THE WORLDS FINEST SHIP, ALSO KNOWN AS HOME

• Raffles
• Onboard
• Ashore
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• Donald Starkey Designs
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• A one of a kind ship
• Facts and dimensions
• LR service notations
• General description
• Apartments
• The electric ship
• Main propulsion
• Electrical systems
• Auxiliary machinery  services and systems
• Dependability,  redundancy and back up
• Safety, fire fighting and  lifesaving
• Navigation,  communications and  computerisation
• The marina and aft deck
• Boats, planes, and toys
• Lloyd’s Register
• Raffles operating costs
• Caution
• PDF version

Electrical systems

As an electric ship Raffles electrical systems are extensive and include:

• Medium voltage 600+ that serves only heavy users and primarily located only in the after part of the ship and low in the hull.
• Low voltage 200+ serving domestic / hotel needs and smaller machinery / equipment throughout the ship at all levels.
• DC 12/24/32 volts that is ship wide serving mainly emergency systems or where total reliability is required.
• Miscellaneous micro systems solar, wind, and hydro DC power sources.

To provide physical / mechanical and fire protection all main distribution systems are run in the central core for as much of their length as possible with vertical transits, deck to deck in special fire proof ducts.

For ease of maintenances / inspection most systems are run flat on metal trays or on vertical bulkheads in hangers with good separation to ensure good access and easily visible inspection, as well as to reduce fire risks.

The medium voltage systems from the switch room P&S to two main propulsor drive motor rooms are run with single continuous cables in special heavy duty metal ducts through WT compartments on either side of the marina with ducts provided with temperature measurement alarms and inert gas flooding.

Low voltage systems to apartments are run in the core, a single continuous cable from the main switchboard to multiple switch / distribution boards at each level to allow rapid isolation and cross over. Final connection from the core into each apartment’s own switch / distribution board, after a digital meter, is via a flexible, armoured plug in umbilical.

Various spaces, supermarket, retail outlets, restaurants, etc. supply is similar with each space’s consumption individually metered and provided with a switch / distribution board for local / isolation.

The DC system is used for emergency lighting, fire detection systems and the special bilge/ alarm system, etc. It is provided with a combination of battery and fuel cell back up. Special extended period stored supply, gel or matt glass battery and fuel cell based, is arranged for the hospital / operating theatre and the ships essential communication systems, plus some navigation equipment on the bridge. These systems will also be guaranteed a power supply from the solar / wind / hydro systems.

Electrical system to lifeboat davits to ensure operation even in a total power failure situation is separate again, divided both port + starboard and for the two individual boats on each deck.

Throughout, Raffles automatically charged emergency lighting and with additional torches/ lanterns in apartments and crew quarters are significantly in excess of statutory minimum required, both in quality / quantity and capability.

The ship’s closed loop VHF communication system has a separate fail safe power supply to ensure its availability in an emergency. Personal VHF radios which all crew carry are provided with individual chargers at the users work place and sleeping quarters. Portable VHF radios / chargers in each apartment are part of the same emergency system.

The marina stern doors 24 volt heavy duty system has manual back up to allow the two “vertical” hinged doors to be opened in a total power failure with the ship dead in the water.

A 110KW, air cooled diesel driven alternator for emergency / harbour use with both electrical and hydro start is located in the stack, connected to the emergency switch board.

A special retractable vertical carbon fibre / aluminium mast with fold out vertical solar panels, battery charge system and gel battery bank is fitted.

Raffles also carries two mini-hydro generators each producing 8 amps / 12 volts about 1.5KW that can be streamed off the stern and two 6KW Darrius type wind generators, all with their own charging and battery storage systems.

Extensive use is made throughout Raffles of small solar powered extractor fans for ventilation of apartment wardrobes, service walls and small spaces in the hull / superstructure not normally entered or provided with ventilation, that might be subject to condensation.