Active Shaft Grounding System

Active Shaft Grounding System

The Active Shaft Grounding System (Mamala) consists of a rugged, IP55-rated enclosure that installs onto a ship or submarine’s propeller shaft assembly. It handles continuous currents of 30, 35, or 60 A, and uses natural-convection cooling with a 230 V single-phase AC input. Local HMI and remote Ethernet interfaces allow real-time monitoring and control. The system adapts to new constructions or retrofit installations, replacing passive or obsolete grounding units without structural modification.

This active unit continuously senses voltage differences between the rotating shaft and hull, then injects compensating current to maintain just a few millivolts potential difference. It auto-switches to passive mode during power loss, ensuring uninterrupted protection. The COTS-based modular design also supports redundant operation modes and meets MIL-level durability and IP65 environmental immunity.

In maritime service, Active Shaft Grounding System addresses critical shaft-to-hull grounding needs to prevent spark erosion and corrosion in propeller bearings and gearbox assemblies. It’s deployed across naval ships and submarines, where electrical imbalances from mixed-metal components and cathodic protection currents can degrade propulsion system components. By maintaining low-resistance grounding, it ensures mechanical longevity and reduces underwater electromagnetic signature.

Supporting naval and maritime propulsion integrity, Tactical Supply Pakistan offers full Mamala integration services, providing installation, training, and maintenance programs onboard vessels, helping defense fleets and commercial operators protect critical shaft systems and reduce maintenance burdens.

What happens if the system loses power while the ship is underway?
Mamala automatically switches into passive grounding mode during a power failure, maintaining shaft-to-hull bonding and preventing corrosion and bearing damage until active power is restored.