The Merchant Shipping (Radio Installations) Regulations 1992

Supply of electrical energy

41.—(1) While a radiotelegraph ship is at sea and at all reasonable times when she is in port there shall be available a supply of electrical energy sufficient to operate the main installation over the normal range required by regulation 40 of these Regulations as well as for the purpose of charging any batteries forming part of the radiotelegraph installation.

(2) The reserve installation shall be provided with a source of energy independent of the propelling power of the ship and of the ship’s main electrical system. Means for bringing the reserve source of energy into immediate operation shall be provided and shall be situated in a radiotelegraph operating room or, if this is not possible, close thereto, and be provided with an electric lamp for illumination.

(3) The reserve source of energy—

(a) shall where possible consist of batteries, provided that such batteries shall not be fitted in the same space as the means for bringing the reserve source of energy into immediate operation;

(b) shall under all circumstances be capable of being put into operation rapidly;

(c) shall be of such capacity and shall be maintained at all times when at sea in such condition as to be able to supply continuously for at least six hours a total current equal to the sum of—

(i) one-half of the reserve transmitter current consumption with the key down (mark);

(ii) one-half of the reserve transmitter current consumption with the key up (space);

(iii) the current required to operate the reserve receiver; and

(iv) the current consumption of the additional circuits connected to the reserve source of energy specified in paragraphs (4) and (5) of this regulation;

(d) shall, where the VHF radio installation is capable of being connected to the reserve source of energy, be of sufficient capacity to operate simultaneously the reserve radiotelegraph transmitter and the VHF radio installation unless means are provided to ensure that such simultaneous operation is not possible. For the purposes of this Part, the current consumption of the VHF radio installation shall be a total current equal to the sum of the current consumption of the VHF radiotelephone receiver and one fifth of the current consumption of the VHF radiotelephone transmitter;

(e) shall be placed as high in the ship as is practicable and readily accessible to the radio officer.

(4) The reserve source of energy shall be used to supply the reserve installation and the automatic alarm signal keying device if it is electrically operated and, subject to the provisions of paragraph (5) of this regulation, the reserve source of energy shall not be used other than for the purposes specified below, that is to say, to supply—

(a) the radiotelegraph auto alarm;

(b) the emergency light specified in regulation 38(g) of these Regulations;

(c) the direction-finder;

(d) the VHF installation;

(e) the device for generating the radiotelephone alarm signal by automatic means;

(f) any device specified in the Radio Regulations to permit changeover from transmission to reception or from reception to transmission.

(5) Notwithstanding the provisions of paragraph (4) of this regulation, in cargo ships the reserve source of energy may be used to provide energy for a number of low-power emergency circuits which are wholly confined to the upper part of the ship, such as emergency lighting on the boat deck, on condition that such circuits are adequately fused and can be readily disconnected and that the source of energy is of sufficient capacity to carry the additional load.