180-Berth Marina Shore Power Assessment
A marina wanted to offer shore power and vessel charging, but did not know whether its existing electrical supply could carry the load — now or as demand grows. This study answered that with a measured demand assessment and a phased plan, so the marina could invest in stages instead of over-building on day one.
Can the Supply
Carry the Load?
Marinas adding shore power face a simple but unforgiving question: will the existing incoming supply handle the new demand, and what happens when vessel charging — which draws far more than traditional berth services — is added on top?
Getting this wrong is expensive in both directions. Under-provision and the marina turns customers away; over-provision and it pays for grid capacity and infrastructure that may not be used for years.
Isca assessed the marina’s present electrical demand, modelled the additional load from shore power and vessel charging, and compared the total against an available supply capacity of approximately 1,250 kVA.
Demand vs Capacity.
The whole assessment turns on the gap between what the site draws today, what it would draw after phased electrification and what the incoming supply can deliver. These figures define that gap and set the upgrade trigger points.
- Existing peak demand
- 420 kVA
- Available supply capacity
- 1,250 kVA
- Shore power added load
- 350 kW
- Vessel charging added load
- 600 kW
- Diversity factor applied
- 0.55
- Headroom after Phase 1
- 290 kVA
What the Marina Received.
Electrical Demand Study
A measured and modelled picture of present and projected electrical demand across the site, including existing services and future vessel charging demand.
Supply Capacity Review
Assessment of the existing incoming supply against current and future load, identifying the available headroom and the first capacity constraint.
Charging Load Model
Modelling of vessel charging demand under realistic diversity assumptions, avoiding a worst-case-everything-at-once design basis.
Phased Growth Plan
A staged electrification roadmap so investment tracks actual demand rather than front-loading grid and infrastructure cost.
Infrastructure Assessment
Review of distribution, protection, metering and berth-side infrastructure implications of the added electrical load.
Upgrade Trigger Points
The demand thresholds at which a supply upgrade, distribution reinforcement or additional charging phase becomes necessary.
Measure to Roadmap.
Present Demand
Existing site demand was established as the baseline, including current berth supplies, commercial loads and operational services.
Future Load
Shore power and vessel charging demand were added under realistic diversity assumptions based on berth mix, usage pattern and charging behaviour.
Against Capacity
The total demand was tested against the incoming supply to identify real headroom, pinch points and practical limits.
Staged Plan
A phased investment roadmap was developed with clear capacity, demand and upgrade trigger points.
The Engineering
Reasoning Behind It.
Realistic Diversity, Not Worst Case
Sizing every charger as if it runs flat out simultaneously wastes money. We model how the marina is actually used, which is where the defensible capacity figures come from.
Marine Context, Not Just Electrical
A marina is not a car park. Tidal access, berth turnover, seasonal occupancy and vessel mix all shape demand — and Isca understands the marine side as well as the power side.
Phased, So Capital Tracks Demand
The plan lets the marina invest in stages against real uptake instead of over-building on speculation. That is usually the difference between a viable scheme and a stalled one.
Decision-Ready Output
The study ends with clear trigger points, not just data. The marina knows what to do now, what to monitor and when the next infrastructure step becomes necessary.
Adjacent Studies.
Planning Shore
Power or Charging?
Before committing to infrastructure, find out what your supply can actually carry and how to phase the investment. That is what this assessment delivers.
Get In Touch →