Operational Guide · Registers & Logbooks

# Blackout and Failure Management

The moment when all the preparation (PMS, spares, drills) is tested together: how to structure the response to reduce the time between the event and the restoration of safety.

blackout failure engine room emergency restoration

## Operational Explanation

A blackout (total loss of main electrical power) or a critical engine room failure requires a structured response: immediate priority to restoring essential safety services, followed by an orderly diagnosis of the cause before full operational restoration.

The quality of the response depends directly on what has been prepared in advance: identification of critical equipment (PMS), availability of the necessary spares, and crew familiarity with the emergency procedure through realistic, not merely theoretical, drills.

## Regulatory Reference

SOLAS Chapter II-1 (general requirements on the emergency generator and restoration of essential services) provides the basic regulatory framework; the detailed operational procedure for blackout/failure response is generally defined in the Company's SMS under the ISM Code.

## Scope of Application

Every ship, for every type of critical failure or blackout in the engine room, regardless of specific cause.

## Procedure / How to Complete It

1. On detecting a blackout, verify automatic start-up of the emergency generator and the assumption of essential loads.
2. Immediately inform the bridge and, if underway, assess the need for safety communications (e.g. notification to nearby ships).
3. Conduct an orderly diagnosis of the cause, following manufacturer procedures before attempting to restart main machinery.
4. Use pre-identified critical spares if the diagnosis requires component replacement.
5. Document the entire episode (cause, response time, actions taken) for analysis in the SMS NC/CAPA system and the subsequent Management Review.

### Diagram: response to a blackout in the engine room

## Practical Example

Example response: blackout caused by a main switchboard failure; emergency generator started automatically in 10 seconds, bridge informed immediately, diagnosis conducted with the support of the pre-identified critical spare, full restoration in 40 minutes, episode documented for Management Review.

## Real Cases

Navigational incidents involving ships adrift following a blackout have shown, in several investigations, that response time and restoration quality were determined not so much by the technical severity of the failure as by prior preparation: availability of critical spares, crew familiarity with the procedure, and timely communication with the bridge.

## Common Mistakes Mistake Library

Mistake | Consequence | How to avoid it
--- | --- | ---
No immediate communication to the bridge in the event of a blackout underway | Delayed assessment of navigational risks (drift, proximity to other ships/coast) | Establish an immediate bridge-engine room communication procedure for every blackout
Attempted quick restart of main machinery without an orderly diagnosis of the cause | Risk of aggravating the failure or causing a second blackout | Always follow a structured diagnosis before attempting restart
Blackout episode not systematically documented for later analysis | Lessons learned lost, risk of recurrence | Document every blackout/critical failure in the SMS NC/CAPA system

## PSC Observations

Failure management is not typically subject to direct PSC documentary verification, but a blackout during the inspection itself (e.g. during the emergency generator test) almost always leads to a serious deficiency.

## Operational Tips

- Establish an immediate bridge-engine room communication procedure for every blackout, not only the more serious ones.
- Always follow an orderly diagnosis before restoration, resisting the pressure to restart quickly without understanding the cause.
- Document every episode, even those resolved quickly, to feed collective learning through the NC/CAPA system.

## Checklist

- Automatic start-up of the emergency generator verified
- Immediate bridge-engine room communication established
- Cause diagnosis conducted in an orderly manner before restoration
- Pre-identified critical spares used if necessary
- Episode documented in the NC/CAPA system for Management Review

## FAQ

What is the first priority in the event of a blackout?
Verify automatic start-up of the emergency generator and the assumption of essential safety loads, before proceeding with diagnosis of the blackout's cause.
Why is it important to inform the bridge immediately in the event of a blackout?
Because underway a blackout involves loss of propulsion and steering, with risk of drifting towards hazards or other ships: the bridge must be able to promptly assess the need for safety communications or emergency manoeuvres.
Should every blackout be treated as a Non-Conformity in the SMS?
It is strongly recommended to link every significant episode to the NC/CAPA system, to ensure root cause analysis and prevent recurrence, even when restoration was quick and effective.
🎬 Additional photos, videos and interactive diagrams for this topic will be available in a future version of the platform.

## Related Topics

Planned Maintenance System (PMS)Critical Spare Parts Management

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