The International Association of Classification Societies (IACS) has published the results of a large-scale inspection campaign conducted in 2025 on emergency power supply systems aboard ships.
Following a warning from “Tokyo MoU” regarding the reliability of “simulated blackout” tests, a 12-month campaign was launched during which a total of 36,723 vessels were inspected. While more than 97% of ships showed no major issues, deficiencies were identified on 853 vessels (2.32%).
The main faults included failures in quick-closing valves (22%), problems in control units and electrical circuits (16%), and defects in emergency diesel generator starting systems (14%).
The report highlights that widely used simulation tests do not fully replicate all electrical circuits during real power failures, potentially creating a false sense of readiness among crew members. It also notes that many ships lack sufficiently detailed procedures within their Safety Management Systems (SMS) for conducting realistic blackout drills.
Based on the findings, IACS recommends strengthening compliance with SOLAS requirements through more comprehensive ISM audits, expanding controlled testing during inspections, revising inspection intervals for frequently failing components, and standardizing simulation test procedures. According to the organization, these measures will enhance the reliability of emergency power systems and significantly improve maritime safety in critical situations.
