The Marine Vessel's Electrical Power System: From its Birth to Present Day

The evolution of the use of electricity in marine vessels is presented and discussed in this article in a historical perspective. The historical account starts with its first commercial use in the form of light bulbs in the SS Columbia in 1880 for illumination purposes, going through the use in hybrid propulsion systems with steam turbines and diesel engines and transitioning to our days with the first case of electric marine vessel entirely based on the use of batteries in 2015. Electricity use is discussed not only in the light of its many benefits but also of the challenges introduced after the emergence of the marine vessel electrical power system. The impact of new conversion technologies like power electronics, battery energy storage and the dc power system on the trajectory of this development is thoroughly discussed. The article guides the reader through the different stages of this development influenced by the different forms electricity took in the marine vessel, with emphasis on how electricity was used has impacted the marine vessel power system development.