reference
Advanced excitation system for a cruise ship's shore power connection
July 2026
The use of shore power is becoming increasingly important in the maritime sector. For a ship’s electrical equipment, however, switching from the ship’s own power generation system to the public power grid places high demands on control technology and system integration.
On behalf of VEM Group, we were involved in a project to connect the luxury cruise ship “Seven Seas Voyager,” owned by Regent Cruises, to shore power. Our task was to prepare the four synchronous generators of the ship’s power plant for operation on shore power by upgrading the excitation control system.
The time constraints involved in working on board presented a particular challenge. During normal operations, cruise ships spend only a limited amount of time in each port, so modifications and functional tests must be carried out within this time window without compromising the full operational readiness of the engine sets.
The ship’s four sets of machinery are excited by our TIBS XD2M excitation systems. To enable the shore power connection, the functional scope of the excitation systems was specifically expanded.
The newly implemented functions include:
- Adjustment of the synchronous generators’ armature voltage to grid conditions,
- Switching between the control modes for armature voltage, reactive power, and power factor, and
- Provision of the current measured values for reactive power and power factor of each individual generator to the higher-level control system.
With these enhancements, the excitation units provide the necessary control variables and measured values for shore power operation.
The TIBS XD2M is used to excite synchronous generators in maritime environments.
You can learn more about our TIBS XD2M excitation units here.
TIBS XD3M
Close collaboration with the control system manufacturer
A key component of the project was the coordination between the excitation control system and the control technology. To this end, we worked closely with VARD on behalf of the VEM Group.
While our excitation units provide the advanced control functions and measurement parameters, VARD integrated these into its control system. This allows the chief engineer and his officers to make all relevant settings centrally from the engine control room. At the same time, the current operating data for the individual generators is immediately available for monitoring and operation.
International project implementation
Implementing such a complex retrofit project required close coordination among all project partners. Our development engineers in Marseille (France) and Trieste (Italy) were on site to carry out the project. The final system acceptance will take place in August in Southampton (United Kingdom).
These international assignments enabled close coordination among all participating partners and a step-by-step validation of the new functions under real operating conditions.
Expertise in challenging retrofit and new construction projects
This project demonstrates how existing excitation systems can be specifically adapted to meet new energy supply requirements. By expanding our TIBS XD2M excitation units, we were able to provide the necessary control functions for the shore power connection and integrate them into the ship’s control system.
In addition to the technical advantages, operating on shore power while the ship is docked also allows the diesel-powered generators to be shut down. This reduces local emissions and noise levels – an additional benefit of a solution focused on safe and reliable electrical system integration.
Are you planning a new construction or retrofit project? Our experts will support you every step of the way — from developing customized solutions through commissioning to on-site acceptance.