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GMDSS Batteries: Tests and checks mariners must know

Written by Capt Rajeev Jassal on January 31, 2016
60
GMDSS Battery test GMDSS batteries provide power to GMDSS equipments in case ship's main as well as emergency power fail. The requirement of GMDSS batteries is governed by Regulation 13, Chapter 4 of SOLAS. As per SOLAS, GMDSS batteries should provide power to operate GMDSS for 1 hour in case GMDSS has the power from emergency generators 6 hours in case GMDSS does not have the power from emergency generators. Batteries must be recharged to the required minimum in less than 10 hours. The capacity of the batteries must be checked at interval of less than 12 months. Maintaining the GMDSS batteries in excellent condition is important to have them ready in emergency. There are typically three type of tests/Maintenance done on GMDSS batteries. Daily on Load/Off Load test Yearly Capacity test General Maintenance required on the battery. 1. Daily On Load / Off Load test On load / off load test is done to ensure that GMDSS equipments can have the power from battery. This ensures that all the connections from the battery to the GMDSS equipmemts are intact. Battery is able to provide power during operation of the GMDSS equipments. That is when load is put on battery, it does not drain out too quickly. For the on Load / Off load test, Following procedure should be followed 1. First Switch off the AC power to the GMDSS stati...

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Comments (60)

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  • Roopi May 8, 2016
    Very nice article
    3

    Rajeev Jassal May 8, 2016
    Thanks Buddy...

    Clif October 8, 2016
    Is there any rule from SOLAS stating that, while vsl stay at port during cargo operation especially on tanker vessels, you cannot make test of GMDSS equipment, if there is what regulation? Thanks mate.

  • Amit Rathi June 2, 2016
    Well....the Annual capacity test is too technical actually. I want to mention one simple annual capacity test procedure which is mentioned in SOLAS itself : SOLAS says - ''One method of checking the capacity of an accumulator battery is to fully discharge and recharge the battery using normal operating current and period(e.g. 10 h). Assessment of the charge condition can be made at any time,but it should be done without significant discharge of the battery when the ship is at sea''. Which says to fully discharge the battery and then recharge the battery again to 100% which must be within 10 hours. Moreover the Annual capacity test procedure mentioned in the blog will be difficult to explain to the external inspectors(the level of cross questioning some inspectors do). A 12 battery consists of 6 cells connected in series , with only 2 terminals(+ve & -ve), how to isolate a cell or even check a cell voltage out of it? Your views / comments on this?
    6

    Rajeev Jassal June 2, 2016
    Amit in your comment you have used the terms "fully discharge", "using normal operating current" and "significant discharge of battery". The technicality is in explaining these terms. These are subjective terms and we need to understand these for battery capacity test. Another thing, 10 Hours of capacity for a battery whose actual capacity at same current is 20 hours cannot be considered good. We need to discard this battery even if it satisfies the SOLAS requirement for capacity required.

    Pradeep Pandey June 30, 2016
    In above article isolation is for Nickel cadmium (Alkaline battery). where each cell are connected in series. In case of Lead acid battery as cells are internally connected this is not applicable...even if one cell out of 6 is defective ..we need to replace full battery. In case of alkaline battery we can replace each battery separately..With isolation we can equally discharge each cell before putting in charge..

  • M R Sudhakar June 2, 2016
    Good information
    1

    Rajeev Jassal June 2, 2016
    Glad you liked it Sudhakar

  • Filip June 6, 2016
    Very useful informations, Just, what should i state in gmdss log regarding capacity test? how should i wrote?
    2

    Rajeev Jassal June 8, 2016
    Usually at the beginning pages of GMDSS log it would be stated how each entry is to be made. It can be as simple as "Annual capacity test of GMDSS batteries conducted". This need to be supported with a test report with all the details of voltage and currents measured during the test.

    Filip June 25, 2016
    Thanks for useful informations.

  • Ivan June 18, 2016
    Nice and informative article. Helped me a lot
    1

    Rajeev Jassal June 21, 2016
    Glad to hear that Ivan

  • Pradeep Pandey June 30, 2016
    Thanks Capt Rajiv..Very nicely explained.
    1

    Rajeev Jassal June 30, 2016
    A comment from an ETO as knowledgeable as you means a lot. Thanks.

  • Ahmed khaled September 8, 2016
    Can I switch off al GMDSS AT PORT?
    1

    Rajeev Jassal September 11, 2016
    Yes, GMDSS can be switched off at Port. On Tankers, it is must to switch off GMDSS transmitter at port..

  • yogi September 11, 2016
    it is very useful information for me
    1

    Rajeev Jassal September 11, 2016
    Glad you found it useful Yogi..

  • mayank September 20, 2016
    Very good information..nicely explained..
    1

    Rajeev Jassal October 9, 2016
    Glad you liked it Mayank..

  • Joseph Bautista October 4, 2016
    Thanks for the information sir, How about the procedure of renewal of General and GMDSS batteries onboard ship? Can you send it to my email . Much appreciated sir thanks.
    1

    Rajeev Jassal October 9, 2016
    A maintenance free battery need to be changed before the expiry date. Other batteries need to be changed when the cells are damaged, that is when it does not hold the charge. Is there any other thing you are looking for in procedure for changing the batteries ?

  • Alex October 8, 2016
    Is the any weekly cheks for batteries?
    1

    Rajeev Jassal October 9, 2016
    If we are checking the specific gravity of the cells daily then there is no other thing we need to check every week.

  • Dmitrii October 10, 2016
    Very useful article ! I would be grateful, if you could tell me what the source of this information was: "3. The drop in voltage should not be more than 1.5 volts.", "If it is less than 80% of its rated capacity, the capacity test has failed." ?
    2

    Rajeev Jassal November 3, 2016
    IMO COMSAR/Circ 32 have some of this similar information Dmitrii..

    Than Oo December 6, 2016
    Thanks for your information sir, is there any recharging process during normal operating( means using by main or emergency power sources). If have, How frequently charge and how long for new maintenance free battery.

  • BR Pirate December 17, 2016
    Usefull info! I have one question, is there any requirement for keeping separate battery log or it is just enough to keep all records (on/off load tests, services) in the GMDSS log book? Regards
    1

    Rajeev Jassal February 11, 2017
    Both ways works fine provided we record all the information..

  • Saksham February 11, 2017
    How do we order new batteries for GMDSS
    1

    Rajeev Jassal February 11, 2017
    By mentioning the Capacity in Amp Hour number of battery banks required and number of cells in each battery bank..

  • maico February 19, 2017
    In your first drawing the setup for a volt meter is wrong. This is a amp test. And very bad for the meter.
    0

  • sunny March 29, 2017
    Sir, just checked IMO/COMSAR Circ. 32, i think no where it mentions anything regarding "drop in voltage by 1.5 V"...kindly advise
    0

  • Capt kostas boutsis April 13, 2017
    One more good article.
    0

  • Capt. America July 17, 2017
    Is it really required to perform radio DSC self-test whilst alongside in port on tankers such as LPG, LNG?
    0

  • John Erick Gaid January 4, 2018
    Useful article. Thank you
    0

  • Alexander Milenov January 20, 2018
    Dear Cpt. Rajeev, you're doing really a great job, pls keep going ! When time permits, it would be also nice if we can have some new subject regarding correct entries into the GMDSS log book, i.e. it becomes already quite often practice whenever vetting inspector writing such observation as : ''1) All entries have been made by 2/Off only and no any hand over of radio watch has been recorded into GMDSS Log'' density of GMDSS battery(if applicable type) liquid was not recorded while daily/weekly tests'' etc. Thank you
    0

  • ??????? ???????? February 17, 2018
    Dear Cpt. Rajeev, you blog is the most useful thing i've ever find regarding my carrer developing. Thank you for the great job. I have one question regarding this topic. According ot STCW requirement if we have ''maintenance-free'' batteries on board we should perform ''suitable load test'' weekly. As i understood it's something different that daily and capacity test because they are also included to requirements together with this weekly suitable load test. Could you advise?
    0

  • Bradley Brown July 14, 2018
    Thanks a lot for another great information. This website has been my gateway to information.
    0

  • Igor September 9, 2018
    Thanks for this article. Please could you advise with the links of sourse of this information. Especially regarding requirements to perform on/off test daily and procedure as such. I will be appreciate for your assistance with providing this information.
    0

  • Manish K November 15, 2018
    Informative article,Ty fr info.,
    0

  • Siddharth December 12, 2018
    Sir , Is it specifically mentioned somewhere that the drop in v should not be more than 1.5 V during on / off load test?
    0

  • Rajesh kumar choudhary January 18, 2019
    who is actually responsible for maintenance of GMDSS Batteries.... designated deck off for operating GMDSS in distress or electrical off or...??? under which law / rule???. Reply sure sir...it is a question on debate nowadays???. A gmdss goc holder is just an operator with no experience of electrical field. Many company's PMS battery maintenance job is included in El.Off job list or 2nd engr. Please guide on this with certain proof and clearification.
    2

    Rajeev February 9, 2019
    ETO

    hgikjhlk June 7, 2021
    bull shit

  • Dima Dima June 26, 2019
    Dear Capt Rajeev, Good day, thanks a lot for your valuable post. Can you kindly advise any reference in any Convention/Circular about on load / off load battery test. Thank you.
    0

  • XAVIER JOHN August 3, 2019
    Nice explanation.
    0

  • Md Sajib Alam Siddiquee November 18, 2019
    Sir, can you please let me know the annual GMDSS battery capacity test requirements for newly installed battery ? Is it okay if 1st annual capacity test is done within 12 months after installation of new battery ?
    0

  • Sebastian February 11, 2020
    I have one question after i switch AC power to batteries , my gmdss equipment should go on DC power? Im doing a daily test of gmdss batteries and when i switch off ac breaker i think only mf/hf goes on load to battery, other equipment like sat c still has green lamp for AC , should for all equipment be indicated they are on DC power once on battery? Is there any requirement that entire gmdss equipment should be put on load for daily test of battery or only mf/hf can be put on load and battery can still be checked ?) Thanks
    0

  • K.A. Anthony Parreñas April 8, 2020
    I have a question, do batteries (in emergency generator, battery and gen. Use batteries) needs to be covered as per SOLAS (PSC told that this should be covered as per solas but he failed to cite the SOLAS regulation)? If yes could someone help me cite the article. Please. Thank you.
    0

  • Raunak Kumar May 24, 2020
    A giant assistance to all seafarers.
    0

  • Vijaya Kumar thadishetty December 20, 2020
    Hi, While the whole article is deeply covered about the batteries......it lacks the very important and most often forms the part of argument is about........solas rules for carrying for carrying out gmdss annual load test. Vessel should be underway, an anchor or while the vessel at Port. You should have started with these rules in start of the topic. This would have nailed the article. Thanks for good articale though. Vijay
    0

  • Amar anand May 1, 2021
    Nice one...
    0

  • Sumithlal February 25, 2023
    Actually what is the rule while the vsl at anchor waiting for pilot or berth? Do we need to log down daily/weekly tests? As the vessel is only keeping a listening watch on VHF?
    0

Capt Rajeev Jassal

About Capt Rajeev Jassal

Capt. Rajeev Jassal has sailed for over 24 years mainly on crude oil, product and chemical tankers. He holds MBA in shipping & Logistics degree from London. He has done extensive research on quantitatively measuring Safety culture onboard and safety climate ashore which he believes is the most important element for safer shipping.

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