Project Overview

Marine Elements was engaged to design and install a new battery system as part of a wider refit on a 72-foot commercial steel-hulled sailing vessel. The objective was to improve system resilience and reliability by separating critical onboard systems from general domestic loads.

The work involved reconfiguring the vessel’s existing electrical infrastructure to support a dual-bank battery arrangement while integrating with the vessel’s existing charging and distribution systems.

Client / Vessel

• Client Type: Commercial vessel operator

• Vessel Type: 60ft steel-hulled sailing vessel

• Operating Environment: Coastal / offshore commercial operations

The Challenge

The project presented several practical and logistical challenges:

• Late involvement in the refit programme, requiring close coordination with other contractors completing installations onboard

• Space constraints within the existing battery compartment and adjacent lockers, limiting available options for component placement

• An existing electrical system that needed to be carefully reconfigured without unnecessary disruption to other onboard services

Additionally, it was critical that the new battery system provided a clear separation between house loads and critical systems, improving redundancy and operational safety.

The Solution

Marine Elements designed and installed a split battery bank system, separating the vessel’s electrical storage into:

• A house battery bank supporting domestic and non-critical loads

• A critical systems battery bank dedicated to essential onboard systems

To support this configuration, we:

• Reconfigured the charging system to ensure correct and reliable charging of both battery banks

• Modified and split fuse panels and distribution circuits so that each system was supplied from the appropriate battery bank

• Carefully planned component layout to maximise use of the existing battery compartment and lockers

• Worked closely with other trades onboard to sequence installation work efficiently and avoid clashes

The final installation was delivered within the vessel’s existing constraints while maintaining serviceability, safety and compliance.

The Outcome

The completed system delivered:

• Improved electrical resilience through separation of critical and non-critical loads

• Clear, logical power distribution that simplifies future maintenance and fault finding

• A more robust electrical configuration suitable for commercial operation

• Minimal disruption to the overall refit schedule despite late project involvement

The vessel now benefits from a reliable, well-structured battery and power distribution system aligned with best practice for commercial marine applications.

Key Systems & Services

• AC / DC electrical systems

• Battery storage and power distribution

• Charging system configuration

• Electrical system redesign and installation