Maarine Electrical and Control Systems Safety Conference (MECSS)

A major safety challenge is posed by the interaction between people, processes and plant as ships are becoming ever more sophisticated, and increasingly rely on integrating software intensive control and power dense electrical systems.

The role of the system integrator is paramount to achieve safety, reliability and availability, from original design, through operation, including maintenance.   In-service changes during refit driven by new functionality, or equipment changes through obsolescence, present more challenges to the industry.

These challenges could be met by developing coherent system design, control and electrical systems solutions, rather than 'composed' from an assembly of individual sub-systems. However, there are tensions that can be obstacles to this being realised, for example competing attributes of: purchasing to the lowest procurement cost; greater vessel availability; highest levels of reliability; low cost of ownership; minimising reputational risk; high public expectation of safer transport systems, meeting environmental constraints.

This conference will provide an opportunity for industry and regulators to discuss these challenges, present solutions, benchmark other sectors and share best practice.