§  80.1099   Ship sources of energy.

   (a) There must 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 of energy for the radio installations.

   (b) A reserve source of energy to supply radio installations must be
   provided on every ship 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 sources of
   energy must be capable of simultaneously operating the VHF radio
   installation required by §  80.1085(a)(1) and, as appropriate for the
   sea area or sea areas for which the ship is equipped, either the MF
   radio installation required by §  80.1089(a)(1), the MF/HF radio
   installation required by §  80.1091(a)(2)(i) or §  80.1093(a), or the
   INMARSAT ship earth station required by §  80.1091(a)(1) and any of the
   additional loads mentioned in paragraphs (d), (e) and (h) of this
   section for a period of at least:

   (1) One hour, on ships constructed on or after February 1, 1995;

   (2) One hour, on ships constructed before February 1, 1995, if the
   emergency source of electrical power complies fully with all relevant
   requirements of SOLAS, Chapter II-1, Regulation 42 or 43 (as amended);
   or

   (3) Six hours, on ships constructed before February 1, 1995, and on
   cargo ships of less than 500 tons gross tonnage, if the emergency
   source of electrical power is not provided or does not comply fully
   with all relevant requirements of SOLAS, Chapter II-1, Regulation 42 or
   43 (as amended).

   (c) The reserve sources of energy need not supply independent HF and MF
   radio installations at the same time. The reserve sources of energy
   must be independent of the propelling power of the ship and the ship's
   electrical system.

   (d) Where, in addition to the VHF radio installation, two or more of
   the other radio installations, referred to in paragraph (b) of this
   section, can be connected to the reserve sources of energy, they must
   be capable of simultaneously supplying, for one hour, as specified in
   paragraph (b) of this section, the VHF radio installation and;

   (1) All other radio installations which can be connected to the reserve
   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 sources of energy at the same time as the VHF radio
   installation.

   (e) The reserve sources of energy may be used to supply the electrical
   lighting required by §  80.1083(b)(4).

   (f) Where a reserve source of energy consists of a rechargeable
   accumulator battery or batteries:

   (1) A means of automatically charging such batteries must be provided
   which must be capable of recharging them to minimum capacity
   requirements within 10 hours; and

   (2) Battery charge levels should be checked at intervals of 30 days or
   less with equipment turned ON and the battery charger turned OFF.
   Portable equipment with primary batteries such as EPIRBs and SARTs
   should be checked at the same intervals using methods recommended by
   the manufacturer. The results of battery checks should be recorded in
   the radio log.

   (g) The accumulator batteries which provide a reserve source of energy
   must be installed to ensure: The highest degree of service, a
   reasonable lifetime, reasonable safety; that the battery temperatures
   remain within the manufacturer's specifications whether under charge or
   idle; and that when fully charged, the batteries will provide at least
   the minimum required hours of operation under all weather conditions.

   (h) If an uninterrupted input of information from the ship's
   navigational or other equipment to a radio installation required by
   this subpart (including the navigational receiver referred to in SOLAS
   Chapter IV, Regulation 18) is needed to ensure its proper performance,
   means must 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.

   (i) An uninterruptible power supply or other means of ensuring a
   continuous supply of electrical power, within equipment tolerances,
   shall be provided to all GMDSS equipment that could be affected by
   normal variations and interruptions of ship's power.

   [ 57 FR 9065 , Mar. 16, 1992, as amended at  68 FR 46977 , Aug. 7, 2003]

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