12.8 General
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Statutory Documents - IMO Publications and Documents - International Codes - HSC 2000 Code - International Code of Safety for High-Speed Craft, 2000 – Resolution MSC.97(73) - Chapter 12 - Electrical installations - PART C - REQUIREMENTS FOR CARGO CRAFT - 12.8 General

12.8 General

  12.8.1 Separation and duplication of electrical supply shall be provided for duplicated consumers of essential services. During normal operation these consumers may be connected to the same power-bus directly or via distribution boards or group starters, but shall be separated by removable links or other approved means. Each power-bus shall be able to supply all equipment necessary to maintain the control of propulsion, steering, stabilization, navigation, lighting and ventilation, and allow starting of the largest essential electric motor at any load. However, having regard to 12.1.2, partial reduction in the capability from normal operation may be accepted. Non-duplicated consumers of essential services connected to the emergency switchboard directly or via distribution boards may be accepted. Automatic load-dependent disconnection of non-essential consumers may be allowed.

  12.8.2 Emergency source of electrical power

  12.8.2.1 Where the main source of electrical power is located in two or more compartments which are not contiguous, each of which has its own self-contained systems, including power distribution and control systems, completely independent of each other and such that a fire or other casualty in any one of the spaces will not affect the power distribution from the others, or to the services required by 12.8.2.2, the requirements of 12.3.1, 12.3.2 and 12.3.4 may be considered satisfied without an additional emergency source of electrical power, provided that:

  • .1 there is at least one generating set, meeting the requirements of 12.3.12 and each of sufficient capacity to meet the requirements of 12.8.2.2, in each of at least two non-contiguous spaces;

  • .2 the arrangements required by .1 in each such space are equivalent to those required by 12.3.6.1, 12.3.7 to 12.3.11 and 12.4 so that a source of electrical power is available at all times to the services required by 12.8.2; and

  • .3 the generator sets referred to in .1 and their self-contained systems are installed in accordance with 12.3.2.

  12.8.2.2 The electrical power available shall be sufficient to supply all those services that are essential for safety in an emergency, due regard being paid to such services as may have to be operated simultaneously. The emergency source of electrical power shall be capable, having regard to starting currents and the transitory nature of certain loads, of supplying simultaneously at least the following services for the periods specified hereinafter, if they depend upon an electrical source for their operation:

  • .1 for a period of 12 hours, emergency lighting:

    • .1.1 at the stowage positions of life-saving appliances;

    • .1.2 at all escape routes, such as alleyways, stairways, exits from accommodation and service spaces, embarkation points, etc.;

    • .1.3 in public spaces, if any;

    • .1.4 in the machinery spaces and main emergency generator spaces including their control positions;

    • .1.5 in control stations;

    • .1.6 at the stowage positions for firefighter's outfits; and

    • .1.7 at the steering gear;

  • .2 for a period of 12 hours:

    • .2.1 the navigation lights, and other lights required by the International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea in force;

    • .2.2 electrical internal communication equipment for announcements during evacuation;

    • .2.3 fire-detection and general alarm system and manual fire alarms; and

    • .2.4 remote control devices of fire-extinguishing systems, if electrical;

  • .3 for a period of 4 hours of intermittent operation;

    • .3.1 the daylight signalling lamps, if they have no independent supply from their own accumulator battery; and

    • .3.2 the craft's whistle, if electrically driven;

  • .4 for a period of 12 hours:

    • .4.1 the navigational equipment as required by chapter 13. Where such provision is unreasonable or impracticable, the Administration may waive this requirement for craft of less than 5000 gross tonnage;

    • .4.2 essential electrically powered instruments and controls for propulsion machinery, if alternate sources of power are not available for such devices;

    • .4.3 one of the fire pumps required by 7.7.5.1;

    • .4.4 the sprinkler pump and drencher pump, if fitted;

    • .4.5 the emergency bilge pump and all the equipment essential for the operation of electrically powered remote controlled bilge valves as required by chapter 10; and

    • .4.6 craft radio facilities and other loads as set out in 14.13.2;

  • .5 for a period of 10 minutes, power drives for directional control devices, including those required to direct thrust forward and astern, unless there is a manual alternative acceptable to the Administration as complying with 5.2.3.

  12.8.2.3 Provision shall be made for the periodic testing of the complete emergency system, including the emergency consumers required by 12.8.2.2 and shall include the testing of automatic starting arrangements.

  12.8.2.4 Where the emergency source of electrical power is a generator, a transitional source of emergency power shall be provided according to 12.8.3, unless the automatic starting system and the characteristics of the prime mover are such as to permit the emergency generator to carry its full rated load as quickly as is safe and practicable, subject to a maximum of 45 seconds.

  12.8.3 Transitional source of emergency electrical power

The transitional source of emergency electrical power required by 12.8.2.4 may consist of an accumulator battery suitably located for use in an emergency which shall operate without recharging while maintaining the voltage of the battery throughout the discharge period within 12% above or below its nominal voltage and be of sufficient capacity and so arranged as to supply automatically, in the event of failure of either the main or emergency source of electrical power, at least the following services, if they depend upon an electrical source for their operation:

  • .1 for a period of 30 minutes, the load specified in 12.8.2.2.1, .2 and .3; and

  • .2 with respect to watertight doors:

    • .2.1 power to operate the watertight doors, but not necessarily simultaneously, unless an independent temporary source of stored energy is provided. The power source shall have sufficient capacity to operate each door at least three times, i.e. closed-open-closed, against an adverse list of 15°; and

    • .2.2 power to the control, indication and alarm circuits for the watertight doors for half an hour.


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