Even steel giants aren’t immune to lightning, but smart protection systems keep them safe. Here’s how they work and ways ships are kept protected from thunder lightning:
Air Terminal (Lightning Rod)
A vertical conductor, usually on the mast or highest structure, attracts lightning, giving strikes a safe, intended path. onboard these are as well considered.
Hull down Conductor
A heavy copper/steel cable connects the air terminal to the hull or dedicated grounding plates, ensuring current flows directly into the sea, not through the ship’s systems.
Ship Bonding & Earthing
All metal on deck, engine room, railings, stanchions, and antennas are electrically bonded. That prevents “side-flashes” or dangerous voltage jumps inside the vessel.
In this regards, always maintaining Earthing parameters will not only keep Ship board equipments, but also keep humans onboard safe from electric shocks.
Grounding Plate or Hull
On steel ships, the hull often acts as a Faraday cage.On composites, special grounding plates submerged in seawater do the same job: dispersing strike energy safely
Surge Protection Devices (SPD)
Lightning near water can cause voltage spikes in shore-power or onboard lines. SPDs absorb surges and protect critical electronics, radios, and navigation gear
Why It Matters
Without these systems, lightning can: • Disable navigation & comms
• Start fires on deck or in electronics
• Risk injuries through electrical shock
Now over to you, have you inspected lightning protection during safety checks onboard?
Drop your review below if you’ve checked or committed to do it next safety checks.
Don’t forget to subscribe for our newsletters and social media platform for more updates.
