1 All rescue boats, all lifeboats and all other survival craft carried by
the ship, notwithstanding the redundancy in aggregate capacity of survival craft
required by SOLAS regulations III/21 and III/31, and taking into account the
different possible distress scenarios, are considered able to be released for
evacuation simultaneously and should be provided with mandatory communication
equipment accordingly.
2 The expressions "shall maintain capability for", "shall be capable of
operation during the maximum expected time of rescue" and "are available for
operation during the maximum expected time of rescue" used in paragraphs 10.2.2.1,
10.2.2.2, 10.2.2.3 and 10.3.2.3 of part I-A of the Polar Code mean the ability of
mandatory communication equipment for use in survival craft, including liferafts,
and rescue boats to maintain the ready for operation state within the maximum
expected time of rescue at the Polar Service Temperature (PST) assigned to the ship,
and, after that, to be capable to perform its functions at the PST assigned to the
ship for the operating time not less than that specified in respective existing
performance standards.
footnote
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Note: For example, it is not required that an EPIRB
used for distress alerting continues distress messaging for the maximum
expected time of rescue and the two-way VHF radiotelephone apparatus
being used for transmitting and receiving on-scene communications does
not need to be technically in operation at its highest rated power with
a duty cycle of 1:9 for maximum expected time of rescue.
3 Procedures referred to in paragraph 10.3.2.3 of part I-A of the Polar
Code can include both operational requirements and any other means, including
technical solutions, i.e. thermal insulation, chemical heat sources, additional
batteries, rechargeable batteries with respective chargers, etc., and should be
documented in the PWOM.