Nowadayselectrical technologyisdeserving an even more important role in the marineindustry, both in naval and merchant sectors. Considering this trend, the increasing use of shipboard electrical applications, from generation to utilization (propulsion, thrusters, air conditioning, safety, etc.) is a matter of fact. Electrical applications are therefore commonly utilized in many classes of “all electric” and “more electric” ships: cruise liners, naval vessels, yachts, offshore supply vessels, drilling rigs, cable/pipe-layers, and so on. Beside the increasing development of electrical applications, competition demands to reduce spaces, weight and pollutant emissions, in order to increase ship’s payload and cut operative costs.

In this context, an innovative technologyfor shipboard power systems is given by theMedium Voltage Direct Current (MVDC) power distribution, which isaimed at further enhancing power density and system’s efficiency, while enabling new capabilities (e.g. management of storage systems, supplying of pulsed loads and innovative radars, system reconfiguration in case of fault, improved power flow control). For reaching the aforementioned advantages of MVDC shipboard power system, a widespread use of controlled power converters is conceivable, either on the loads side and on the generators side. By focusing on this scientific/industrial interest, thespecial session is therefore devoted tocover the latest developments in DC Shipboard Power Systems, particularly.