DC grid protection of Construction Service Operation Vessels

  • Type of vessel: construction service operation vessels (CSOV / SOV)
  • System integrator: Kongsberg Maritime
  • Class: DNV
  • DC grid topology: Multi-bus ring system
  • DC grid protection: Astrol 1.5 kV, 3 kA DC breakers

Powering the Future of Offshore Operations: Astrol Solid-State DC Breakers Integrated into CSOV DC Grids

As the maritime industry transitions toward electrification and smarter energy management, the need for reliable, high-performance DC protection solutions becomes essetial. In this recent project, Astrol’s 1.5 kV, 3 kA solid-state DC breakers were successfully integrated into the Kongsberg Maritime DC power distribution systems of next-generation Construction Service Operation Vessels (CSOVs).

Vessel Type and Purpose

Engineered for the demanding environments of offshore wind farm construction and maintenance, the CSOV’s are at the forefront of sustainable marine operations. Designed for high maneuverability, redundancy, and operational uptime, they require a power infrastructure that matches their complexity and mission-critical roles.

Collaboration with Kongsberg Maritime

The integration was led by Kongsberg Maritime, a globally recognized system integrator known for its robust and future-ready solutions. Kongsberg Maritime embedded our solid-state DC breakers into the vessels’ sophisticated multi-bus ring DC grid topology, ensuring flexible power distribution and high system availability.

Certified to DNV Standards

Compliant with DNV classification standards, the DC grid architecture required a protection solution that met the highest safety, performance, and reliability benchmarks. Our ultra-fast 1.5 kV 3 kA solid-state DC breakers enable safe, smart and compact design.

Multi-bus ring system: built for redundancy and flexibility

The multi-bus ring system provides critical redundancy and fault tolerance in the vessel’s power distribution. By deploying Astrol’s 1.5 kV, 3 kA breakers at strategic nodes in the grid, the system can isolate faults within microseconds—protecting essential equipment and maintaining power flow to critical parts of the grid, even during fault conditions.

Conclusion

This project represents a benchmark in the evolution of maritime electrification. By integrating Astrol’s high-performance DC breakers into the core of these DNV-classed CSOVs, Kongsberg Maritime shows its dedication to safety, innovation, and sustainable vessel design. We are proud of this seamless and future-ready collaboration with Kongsberg, an industry-leading system integrator known for its high-end, forward-thinking solutions.