Due to the increasing number and power ratings of electric variable speed drives being installed onboard ships and offshore installations voltage quality, harmonics and other related issues are of increasing and serious concern. Marine classification bodies and various standard organizations throughout the world now impose strict limits on the permissible ‘total harmonic voltage distortion’ (THDv) in recognition that the quality and security of voltage supplies are crucial to the safety of vessels. However, current distortion is not limited by many standards while it affects not only voltage distortion but may also lead to other problems such as overheating or resonances.

Any failure or malfunction of equipment such as propulsion or navigation, due to low power quality, could very easily result in an accident at sea or close inshore, with disastrous consequences. To date, very little information on marine power quality has been available in textbooks. Now, the Dean of Gdynia Maritime University (Poland) who is a renowned expert on marine power quality, Professor Janusz Mindykowski, has published a very comprehensive and informative book on the subject, entitled “Assessment of Electric Power Quality in Ship Systems fitted with Converter Subsystems”. This book offers excellent value and a comprehensive insight into all aspects of marine power quality.