Automatic control systems for ships fitted with podded propulsion drive (POD)

The paper shows purposefulness and possiblity of automation of ship propulsion systems, especially those of POD type, intended to be used on four Baltic navigation ships: a containership, ro-ro ship, product tanker, as well as river-sea-going ship, designed within the frame of the Eureka "Baltecologicalship" project. Requirements of ship classification societies, and general ones for modern ship control systems were presented, as well as a review and analysis of currently applied power plant automation systems for diesel- electric ships fitted with podded propulsion drive (POD), were performed. Moreover real ways and possibilities of controlling ship s course and speed were indicated. Information contained in this paper may facilitate selecting appropriate design assumptions for a propulsion control system to be applied on the above mantioned ships.