TECHNICAL AND REGULATORY NEWS No.

22/2019 – TECHNICAL

TESTING OF STANDBY GENERATORS

WITHOUT CLASS ATTENDANCE
Relevant for ship owners and managers.

November 2019

Many ship operators do not seem to be familiar with our rule requirement updates released in
June 2018. Since then, the ship’s crew has been allowed to conduct the annually required class
test of the standby generator functionality without class attendance. Ship operators thereby
benefit from increased flexibility. This technical news summarizes the improved test procedures.

Background and necessity of the requirements
The rules for annual surveys (Pt. 7, Ch. 1, Sec. 2 [3.1.5]) specify
that “For all E0, AUT or AUT-nh vessels (built at any time) and
all vessels constructed on or after 1998-07-01 where electricity
is necessary for propulsion and steering, test of the automatic
start and connection to the switchboard of the standby gen-
erator set shall be carried out.”
The only way to discover these issues, to ensure that the vessel
can restore power after a blackout and avoid even more
dangerous situations, is by testing the systems. This test must
therefore be carried out, and, importantly, it must be carried
out correctly. Simulating a blackout, i.e. triggering the standby
generator to come on line without shutting down the single
generator as required, will not reveal all hidden failures.

Where the vessel’s normal seagoing load is covered by a single
generator, this test shall be conducted by shutting down the
running generator, i.e. creating a blackout. For vessels where
the normal seagoing load is covered by two or more genera-
tors, the test shall be conducted by shutting down one of the
running generators.
Long-term experience shows that restarting the machinery
plant after a blackout is often problematic. This may be caused,
for instance, by incorrect system settings, crew unfamiliarity,
empty or faulty UPS units or, not least, empty internal batteries
on chipboards or PLCs.
Testing difficulties
For various reasons, it is often difficult to conduct the test as
required: oil/gas terminals do not allow vessels to immobilize,
cargo operations are disrupted, the crew is afraid of damaging
electronic equipment, etc. Whilst many of these challenges can
be overcome through good planning and preventive measures
such as shutting down non-critical equipment, this testing
requirement still inconveniences the vessel.
New procedure for annual testing
To minimize the impact of the annual testing, class attendance
during the standby functionality test is no longer required. This
allows for the test to be conducted at a more suitable time.

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If conducted less than three months before the annual survey,
the test may be accepted during the annual survey. The test
shall be conducted according to a written procedure which, for
ships where the normal seagoing load is covered by a single
generator, shall include a blackout.
In general, the procedure shall address the relevant items
listed in the Appendix (see page 3) under Annex I: Guidelines
for standby functionality test procedure. This procedure does
not require class approval but should be presented to the
attending surveyor for his/her acceptance.
The successful test shall be documented by a log book entry, a
signed statement by the Chief Engineer and a copy or screenshot
of the alarm log. If the test has not been conducted by the vessel
at the time of the annual survey, or the operator simply wishes to
conduct the test during the annual survey, this is still possible.
Recommendations
By preparing test procedures and conducting tests prior to the
annual surveys, vessels can limit the impact of annual surveys
on the daily operations.
References
ƒƒ DNV GL rules for classification: Ships (RU-SHIP):
Pt. 7 Fleet in service, Ch.1 Survey requirements for fleet in
service – Sec. 2 [3.1.5]
Document code: DNVGL-RU-SHIP-Pt7Ch1
Appendix
Annex I: Guidelines for standby functionality test procedure

The test shall always be witnessed by class during renewal

surveys on all vessels and during annual surveys for vessels
where a poor condition and/or poor maintenance is registered.
CONTACT
Summary For customers:
In short, the testing of the generator standby functionality, DATE – Direct Access to Technical Experts via My Services on Veracity.
sometimes referred to as the “blackout test”, is no longer Otherwise:
required to be carried out during the annual survey. The test Email us at Hull.Machinery@dnvgl.com or
may, under certain conditions, be carried out without class use our office locator to find the nearest DNV GL office
attendance prior to the annual survey.

DNV GL – Maritime, Brooktorkai 18, 20457 Hamburg, Germany, Tel: +49 40 36149 0, www.dnvgl.com/maritime DNV GL Disclaimer of Liability
Appendix
ANNEX I: GUIDELINES FOR STANDBY FUNCTIONALITY
TEST PROCEDURE
The test procedure shall as a minimum address the following:
ƒƒ Frequency and timing of testing
ƒƒ Minimum seagoing load as documented in the vessel
electrical load balance
ƒƒ Capacity of the installed generator sets
ƒƒ Various combinations of generators required to cover the
normal seagoing load, if applicable
ƒƒ Minimum equipment required to be running before and after
the test
ƒƒ Disabling of the emergency generator
ƒƒ Disabling of the emergency generator by switching to
“manual” is only required if the emergency generator would
interfere with the standby generator’s starting sequence.
ƒƒ Method of triggering the standby functionality test
ƒƒ If one (1) generator covers the normal seagoing load, this
is done by initiating the shutdown of the running generator
to cause a blackout.
ƒƒ If two (2) or more generators cover the normal seagoing
load, this is done by initiating the shutdown of one (1)
running generator.
ƒƒ Description of the number and combination of generators to
be tested
ƒƒ Different combinations are expected to be tested during
subsequent tests to ensure functionality with any combina-
tion of generating sets.
DNV GL – Maritime, Brooktorkai 18, 20457 Hamburg, Germany, Tel: +49 40 36149 0, www.dnvgl.com/maritime
ƒƒ Success criteria
ƒƒ If one (1) generator covers the normal seagoing load:
The standby generator shall supply power to the equipment
necessary for propulsion and steering and for ensuring the
safety of the vessel within 45 seconds.
ƒƒ If two (2) generators cover the normal seagoing load:
The load shedding (tripping/load reduction) system shall
ensure that the remaining generator supplies power to the
equipment necessary for propulsion and steering and for
ensuring the safety of the vessel.
ƒƒ Further testing of the standby functionality by shutting
down the running generator, i.e. creating a blackout, is
recommended but not required.
ƒƒ If the load shedding (tripping/load reduction) system is
unable to prevent the remaining generator from over-
loading, the standby generator shall supply power to the
equipment necessary for propulsion and steering and for
ensuring the safety of the vessel within 45 seconds.
ƒƒ Re-enabling the emergency generator, i.e. changing back to
“automatic” mode
ƒƒ Documenting the testing
ƒƒ Alarm log printout or screenshot
ƒƒ Engine room log entry
ƒƒ Chief Engineer statement, including a reference to the
time taken to restore power and propulsion
ƒƒ Errors observed and lessons learned
ƒƒ Not necessarily limited to the restoration of power alone;
any other issues noted, such as malfunctioning emergency
lighting and UPS.
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