Bureau Veritas (BV) has granted an Approval in Principle to Greek company ERMA FIRST for its BLUE CONNECT system, a high voltage alternative maritime power solution that can be housed in a 40ft container.
According to ERMA FIRST, their system can be housed in a container or provided in a stand-alone configuration and enables most ships to connect with different shore power systems based on their required power. BLUE CONNECT can be plugged into a port’s infrastructure (external connection) and to a vessel’s electrical grid (internal connection).
During the 2023 GREEN4SEA Athens Forum, Theodosia Digalaki, Technical Product Manager, ERMA FIRST, had explained that to establish a shore power connection, infrastructure is required on both shore and vessel side. On the port side the mainland’s power source is connected to a local electrical substation at berth through a cabling system.
The BLUE CONNECT system has been designed for a specific maximum load capacity according to individual vessel specifications and to meet specific port requirements, the company explained in their statement.
Our BLUE CONNECT system seamlessly facilitates a vessel’s connection to a port’s electrical grid in order to power the vessel’s systems and equipment while at berth thus contributing to its operational sustainability
… Dr Stelios Kyriacou, Chief Technology Officer at ERMA FIRST, stated in an exclusive interview with SAFETY4SEA.
Bureau Veritas has confirmed that the BLUE CONNECT HVSC system meets its requirements for safety, including structural integrity of the containerised ‘box’ containing the connection system, allowing the unit to be stored on a ship’s deck and deployed when required.
It’s always a pleasure to be able to support innovation – and for us, based here, to support innovation in Greece. Our approval helps enable the rapid application of the BLUE CONNECT solution by providing the confidence that our classification requirements for safety and performance will be met.
… said Paillette Palaiologou, Vice President, Marine & Offshore for Bureau Veritas
We are delighted to receive this Approval in Principle from Bureau Veritas, which confirms that BLUE CONNECT’s safety and operational profile meets the in-principle expectations of the classification society.
… added Konstantinos Stampedakis, Co-Founder & Managing Director of ERMA FIRST
To remind, connection to shore power will be a requirement for containerships and cruise ships in European ports from 2030.
