Selecting DNV Marine-Certified Industrial PCs and Servers for SIMATIC PCS 7

In SIMATIC PCS 7 marine and offshore applications requiring Det Norske Veritas (DNV) certification and at least 4 independent LAN ports, Siemens provides type-approved Industrial PCs: the SIMATIC IPC647D/E (2U 19-inch rack) and IPC847D/E (4U 19-inch rack). These ruggedized platforms hold marine classification approvals (DNV, ABS, BV, ClassNK, LR) when ordered with factory vibration damping kits and ship-approved power supplies. To achieve 4 or more LAN ports, onboard Gigabit Ethernet interfaces are combined with industrial PCIe network adapters or CP 1623 communication processors.

Executive Summary

Marine, maritime vessel, and offshore oil and gas automation projects impose stringent regulatory and environmental standards on process control hardware. When deploying SIMATIC PCS 7 as an integrated vessel automation system or offshore machinery management platform, classification societies such as DNV (Det Norske Veritas), ABS (American Bureau of Shipping), and Bureau Veritas (BV) mandate that all server and client hardware hold valid marine type-approval certificates.

In addition to marine compliance, vessel network architectures typically require extensive physical network isolation: redundant Plant Bus connections to redundant S7-400H controllers, redundant Terminal Bus connections to operator clients, and dedicated links to marine Voyage Data Recorders (VDR) or ship management networks, requiring 4 or more independent LAN ports per server. This guide examines the approved SIMATIC IPC platforms, classification standards, hardware expansion rules, and network interface configurations required for marine PCS 7 deployments.

Architecture and Fundamental Mechanics

Marine certification and industrial PC hardware engineering must address extreme mechanical, electrical, and environmental stress profiles:

Marine Classification Society Requirements:
- Societies like DNV, ABS, and Lloyd's Register enforce rigorous standards regarding mechanical vibration, thermal cycling, power supply fluctuations (compass safe distance, acoustic noise), and electromagnetic compatibility (EMC).
- Standard commercial-off-the-shelf (COTS) servers lack certification and cannot be deployed in marine wheelhouse, engine control room (ECR), or cargo control spaces without special exemption.
Approved SIMATIC IPC Platforms:
- SIMATIC IPC647D / IPC647E: High-density 19-inch 2U rack IPCs optimized for space-constrained marine control consoles. Type-approved for DNV, ABS, and BV with optional vibration damping mounting brackets.
- SIMATIC IPC847D / IPC847E: High-capacity 19-inch 4U rack IPCs offering maximum expandability (up to 11 PCI/PCIe slots) for complex marine servers hosting multiple communication processors, RAID storage, and redundant power supplies.
Multi-LAN Network Topology in Marine Control:
- Vessel automation architectures require strict physical separation between ship navigation, propulsion control, and supervisory layers.
- Standard IPC647/847 platforms include 2 or 3 onboard Intel Gigabit Ethernet controllers (RJ45).
- To fulfill the 4-LAN port mandate, additional ports are added via PCI Express industrial network interface cards (such as the dual-port Intel I350-T2 or quad-port I350-T4) or dedicated SIMATIC communication processors (e.g., CP 1623 for ISO industrial Ethernet communication to S7-400H controllers).

Step-by-Step Implementation Procedure

Follow these steps to specify, configure, and commission marine-certified PCS 7 servers:

Review Classification Society Requirements:
- Determine the governing marine classification society (e.g., DNV, ABS, Lloyd's Register, BV, ClassNK) and specific notation requirements for automation systems (e.g., DNV AUT-0, ABS ACCU).
- Confirm required environmental categories (temperature, vibration, power supply quality).
Select IPC Form Factor and Chassis:
- Select SIMATIC IPC647D or IPC647E (2U) for space-restricted marine consoles where up to 4 expansion slots suffice.
- Select SIMATIC IPC847D or IPC847E (4U) for centralized server cabinets requiring redundant hot-swap power supplies, hardware RAID arrays (RAID 1 or RAID 5), and extensive expansion slots.
Configure Mandatory Marine Hardware Options:
- In the hardware configuration order, select the factory-fitted marine vibration damping kit (vibration-absorbing chassis dampers).
- Select marine-approved power supply options (such as wide-range AC with filter or 24 V DC redundant ship supply).
- Ensure drive retention frames are specified with solid-state drives (SSD) or vibration-cushioned enterprise hard drives.
Expand LAN Interfaces to Meet the 4-Port Requirement:
- Verify onboard LAN ports (typically 2x or 3x Gigabit Ethernet).
- Add an industrial multi-port Gigabit Ethernet PCI Express card (e.g., dual-port or quad-port industrial NIC) to provide auxiliary LAN channels.
- For fault-tolerant S7-400H communication, install a SIMATIC CP 1623 (PCIe) or CP 1628 with BCE/Hardnet licenses.
Assign Network Segments in Windows:
- Assign LAN Port 1 & 2: Redundant Terminal Bus (communicating with OS Clients).
- Assign LAN Port 3 & 4: Redundant Plant Bus (communicating with S7-400H controllers via CP 1623 or industrial Ethernet).
- (Optional) Assign LAN Port 5: External Ship Management / VDR network.
Verify Certification Documentation:
- Obtain the official DNV Type Approval Certificate for the specific IPC MLFB from the Siemens Industry Online Support portal.
- Include the certificate in the ship's technical construction file for classification surveyor inspection.

Verification

Inspect the physical IPC chassis: confirm the marine type-approval label and marine vibration mounting kit are installed.
In Windows Device Manager, verify that all 4 (or more) network interface controllers are recognized, have updated industrial drivers, and operate at full gigabit link speed.
Test network failover: disconnect Terminal Bus cable 1 and confirm that WinCC Redundancy maintains seamless operator graphics updates across Terminal Bus cable 2.
Review the DNV certificate validity on the DNV approval finder to ensure compliance with the vessel's build date.

Limitations and Operational Precautions

Marine type approval is only legally valid when the industrial PC is installed in accordance with the specific mounting conditions and vibration dampers specified in the certificate. Standard desktop commercial PCs or non-marine certified IPC configurations will be rejected by marine classification surveyors. Always verify exact order numbers (MLFBs), marine option codes, and certification validity through an authorized Siemens distributor or the Siemens Industry Mall.

Engineer FAQ

Which SIMATIC IPCs hold DNV marine certification?

The 19-inch rack industrial PCs SIMATIC IPC647D/E (2U) and IPC847D/E (4U) are type-approved for DNV, ABS, BV, ClassNK, and Lloyd's Register.

How do I achieve 4 LAN ports on an IPC647 or IPC847?

By combining the 2 or 3 onboard Intel Gigabit Ethernet ports with an additional PCIe dual-port or quad-port industrial network adapter, or a CP 1623 communication processor.

Are vibration dampers mandatory for marine compliance?

Yes. Marine type approval certificates strictly mandate the use of approved vibration damping kits during installation.

Can standard office servers be used if placed in an air-conditioned ship room?

No. Marine classification rules require type-approved hardware capable of withstanding maritime vibration, power fluctuations, and EMC interference regardless of cabin cooling.