How Sirena 68 Overcame Shore Cord Limitations with ASEA’s Dual Shore Cord Capability

The Sirena 68, a luxurious single-phase yacht built in Turkey, faced a significant challenge when adapting its shore power systems for use in U.S. marinas. Designed to operate on 230V single-phase systems with incomer wiring rated at 125A, the yacht performed optimally in European marinas. However, upon traveling to the United States, the yacht encountered operational hurdles due to differences in regional shore power standards and dockside cord limitations.

The Shore Power Disparity

FThe Sirena 68 was built with 125A incomer wiring on the converter side, which aligned with European standards. In the United States, however, marinas rely heavily on split-phase 240V power with dockside cords limited to 50A or, in rarer cases, 100A. For the Sirena 68, this created an immediate challenge.

Current = Power (watts) ÷ Voltage (volts) = 30,000 ÷ 240 = 125A

The yacht required 125A to operate its 30kVA converter at full capacity. But with a single 50A cord, the yacht could only power 12kVA worth of load, forcing the crew to reduce onboard operations such as air conditioning, galley equipment, or entertainment systems. 

ASEA’s Dual Shore Cord Solution

To overcome this limitation, ASEA’s Dual Shore Cord input capability came to rescue. This innovative capability allowed the Sirena 68 to connect two shore cords to work in parallel, effectively increasing the total current supply and enabling the yacht to achieve its full operational potential without straining dockside infrastructure.

Dual 50A cords at 240V: Combined to deliver 100A, enabling the yacht to power 24kVA worth of load, doubling its capacity. 

This configuration allowed the Sirena 68 to fully operate its critical onboard systems in most U.S. marinas, ensuring comfort and efficiency. Additionally, ASEA’s system intelligently balances the load between the two cords, protecting both the upstream wiring and the converter itself.

Modular Design and Future Upgradability

ASEA’s shore power converters are engineered for scalability, allowing yachts like the Sirena 68 to evolve alongside their power demands. The 30kVA converter on the Sirena 68, for example, can be seamlessly upgraded to 36kVA without replacing the entire system, offering a future-proof solution for changing operational requirements. 

Note: Maximum output is capped at 36kVA.

This modularity ensures that yachts remain adaptable and operationally efficient, delivering long-term value to owners while avoiding significant costs or downtime.

By leveraging ASEA’s Dual Shore Cord input capability, the Sirena 68 overcame the limitations imposed by U.S. dockside power standards. This innovative feature allowed the yacht to maximize its available power without compromising safety or performance, restoring full operational capacity even in challenging conditions. Combined with ASEA’s modular upgrade options, the solution future-proofed the yacht’s electrical systems, ensuring both reliability and adaptability for years to come.