Regulation 13 - Sources of energy
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Regulation 13 - Sources of energy

  1 There shall be available at all times, while the ship is at sea, a supply of electrical energy sufficient to operate the radio installations and to charge any batteries used as part of a reserve source or sources of energy for the radio installations.

  2 A reserve source or sources of energy shall be provided on every ship, to supply radio installations, for the purpose of conducting distress and safety radiocommunications, in the event of failure of the ship's main and emergency sources of electrical power. The reserve source or sources of energy shall be capable of simultaneously operating the VHF radio installation required by regulation 7.1.1 and, as appropriate for the sea area or sea areas for which the ship is equipped, either the MF radio installation required by regulation 9.1.1, the MF/HF radio installation required by regulation 10.2.1 or 11.1, or the ship earth station required by regulation 10.1.1 and any of the additional loads mentioned in paragraphs 4, 5 and 8 for a period of at least:

  • .1 1 h on ships provided with an emergency source of electrical power, if such source of power complies fully with all relevant provisions of regulation II-1/42 or 43, including the supply of such power to the radio installations; and

  • .2 6 h on ships not provided with an emergency source of electrical power complying fully with all relevant provisions of regulation II-1/42 or 43, including the supply of such power to the radio installationsfootnote.

The reserve source or sources of energy need not supply independent HF and MF radio installations at the same time.

  3 The reserve source or sources of energy shall be independent of the propelling power of the ship and the ship's electrical system.

  4 Where, in addition to the VHF radio installation, two or more of the other radio installations, referred to in paragraph 2, can be connected to the reserve source or sources of energy, they shall be capable of simultaneously supplying, for the period specified, as appropriate, in paragraph 2.1 or 2.2, the VHF radio installation and:

  • .1 all other radio installations which can be connected to the reserve source or sources of energy at the same time; or

  • .2 whichever of the other radio installations will consume the most power, if only one of the other radio installations can be connected to the reserve source or sources of energy at the same time as the VHF radio installation.

  5 The reserve source or sources of energy may be used to supply the electrical lighting required by regulation 6.2.4.

  6 Where a reserve source of energy consists of a rechargeable accumulator battery or batteries:

  • .1 a means of automatically charging such batteries shall be provided which shall be capable of recharging them to minimum capacity requirements within 10 h; and

  • .2 the capacity of the battery or batteries shall be checked, using an appropriate method,footnote at intervals not exceeding 12 months, when the ship is not at sea.

  7 The siting and installation of accumulator batteries which provide a reserve source of energy shall be such as to ensure:

  • .1 the highest degree of service;

  • .2 a reasonable lifetime;

  • .3 reasonable safety;

  • .4 that battery temperatures remain within the manufacturer's specifications whether under charge or idle; and

  • .5 that when fully charged, the batteries will provide at least the minimum required hours of operation under all weather conditions.

  8 If an uninterrupted input of information from the ship's navigational or other equipment to a radio installation required by this chapter, including the navigation receiver referred to in regulation 18, is needed to ensure its proper performance, means shall be provided to ensure the continuous supply of such information in the event of failure of the ship's main or emergency source of electrical power.

Parent topic: Part C - Ship requirements
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