics and electricians) by watch-keeping and maintenance of modern integrated automated control systems of ship’s electric power plant and the individual ship electromechanical systems, including high-voltage systems. A simulator’s complex provides adequate reproduction of operational situations on technical side of real ship electric and automation equipment provides training on monitoring, control and management diesel-generator sets in hand, semi-automatic and automatic modes of power station, control and management of electromechanical systems, as well as the set of tasks upon parameterization, visualization and etc. Besides number of combinations of monitoring, control and management tasks, the simulator’s complex provides an opportunity to simulate various practical fault conditions. It allows students to focus on the work of automatic control system in emergency situations and to work out correct actions for a watch-keeper on searching, localizing of faults and troubleshooting of equipment.