Regulation 12 - Sources of energy
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Regulation 12 - Sources of energy

  (1) There shall be available at all times, while the vessel 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 vessel, to supply radio installations, for the purpose of conducting distress and safety radiocommunications, in the event of failure of the vessel'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 6(1)(a) and, as appropriate for the sea area or sea areas for which the vessel is equipped, either the MF radio installation required by regulation 8(1)(a), the MF/HF radio installation required by regulation 9(2)(a) or 10(1), or the Inmarsat ship earth station required by regulation 9(1)(a) and any of the additional loads mentioned in paragraphs (4), (5) and (8) for a period of at least:

  • (a) on new vessels:

    • (i) 3 h, or

    • (ii) 1 h, if the emergency source of electrical power complies fully with all relevant requirements of regulation IV/17 including the requirements to supply the radio installations and is capable of serving for a period of at least 6 h;

  • (b) on existing vessels:

    • (i) 6 h, if the emergency source of electrical power is not provided or does not comply fully with all relevant requirements of regulation IV/17 including the requirements to supply the radio installations;footnote or

    • (ii) 3 h, if the emergency source of electrical power complies fully with all relevant requirements of regulation IV/17 including the requirements to supply the radio installations; or

    • (iii) 1 h, if the emergency source of electrical power complies fully with all relevant requirements of regulation IV/17 including the requirements to supply the radio installations and is capable of serving for a period of at least 6 h.

 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 vessel and the vessel'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)(a) or (2)(b), the VHF radio installation and:

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

  • (b) 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 5(2)(d).

  (6) Where a reserve source of energy consists of a rechargeable accumulator battery or batteries.

  • (a) 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

  • (b) the capacity of the battery or batteries shall be checked, using an appropriate method,footnote at intervals not exceeding 12 months, when the vessel 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:

  • (a) the highest degree of service;

  • (b) a reasonable lifetime;

  • (c) reasonable safety;

  • (d) that battery temperatures remain within the manufacturer's specifications whether under charge or idle; and

  • (e) 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 vessel's navigational or other equipment to a radio installation required by this chapter 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 vessel's main or emergency source of electrical power.

Parent topic: Part B - Ship Requirements
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