Design and operational aspects of diesel generators’ power and number for seagoing ships

New chapter 4, added to Annex VI of MARPOL convention, put into effect regulations on the ships ‘energy efficiency. It makes mandatory since 1st January 2013 the so called Energy Efficiency Design Index (EEDI) for new ships and the Ship Energy Efficiency Management Plan (SEEMP) for new and existing vessels of 400 gt and above. There is a huge space to save the energy, improve the ships’ efficiency and reduce the GHG emissions for the sea going ships such as container carriers are. The aspects presented in the paper are based on the contemporary container vessels with the state of the art technology implemented to their design and operational stage. The estimation of the electric power and number of diesel generators with use of the statistical tools is the main aim of the paper. The container vessels fitted only with the diesel generators without any other type of electric generator unit are taken into account in the calculation process. The electric power equation has been determined, applying the multiple regression model with an absolute term, based on the ship’s parameters for the entire range of the container vessels’ load capacity TEU. It shown, the reefer containers RC and the main propulsion rating SMCR are the most important parameters statistically significant. It is calculated as well how the total ship’s electric power is very strictly dependent on the number of diesel generators installed on board. The reefer containers’ number and its assumed power considering the cargo type and the simultaneity coefficient are also presented in the article, as this impact the electric power demand. The different types of Power Management Systems for diesel generators load are discussed at the last stage of the paper.