Marinas face significant challenges when it comes to ensuring safety and regulatory compliance. Shore power fires, electrocutions, and dock damage pose serious risks to boat owners and marina operators alike. VoltSafe’s marine shore power system provides an innovative solution with their shore power pedestal and cord and accompanying software, that simplifies compliance with National Electrical Code (NEC) requirements while simultaneously reducing costly insurance risks.
The NEC sets strict standards for marina electrical safety to prevent hazardous situations. VoltSafe Marine’s shore power solution ensures marinas meet these requirements with ease. Traditional shore power connections often degrade over time, from overheating, corrosion, and electrical failures that lead to severely damaging fires and electrocution. NEC article 555.35 addresses these issues by requiring that shore power shore power receptacles be GFPE listed, be outfitted with GFCI outlets to manage electrical power overdraw and detect current leakage. VoltSafe Marine eliminates the common issues with traditional shore power receptacles by providing a shore power system that includes exposed metal contacts that can be easily cleaned and dried to reduce corrosion, built-in GFCI, overdraw and overheating detection as well as current leakage detection from the outlet level.
Corrosion on traditional pronged shore power plugs and outlets end up causing arcs and overheating the connections leading to fires. This is a major issue that many marinas deal with. VoltSafe Marine integrates sensors that monitor temperature levels at the connection points to detect overheating. If the contacts begin to overheat, the system detects the issue early and can alert marina operators before a fire hazard develops. It will also shut off the power to the vessel once it has reached capped temperature. This proactive approach significantly reduces the risk of fires that can destroy boats, docks, and marina infrastructure.
Additionally, dock damage due to accidental departures while still connected to shore power is another common problem. VoltSafe Marine’s prongless, magnetic contact design allows the cord to disconnect from the pedestal when a specific amount of force is applied, preventing costly damage to both boats and marina dock infrastructure.
Electric shock drowning (ESD) is a hidden but deadly danger in marinas. Traditional shore power systems and vessels that have not been repaired or maintained properly can allow stray electrical currents to enter the water, creating life-threatening situations for swimmers and boaters. VoltSafe Marine enhances safety by ensuring that power flow is immediately interrupted when the active and passive sides are disconnected. This means that if a connection is compromised or the cord drops into the water, electricity is cut off instantly, preventing stray currents from leaking into the water and significantly reducing the risk of electrocution.
Overdraw and overheating are common electrical issues in marinas, often leading to tripped breakers, damaged equipment, and unsafe conditions. VoltSafe’s integrated management dashboard allows for real-time monitoring and control of power usage, enabling marina operators to track consumption and automatically identify potential overdraw issues before they become dangerous. By actively managing power distribution, marinas can prevent excessive loads that lead to overheating and power failures by isolating and shutting down power to the specific vessel. This also prevents nuisance tripping.
While finding a workaround for NEC requirements may seem tempting to reduce costs of upgrading infrastructure to meet compliance, the liability that a marina will face when common shore power risks arise will be even more costly to manage and could run the risk of losing insurance coverage altogether. VoltSafe’s award-winning marine shore power solution provides a cost effective solution to compliance with NEC regulations while addressing common shore power risk and helping marinas gain the confidence of insurance coverage.
The combination of smart power monitoring, magnetic disconnection, overdraw and overheating prevention and reduction of electrocution risks, ensures a safer environment for boaters and marina operators alike. Investing in VoltSafe’s marine shore power system is not just a step toward compliance, it’s a proactive move toward a safer, more efficient and profitable marina.
For marinas looking to enhance safety, reduce insurance liabilities, and streamline operations, VoltSafe has developed the best shore power and integrated software management choice. If you are interested in upgrading your marina to meet NEC compliance, complete an online quote. If you are interested in booking a free online demo, we’d be happy to meet with you.