S.I. No. 340/1953 - Merchant Shipping (Radio) Rules, 1953.

1. General.—(1) The autoalarm shall :—

(a) include a receiver, a selector, a test signal generator and an audible alarm system ;

(b) be capable of giving audible warning of the receipt of an alarm signal consisting of a series of 12 consecutive dashes, each with a duration of 4 seconds and separated by intervals of one second in each case subject to the tolerances specified in paragraph 3 of this Schedule ;

(c) be capable of being rapidly connected with the main aerial referred to in Rule 10 of these Rules or to an equally efficient aerial ;

(d) comply with the requirements of this Schedule notwithstanding variations of the supply voltage of :—

(i) plus 5 per cent. or minus 10 per cent. if the equipment is operated from the emergency source of electrical energy required by paragraph (2) of Rule 12 of these Rules, or from batteries ; or

(ii) plus or minus 10 per cent. if the equipment is operated from the main source of electrical energy required by paragraph (1) of the said Rule.

(2) The receiver, selector and test signal generator shall be installed in a radiotelegraph room.

(3) The autoalarm shall be provided with a switch or system of switches by which it may be connected to the ship's main aerial or to an equally efficient aerial.

(4) The autoalarm shall include a manual re-setting device to enable the selector to be re-set after the audible alarm system has been actuated.

2. Receiver.—(1) The receiver forming part of the autoalarm shall be capable of receiving type A2 waves and type B waves in each case on all note frequencies between 400 c/s and 1,400 c/s and on all carrier waves of a frequency between 492 kc/s to 508 kc/s.

(2) All tuning controls and gain controls which affect the operation of the receiver as part of the autoalarm shall be pre-set and shall not be capable of operation from the outside of the autoalarm.

(3) The receiver shall comply with the requirements of sub-paragraphs (4) to (7), inclusive, of this paragraph when tested in the following manner, except where another method of testing is specified in the said sub-paragraphs :—

(a) an artificial aerial shall be used for the test and shall consist of a 10 ohm resistor in series with a capacitor having any value between 300 and 750 picofarads ;

(b) type A2 signals used in the test shall be modulated to a depth of 70 per cent. and shall have a note frequency of 400 c/s ;

(4) The selectivity of the receiver shall be such that :—

(a) the radio-frequency response is uniform to within 3 decibels in a frequency range 492 to 508 kc/s ;

(b) the total variation of audio-frequency response is not more than 3 decibels in the case of note frequencies in the range 400 to 1,400 c/s ;

(c) the audio-frequency response falls rapidly in the case of note frequencies below 400 c/s and above 1,400 c/s ; and

(d) the autoalarm gives response to an alarm signal of a frequency of 500 kc/s and an input level of 40 decibels above one microvolt, in the presence of another signal having the following characteristics

Type of wave

Modulation frequency

Depth of modulation

Carrier frequency

Input level (decibels above one microvolt)

Continuously modulated carrier wave.

All audio-frequencies in the range 50 c/s to 1,400 c/s.

70 per cent.

Below 470 kc/s and above 530 kc/s.

}

80

Below 450 kc/s and above 550 kc/s.

}

120

(5) (a) The sensitivity of the receiver shall for the purposes of this paragraph, be taken to be the minimum input level of the test alarm signal injected at a frequency of 500 kc/s which will operate the selector. The sensitivity of the receiver shall be such that the selector will operate by the injection of an alarm signal from the test signal generator forming part of the autoalarm.

(b) The receiver shall be provided with an automatic gain control which shall :—

(i) during periods when the selector is continuously in operation, steadily reduce the sensitivity of the receiver at a rate within the range 7·5 to 15 decibels per minute in the case of a range of sensitivity of 40 to 80 decibels above one microvolt notwithstanding that the input level of an injected signal is at any level above the minimum necessary to operate the selector ;

(ii) during periods when the selector is not continuously in operation, steadily increase the sensitivity of the receiver to a maximum level of between 35 and 40 decibels above one microvolt at a rate of increase within the range of 30 to 60 decibels per minute in the case of a range of sensitivity of 40 to 80 decibels above one microvolt, notwithstanding that the input level of an injected signal is at any level below the level corresponding to the threshold of selector release.

(6) The automatic gain control, when morse interference is simulated by continuous keying of a test signal of a frequency of 500 kc/s and an input level of 100 decibels above one microvolt with a mark-to-space ratio of 19 to 1, and variation of frequency of interruption is obtained by varying the speed of transmission, shall be such that :—

(a) when such test signal produces three interruptions per second, the sensitivity of the receiver is not reduced below that necessary for the reception of a signal of an input level of 40 decibels above one microvolt ; and

(b) when the speed of such test signal is arranged so that there are three interruptions per period of 2 seconds the sensitivity of the receiver is so reduced after operating for a period of 15 minutes that a signal of at least 70 decibels above one microvolt is required to operate the selector.

(7) If, in addition to the automatic gain control, a pre-set manual control of receiver gain is provided the range of sensitivity variations provided by that control shall be not more than 10 decibels.

(8) The receiver shall be such that the autoalarm will respond to a test alarm signal transmitted on any frequency in the range 492 kc/s to 508 kc/s and atan input level of 50 decibels above one microvolt in the presence of an interfering signal with the following characteristics :—

Type of signal

Depth of modulation

Modulation frequency

Input level

Speed of transmission

Type A2 ...

70 per cent.

400 c/s—1,400 c/s

120 decibels above one microvolt

15-40 words per minute

(9) The receiver shall be such that it will not operate the selector upon the simultaneous injection of any two continuous carrier waves, of which the frequency difference or sum falls within the range 492 kc/s to 508 kc/s, being waves with the following characteristics :—

Frequency

Input level

Modulation

Outside the range 450 kc/s to 550 kc/s

120 decibels above one microvolt

One unmodulated and the other modulated to a depth of 70 per cent. at any audio-frequency in the range 400 c/s to 1,400 c/s.

(10)—(a) The receiver shall not in normal service produce a field exceeding 0·1 microvolt per metre when measured at a distance of one mile from the receiver, unless the test signal generator is in operation.

(b) The receiver shall be deemed to comply with the requirements of sub-paragraph (a) of this paragraph if, when :—

(i) the receiver is placed centrally in a screened earthed enclosure of dimensions at least 6 feet cube,

(ii) the earth terminal of the receiver is connected to the inside of the screen ;

(iii) the aerial terminal of the receiver is connected through an unscreened search coil situated within the said enclosure and of dimensions one foot square and an unscreened lead to a resistive measuring instrument mounted outside the enclosure and having its other terminal earthed ; and

(iv) the receiver is energised,

the power measured by the measuring instrument does not exceed 4 x 10

-10

watts whatever the resistance of the measuring instrument, or the adjustment of the receiver, and notwithstanding that the search coil is short-circuited or moved in any way without approaching within 6 inches of the receiver case.

3. Selector—(1) The selector, in conjunction with the receiver shall be capable of :—

(a) accepting :—

(i) dashes of a duration within the tolerances 3·5 to 6·0 seconds

(ii) spaces between dashes, being spaces of a duration within the tolerances 0·01 to 1·5 seconds ; and

(b) rejecting :—

(i) dashes of a duration of less than 3·4 seconds ;

(ii) dashes of a duration of more than 6·2 seconds ; and

(iii) spaces between dashes, being spaces of a duration of more than 1·6 seconds.

(2) The selector, after accepting three or four consecutive dashes of the alarm signal, shall actuate the audible alarm system.

(3) Any timing controls provided as part of the selector shall be pre-set and shall not be capable of being operated from the outside of the equipment.

4. Test Signal Generator.—(1) The test signal generator shall be capable of :—

(a) generating, for purposes of test, a signal with the following characteristics :—

(i) Frequency—500 kc/s ;

(ii) Type of wave—A2 ;

(iii) Depth of modulation—within the range 70 to 100 per cent.

(iv) Modulation frequency—within the range 400 to 1,400 c/s ;

(v) Input level—equivalent to a voltage modulated to a depth of 70 per cent. within the range 37 to 43 decibels above one microvolt in series with the artificial aerial ; and

(b) injecting into the receiver the alarm signal specified in paragraph 1 (b) of this Schedule within the tolerances specified in sub-paragraph (1) (a) of paragraph 3 of this Schedule and the characteristics specified in the foregoing provisions of this paragraph, both by means of:—

(i) a manual key of a non-locking type ; and

(ii) the automatic keying device specified in Part V of the Second Schedule to these Rules.

(2) The method of injection shall be such that the test alarm signal will not operate the audible alarm system when the aerial is disconnected.

(3) The test signal generator shall be so designed and constructed that the input level of the signal specified in sub-paragraph (1) (a) of this paragraph can be increased by approximately 20 decibels by means of a non-locking switch.

5. Audible Alarm System.—(1) The audible alarm system shall consist of three alarm bells installed respectively in a radiotelegraph room, on the bridge and in the sleeping room of a radio officer. The bells shall be operated from the source of electrical energy required by paragraph (2) of Rule 12 of these Rules by means of a power circuit taken from an unfused circuit, and so fused that the efficiency of the audible alarm system will not by affected by the rupture of any fuse other than a fuse forming part of that system. The power circuit shall be controlled by a locking switch situated on or near to the receiver forming part of the autoalarm, and clearly and permanently marked to indicate its purpose.

(2) Subject to the provisions of sub-paragraph (3) of this paragraph, the alarm bells shall, whenever the autoalarm is in operation as such, give an alarm :—

(a) when actuated by the selector ; and

(b) within 15 seconds after any failure for 9 seconds (subject to a tolerance of plus or minus 6 seconds) of :—

(i) the direct-current voltage feeding the anode of any valve of the receiver forming part of the autoalarm, if the receiver is not provided with a vibrator ;

(ii) any vibrator forming part of the receiver ;

(iii) a circuit of a filament of any directly-heated valve forming part of the receiver if it is operated from the main source of electrical energy required by paragraph (1) of Rule 12 of these Rules; and

(iv) any continuously rotating mechanism forming part of a selector operated from the said main source of electrical energy ;

(c) within 15 seconds after any failure of :—

(i) a circuit of a filament of a directly-heated valve forming part of the receiver if it is operated from batteries ;

if any continuously rotating mechanism forming part of a selector operated from batteries ;

(3) A device shall be provided which will enable the bells situated on the bridge to be disconnected from the aforesaid power circuit. The device may include means for so disconnecting the bell situated in the radio officer's sleeping room. The device shall be non-locking, and shall not be capable of disconnecting the bell in the radiotelegraph room. The device shall be clearly and permanently marked to indicate its purpose.

6. Autoalarm used as an Emergency Radiotelegraph Receiver.—If the auto alarm is intended to be used as an emergency radiotelegraph receiver it shall, in addition to complying with the foregoing requirements of this Schedule, comply with the following requirements :—

(1) The receiver forming part of an autoalarm shall be capable of :—

(a) headphone reception and loudspeaker reception of the waves specified in sub-paragraph (1) of paragraph 2 of this Schedule ;

(b) operation from :—

(i) the main source of electrical energy required by paragraph (1) of Rule 12 of these Rules ; and

(ii) the emergency source of electrical energy required by paragraph (2) of Rule 12 of these Rules.

(2) The receiver shall be provided with :—

(a) a built-in switch for changing operation of the receiver from the main source of electrical energy to the emergency source of electrical energy ; and

(b) a manual gain control so arranged that the performance of the autoalarm as such is not impaired at any setting of the control.

(3) The standard audio-frequency output level of the receiver shall be :—

(a) for headphone reception, 10 decibels below one milliwatt into a resistance substantially equal to the modulus of the impedance of the telephone receivers at 1,000 c/s ; and

(b) for loud-speaker reception, 17 decibels above one milliwatt into a resistance which loads the output valve with the load appropriate to the valve.

(4) The sensitivity of the receiver shall be such that when measured with a signal interrupted in the manner specified in sub-paragraph (6) (a) of paragraph 2 of this Schedule and modulated to a depth of 30 per cent. the standard audio-frequency output level shall be obtained with a signal input not exceeding 40 decibels above one microvolt.

(5) When the manual gain control is adjusted to give the standard audio-frequency output of the receiver with the signal input specified in sub-paragraph (4) of this paragraph, the signal/noise ratio shall be at least 20 decibels.

(6) The receiver shall comply with sub-paragraph (10) of paragraph 2 of this Schedule when used with unscreened headphones.

EIGHTH SCHEDULE.

Rules 17 and 26

Table of Watch Hours.

Zones

Western Limits

Eastern Limits

Hours of Watch (Greenwich Mean Time)

(1)

(2)

(3)

16 hours (4)

8 hours (5)

From

To

From

To

A.—Eastern Atlantic Ocean, Mediterranean, North Sea, Baltic.

Meridian of 30° W., Coast of Greenland.

Meridian of 30° W., to the South of the Coast of Africa, Eastern limits of the Mediterranean, of the Black Sea, and of the Baltic, 30° E. to the North of Norway.

0 h.

6 h.

8 h.

10 h.

8 h.

14 h.

12 h.

14 h.

16 h.

18 h.

16 h.

18 h.

20 h.

22 h.

20 h.

22 h.

B.—Western Indian Ocean, Eastern Arctic Sea.

Eastern Limit of Zone A.

Meridian of 80° E., West Coast of Ceylon to Adam's Bridge, thence westward round the coast of India

0 h.

2 h.

4 h.

6 h.

4 h.

10 h.

8 h.

10 h.

12 h.

14 h.

12 h.

14 h.

16 h.

18 h.

16 h.

18 h.

20 h.

24 h.

C.—Eastern Indian Ocean, China Sea, Western Pacific Ocean.

Eastern Limit of Zone B.

Meridian of 160° E.

0 h.

6 h.

0 h.

2 h.

8 h.

10 h.

4 h.

6 h.

12 h.

14 h.

8 h.

10 h.

16 h.

22 h.

12 h.

14 h.

D.—Central Pacific Ocean.

Eastern Limit of Zone C.

Meridian of 140° W.

0 h.

2 h.

0 h.

2 h.

4 h.

6 h.

4 h.

6 h.

8 h.

10 h.

8 h.

10 h.

12 h.

18 h.

20 h.

22 h.

20 h.

24 h.

E.—Eastern Pacific Ocean.

Eastern Limit of Zone D.

Meridian of 90° W. as far as the Coast of Central America, then the West Coast of Central America and North America.

0 h.

2 h.

0 h.

2 h.

4 h.

6 h.

4 h.

6 h.

8 h.

14 h.

16 h.

18 h.

16 h.

22 h.

20 h.

22 h.

F.—Western Atlantic Ocean and Gulf of Mexico.

Meridian of 90° W., Gulf of Mexico, East Coast of North America.

Meridian of 30° W., Coast of Greenland.

0 h.

2 h.

0 h.

2 h.

4 h.

10 h.

12 h.

14 h.

12 h.

18 h.

16 h.

18 h.

20 h.

22 h.

20 h.

22 h.

NINTH SCHEDULE.

FORM OF RADIOTELEGRAPH LOG-BOOK.

Rule 20

RADIOTELEGRAPH LOG.

PART I.

Name of Ship

Official Number and International Call Sign

Port of Registry

Gross Tonnage

Name of Company operating the Radio Service....................

Port at which and date when voyage commenced

Nature of the voyage or employment

Port at which and date when voyage terminated

Date..........................................

Date......................................................

Port...........................................

Port.......................................................

Delivered to the Superintendent of the Mercantile Marine Office at the Port of........................................on the...............day of.......... 19.....together with Radiotelegraph Log Part II, serial numbers.....................to.......... Countersigned ....................Master....................Superintendent....................Address

SECTION A—Particulars of Radio Staff.

Name

Home Address

Certificate Number and Class

SECTION B—Particulars of Batteries on Board

Battery Number

Number of Cells

Type

Date Supplied

Voltage and Ampere-hour Capacity

Purpose for which used

SECTION C—DAILY EXAMINATION OF BATTERIES

Date

Battery Number

Voltage off Load

Voltage on Load

Remarks

SECTION D—MONTHLY REPORT OF BATTERIES

Date

Battery Number and Cell Number

Specific Gravity as measured

Remarks

Date

Battery Number and Cell Number

Specific Gravity as measured

Remarks

Before Charge

After Charge

Before Charge

After Charge

RADIOTELEGRAPH LOG.

PART II

Name of Ship

Official Number and International Call Sign

Port of Registry

Gross Tonnage

Serial Number............................... from........................... to................................

Name of Company operating the Radio Service..............................................

S.S...................................................

M.V.

DIARY OF THE RADIO TELEGRAPH SERVICE

Date and Time (G.M.T.)

Station From

Station To

Full Details of Calls, Signals and Distress Working as prescribed by Rule 20

Frequency

TENTH SCHEDULE

Rule 28

FORM OF RADIOTELEPHONE LOG BOOK

RADIOTELEPHONE LOG

Name of Ship

Official Number

Port of Registry

Gross Tonnage

Name of Company operating the Radio Service.......................................

Period covered by Log—From.................................... To.....................

Delivered to the Superintendent of the Mercantile Marine Office at the Port of

.......................................... on the........................... day of............ 19...

Countersigned

.......................................................Master

.....................................................Superintendent

.....................................................Address

SECTION A—PARTICULARS OF RADIOTELEPHONE OPERATORS

Name

Home Address

Certificate Number and Class

S.S...........................................

M.V.

SECTION B—DIARY OF THE RADIOTELEPHONE SERVICE

Date and Time (G.M.T.)

Station From

Station To

Frequency Used

Record of Working, as prescribed by Rule 28

GIVEN under my Official Seal, this 12th day of November, 1953.

SEÁN F. LEMASS,

Minister for Industry and Commerce.

7. Connections with Ship's Mains.—Any connections of the equipment with the ship's main source of energy shall be so provided as not to interfere with the launching of the lifeboat.

PART II

Portable Equipment

8. Side of Controls.—All controls on the receiver shall be of such size as to permit normal adjustments being performed by a person wearing thick gloves.

9. Crystal Holders.—If the installation is designed for use with piezo-electric crystals, it shall be suitable for use with a crystal holder specified in paragraph 13 of Part 1 of the Second Schedule to these Rules.

FOURTH SCHEDULE.

CLIMATIC AND DURABILITY TESTS.

Rule 4

10. Blocking.—If the receiver is intended for loudspeaker reception the change in the output of the receiver shall not exceed 3 decibels when—

(1) the receiver is adjusted to give the standard output with an input wanted signal of type A2 at a level of 60 decibels above one microvolt and of a frequency of 500 kc/s, and

(2) a type Al input signal at a level of 100 decibels above one microvolt and of a frequency of 440 kc/s or 560 kc/s is then simultaneously applied.

11. Cross Modulation.—If the receiver is intended for loudspeaker reception, the receiver shall not produce an output of level higher than 30 decibels below the standard output when :—

(1) the receiver is adjusted to give the standard output with an input wanted signal of type A2 at a level of 60 decibels above one microvolt and of a frequency of 500 kc/s,

(2) the modulation of the signal is switched off, and

(3) a type A2 signal at a level of 90 decibels above one microvolt and of a frequency of 425 kc/s or 575 kc/s is then simultaneously applied.

12. Intermodulation and Harmonic Production.—If the receiver is intended for loudspeaker reception an output exceeding the standard output shall not be produced by the receiver when :—

(1) the receiver is adjusted to give the standard output with an input wanted signal of type A2 at a level of 40 decibels above one microvolt and of a frequency of 500 kc/s,

(2) the input wanted signal has been removed, and

(3) (a) any two interfering signals, one of type Al and the other of type A2, each at a level of 110 decibels above one microvolt and of such frequency as to give no appreciable output when applied alone, and of which the frequency sum or difference is 500 kc/s, are then simultaneously applied, or

(b) a signal of type A2 at a level of 116 decibels above one microvolt and of a frequency of 250 kc/s is applied.

13. Output Limiting.—If the receiver is intended for loudspeaker reception the receiver shall be provided with an efficient and automatic means of reducing the gain during the reception of strong signals.

14. Tuning Drift and Stability.—The tuning drift and the stability of the receiver shall be such that within five minutes of the receiver being switched on the requirements of paragraph 7 of this Part of this Schedule shall be met.

15. Fidelity.—The fidelity of the receiver shall be such that a change in the audio-frequency output shall be less than 8 decibels when the modulation frequency of the input signal is varied continuously from 400 c/s to 1,400 c/s the level and modulation depth of the input signal being kept constant. For the purposes of this paragraph the input signal may have any level and depth of modulation provided the output of the receiver does not exceed the standard output.

16. Radiation.—(1) The receiver when in use shall not produce a field exceeding 0.1 microvolt per metre when measured at a distance of one mile from the receiver.

(2) The receiver shall be deemed to comply with the requirement of sub-paragraph (1) of this paragraph if, when :—

(a) the receiver is placed centrally in a screened earthed enclosure of dimensions at least six feet cube,

(b) the earth terminal of the receiver is connected to the inside of the screen,

(c) the aerial terminal is connected through an unscreened four-turn rectangular search coil situated within the said enclosure and of dimensions one foot square and an unscreened lead to a resistive measuring instrument mounted outside the enclosure and having its other terminal earthed, and

(d) the receiver is then energised and unscreened headphones are connected thereto, the power measured by the measuring instrument does not exceed 4 x 10—

10

watts whatever the resistance of the measuring instrument or the adjustment of the receiver, and notwithstanding that the search coil is short-circuited or moved in any way, without approaching within six inches of the receiver case.

PART V.

Automatic Keying Device.

17. Heterodyne Note Stability.—The heterodyne note stability of the receiver shall be such that :—

(1) the frequency of a heterodyne note which is initially one kilocycle per second shall not vary by more than 100 c/s when the appropriate input level specified in sub-paragraph (2) of paragraph 10 of this Part of this Schedule is increased by not more than 60 decibels ;

(2) it is possible at all input levels within the range specified in sub-paragraph (1) of this paragraph, to obtain a beat note of 200 c/s when tuning either towards or away from zero beat.

18. Radiation.—(1) The receiver when in use shall not produce a field exceeding 0.1 microvolt per metre when measured at a distance of one mile from the receiver.

(2) The receiver shall be deemed to comply with the requirement of sub-paragraph (1) of this paragraph if, when :—

(a) the receiver is placed centrally in a screened earthed enclosure of dimensions at least six feet cube,

(b) the earth terminal of the receiver is connected to the inside of the screen,

(c) the aerial termina is connected through an unscreened four-turn rectangular search coil situated within the said enclosure and of dimensions one foot square and an unscreened lead to a resistive measuring instrument mounted outside the enclosure and having its other terminal earthed, and

(d) the receiver is then energised and unscreened headphones are connected thereto, the power measured by the measuring instrument does not exceed 4 x 10

-10

watts whatever the resistance of the measuring instrument or the adjustment of the receiver, notwithstanding that the search coil be short circuited or moved in any way, provided that it does not approach within six inches of the receiver case.

PART III

Emergency Radiotelegraph Transmitter

S.I. No. 340 of 1953.

MERCHANT SHIPPING (RADIO) RULES, 1953.

ARRANGEMENT OF RULES.

PART 1.

GENERAL

Rule

Interpretation repeal and transitional provisions

1

Application and classification of ships

2

Provision of radio installations

3

Climatic and durability tests

4

Interference with reception

5

High voltage parts

6

Charging of batteries

7

PART II.

RADIOTELEGRAPHY.

Electrical independence of main and emergency radiotelegraph equipments

8

Radiotelegraph room

9

Aerials

10

Range of transmitters

11

Supply of electrical energy

12

Tools, measuring instruments, spare parts etc.

13

Exemption of Class III ships

14

Provision of radio officers

15

Qualifications of radio officers

16

Radio watch by radiotelegraph

17

Watchkeeping, etc., by radio officers

18

Restrictions of use of emergency transmitter

19

Radiotelegraph log

20

PART III.

RADIOTELEPHONY.

Aerial

21

Range

22

Supply of Electrical energy

23

Miscellaneous requirements

24

Provision and qualifications of radiotelephone operators

25

Radio watch by radiotelephone

26

Watchkeeping etc., by radiotelephone operators

27

Radiotelephone log

28

PART IV

TECHNICAL REQUIREMENTS OF RADIO EQUIPMENT FOR LIFEBOATS

Rule

Radio equipment for motor lifeboats

29

Portable radio equipment for lifeboats

30

Tests of radio equipment for lifeboats

31

SCHEDULES.

Page

I.

Transitional provisions

37

II.

Radiotelegraph installation :—

Part I : Main transmitter

47

Part II : Main receiver

53

Part III : Emergency transmitter

65

Part IV : Emergency receiver

67

Part V : Automatic keying device

73

III.

Radiotelephone installation

75

IV.

Climatic and durability tests

83

V.

Radio equipment for lifeboats :—

Part I : Fixed equipment

89

Part II : Portable equipment

97

VI.

Tools, measuring instruments, spare parts, etc. :—

Part I : Tools

103

Part II : Measuring instruments

105

Part III : Spare parts

105

Part IV : Miscellaneous items

105

VII.

Autoalarm

107

VIII.

Table of watch hours

117

IX.

Radiotelegraph log

117

X.

Radiotelephone log

121

I, SEAN F. LEMASS, Minister for Industry and Commerce, after consultation with the Minister for Posts and Telegraphs and in exercise of the powers conferred upon me by

section 15

of the

Merchant Shipping (Safety Convention) Act, 1952

(No. 29 of 1952), hereby make the following Rules :—

PART I. GENERAL.

1 Interpretation, repeal and transitional provisions.

1.

—(1) These Rules may be cited as the Merchant Shipping (Radio) Rules, 1953.

(2) In these Rules—

" cargo ship " means a ship other than a passenger steamer ;

" connected " means electrically connected ;

" existing installation " means—

(

a

) an installation wholly installed before the date on which these Rules come into operation ; and

(

b

) an installation part of which was installed before the said date and the rest of which consists either of parts installed in replacement of identical parts, or parts which comply with the relative requirements of these Rules ;

" fishing boat " has the same meaning as in Section 370 of the Merchant Shipping Act, 1894 ;

" interference " in relation to any radio installation required by these Rules means the prejudicing by any emission or reflection of electro-magnetic energy of the fulfilment of the purposes of the installation ;

" mile " means a nautical mile of 6 080 feet ;

" Minister " means the Minister for Industry and Commerce ;

" operating position " in relation to any equipment means the position normally occupied by a person when operating that equipment ;

" radiotelegraph ship " means a ship, being a ship to which these Rules apply, which is provided with a radiotelegraph installation and which is not a radiotelephone ship ;

" radiotelephone distress frequency " means a frequency of 2182 kc/s. ;

" radiotelephone ship " means a cargo ship, being a ship to which these Rules apply, of not less than 500 tons but of less than 1,600 tons the owner of which has given the Minister notice in writing (which has not been withdrawn) that the ship is provided with a radiotelephone installation in compliance with these Rules ;

" radio watch " in the case of radiotelegraph ships, means listening on a frequency of 500 kc/s, and in the case of radiotelephone ships means listening on the radiotelephone distress frequency ;

" silence periods " means the periods of 3 minutes beginning for purposes of radiotelegraphy at 15 minutes and at 45 minutes after each hour, and for purposes of radiotelephony at each hour and at 30 minutes after each hour, in every case determined according to Greenwich Mean Time ;

" steamer " includes a ship propelled by electricity or other mechanical power ;

" tons " means gross tons ;

" Type A1 " refers to radiotelegraphy by the keying of a continuous wave on and off ;

" Type A2 " refers to amplitude modulated radiotelegraphy by the keying of a modulating audio-frequency or of an emission continuously modulated by an audio-frequency ;

" Type A3 " refers to double sideband amplitude modulated radiotelephony ;

" Type B waves " means damped waves ;

" wireless operator " means a person who, before the coming into operation of these Rules, was a person qualified to be an operator within the meaning of the Merchant Shipping (Wireless Telegraphy) Rules, 1939 (

S. R. & O. No. 318 of 1939

).

(3) The Merchant Shipping (Wireless Telegraphy) Rules, 1939, are hereby revoked, except in so far as they relate to direction-finding apparatus.

(4) The provisions of the First Schedule to these Rules shall have effect for the purpose of the transition from the law in force before these Rules come into operation to the provisions of these rules.

(5) These Rules shall come into operation on the 19th day of November, 1953.

2 Application and Classification of Ships.

2.

—(1) These Rules shall apply to ships which are

(

a

) sea-going ships registered in the State ;

(

b

) other sea-going ships while they are within any port in the State ;

and are not

(i) troopships not registered in the State ;

(ii) ships not propelled by mechanical means ;

(iii) pleasure yachts ;

(iv) fishing boats, or

(v) cargo ships of less than 500 tons.

(2) The ships to which these Rules apply shall be classified as follows :—

Class I—Steamers carrying more than 250 passengers or in respect of which there is in force a certificate issued by the Minister, or by any authority empowered in that behalf by the laws of any country other than the State, to the effect that they are fit to carry more than 250 passengers, and which

(

a

) in the case of ships registered in the State are at sea for more than 16 hours between two consecutive ports ;

(

b

) in the case of ships other than ships registered in the State arrive at a port in the State having been at sea for more than 16 hours since last leaving port, or in respect of which clearance or transire is sought from a port in the State for a voyage requiring more than 16 hours at sea before reaching port.

Class II—(

a

) Passenger steamers other than those of Class I

(

b

) Cargo ships of 1,600 tons and upwards.

Class III—Cargo ships of 500 tons and upwards but of less than 1,600 tons.

3 Provision of Radio Installations.

3.

—(1) Every ship of Class I and Class II shall be provided with a radiotelegraph installation which shall include the equipment specified in the Second Schedule to these Rules.

(2) Every ship of Class III shall be provided with a radiotelephone installation which shall include the equipment specified in the Third Schedule to these Rules, or with a radiotelegraph installation which shall include the equipment specified in the Second Schedule to these Rules. Provided that the main and emergency radiotelegraph transmitters in a ship of Class III may be combined in a single instrument, if that instrument is capable of complying with the requirements of Parts I and III of the said Second Schedule.

4 Climatic and Durability Tests.

4.

—(1) All equipment the requirements for which are specified in these Rules shall be such that it will be free of mechanical defects and comply with the said requirements—

(

a

) while undergoing the vibration, dry heat, and low temperature tests specified in the Fourth Schedule to these Rules ;

(

b

) when subjected to the damp heat test specified in sub-paragraph (4) of paragraph 3 of the said Schedule ; and

(

c

) immediately after undergoing such of the other tests specified in the said Schedule as are applicable to the equipment in the circumstances.

(2) Any such equipment which is intended for use in the open or in an open boat shall be such that after undergoing the mould growth test specified in the Fourth Schedule to these Rules no mould growth will be present on it.

5 Interference with Reception.

5.

At no time while the ship is at sea shall the interference or mechanical noise produced by the radio installation required by these Rules or by other equipment in the ship be sufficient to prevent the effective reception of radio signals by means of such installation.

6 High Voltage Parts.

6.

—(1) All parts and wiring to which this Rule applies shall be protected from accidental access and, except in the case of a generator or converter, shall be isolated automatically from all sources of electrical energy when the means of protection are removed. Any such parts which are capacitors in a transmitter shall be capable of being discharged.

(2) This Rule applies to all parts and wiring of the equipment specified in these Rules in which the direct and alternating voltages (other than radio-frequency voltages) combine at any time to give an instantaneous voltage greater than—

(

a

) 50 volts in the case of equipment specified in the Fifth Schedule to these Rules ;

(

b

) 250 volts in the case of all other equipment.

7 Charging of Batteries.

7.

Means shall be provided on board every ship to which these Rules apply for the charging from the ship's main source of electrical energy of any batteries which are provided as a source of electrical energy for any part of the equipment required by these Rules. An alternative means of charging such batteries shall also be provided if the means of charging such batteries is a rotary converter.

PART II. RADIOTELEGRAPHY.

8 Electrical Independence of Main and Emergency Radiotelegraph Equipments.

8.

Subject to the provisions of paragraph (2) of Rule 3 of these Rules, the main and emergency radiotelegraph equipments provided on board a radiotelegraph ship shall be electrically independent of each other.

9 Radiotelegraph Room

9.

—(1) Every radiotelegraph installation provided on board a radiotelegraph ship shall be installed in one or more radiotelegraph rooms not used for any purpose other than the operation of radio equipment. The radiotelegraph rooms shall be in such a position that there will be no disturbance by extraneous noises or otherwise with the effective reception of radio signals, and shall be as high as practicable in the ship.

(2) Every radiotelegraph installation provided on board a radiotelegraph ship shall be installed in such a position that it will be protected against disturbance of its effectiveness by water or by extremes of temperature.

(3) Every radiotelegraph room shall be provided with—

(

a

) an efficient two-way means of calling and voice communication with the bridge and any other place from which the ship is normally navigated. Such means of communication shall be a voicepipe or a telephone, or some other means equally efficient, and shall be independent of the main communication system of the ship and of the ship's main source of electrical energy ;

(

b

) a reliable clock, equipped with a dial not less than 5 inches in diameter and a centre seconds hand, securely mounted in such a position that the entire dial can be easily and accurately observed from the radiotelegraph operating position and, if the ship is provided with an autoalarm, from the position normally occupied by a person testing the autoalarm ;

(

c

) an electric lamp, operated from the source of electrical energy required by paragraph (2) of Rule 12 of these Rules and permanently arranged so as to be capable of providing adequate illumination of the operating controls of the main and emergency radiotelegraph installations and of the clock required by this Rule, and controlled by two-way switches placed respectively near the entrance to the radiotelegraph room and at the radiotelegraph operating position ;

(

d

) an additional electric lamp, for use as an inspection lamp, operated from the aforesaid source of energy, and provided with a flexible lead of sufficient length to enable all parts of the radiotelegraph installation to be easily seen ;

(

e

) a chair capable of being fixed at the radiotelegraph operating position.

(4) A complete list of spare equipment and spare parts carried on board the ship for the maintenance of the radiotelegraph installation, shall be available in every radiotelegraph room and shall indicate where such equipment and parts are kept.

(5) A calibration table or calibration curve for each transmitter and receiver forming part of the radiotelegraph installation shall always be available in a radiotelegraph room, unless the transmitter or receiver, as the case may be, is directly calibrated.

(6) In the case of a radiotelegraph installation which is not an existing installation, a complete diagram of the wiring of such installation shall always be available in a radiotelegraph room.

10 Aerials

10.

—(1) Every radiotelegraph ship shall be fitted with a main aerial and an emergency aerial ; provided that the Minister may exempt any ship from the requirement of an emergency aerial if he is satisfiedthat the fitting of such an aerial is impracticable or unreasonable in the circumstances. Any ship so exempted shall carry a spare aerial completely assembled for immediate erection.

(2) Each of the halyards used for supporting such main aerial shall be fitted with a safety loop between the masthead or other aerial support and an aerial insulator. Such safety loop shall consist of a part of the halyard not less than three feet long, the loop being closed by a link not more than one foot three inches long with a breaking load not more than one-third of the breaking load of the aerial or the halyard, whichever is the less.

(3) A rigging plan of such aerials shall be available in a radiotelegraph room, and shall show the following :—

(

a

) elevation and plan views of the aerials ;

(

b

) the measurements of the aerials in feet and inches ; and

(

c

) the height of the aerials in metres measured in the manner specified in paragraph (3) of Rule 11 of these Rules.

(4) The main aerial and the emergency aerial (if any) shall where practicable, be so rigged that damage to the one will not affect the efficiency of the other.

(5) The main and emergency aerials shall each be capable of being connected, as circumstances may require, to

(

a

) the main transmitter, either directly or with the intervention of an amplifier ;

(

b

) the main receiver ; and

(

c

) the emergency transmitter.

The emergency aerial shall also be capable of being connected to the emergency receiver.

11 Range of Transmitters

11.

—(1) The normal ranges of the radiotelegraph transmitters provided in accordance with the foregoing provisions of these Rules shall not be less than—

(

a

) in the case of a ship of Class I, 175 miles for the main transmitter and 150 miles for the emergency transmitter ;

(

b

) in the case of a ship of Class II, 150 miles for the main transmitter and 100 miles for the emergency transmitter ;

(

c

) in the case of a ship of Class III, 100 miles for the main transmitter and 75 miles for the emergency transmitter.

(2) The range of a transmitter for the purposes of these Rules shall be determined, at the option of the owner of the ship, either by reckoning or by test.

(3) For the purposes of these Rules the normal range of a radiotelegraph transmitter when determined by reckoning, shall be calculated by ascertaining the product of the root mean square current in amperes at the base of the main aerial and the maximum height in metres of the aerial measured from the load line mark indicating the greatest depth to which the ship may at any time or place besubmerged in accordance with the

Merchant Shipping (Safety and Load Line Conventions) Act, 1933

(No. 42 of 1933), or if there is no such mark on the ship, from the mean level of the surface of the water in which the ship is afloat. The product so ascertained in metre-amperes shall be converted to miles in accordance with the following table :—

Product in metre-amperes

Equivalent in miles

102

175

76

150

45

100

34

75

10

25

(4) For the purposes of these Rules the normal range of a radiotelegraph transmitter, when determined by test, shall be the distance to which signals can be transmitted by such transmitter over the sea by day under normal conditions on a frequency of 500 kc/s so as to set up at the receiver a total root mean square field strength of at least 50 microvolts per metre.

12 Supply of electrical energy

12.

—(1) There shall be available in every radiotelegraph ship while the ship is at sea, and at all reasonable times when the ship is in port for testing purposes, a supply of electrical energy from the ship's main source of electrical energy sufficient for the operation of the main radiotelegraph equipment in accordance with these Rules, and for the charging of any batteries which are a source of electrical energy for the radiotelegraph installation. The rated voltage of the supply of electrical energy for the main equipment shall be maintained within plus or minus 10 per cent. The supply of electrical energy shall, if it is a direct current supply, be of correct polarity. Provided that in any ship not engaged on an international voyage the aforesaid supply of electrical energy may be derived from a battery, in which case a duplicate battery shall also be provided for that purpose.

(2) The emergency equipment shall include a source of electrical energy independent of the propelling power of the ship and of the rest of the ship's electrical installation, and capable of being brought into immediate operation by means of a switchboard situated in a radiotelegraph room or readily accessible therefrom. Any source of electrical energy provided in compliance with this paragraph shall be of such capacity and shall be maintained at all times when at sea in such condition as to be able to supply continuously for a period of 6 hours, whether or not it is in use for any other purpose, a total current equal to the sum of

(

a

) the current required to operate the emergency transmitter with the key up ;

(

b

) three-fifths of the difference between the current required to operate the emergency transmitter with the key down and the current required to operate it with the key up ;

(

c

) the current required to operate the emergency receiver ; and

(

d

) the current consumed by the electric lamp required by paragraph (3) (

c

) of Rule 9 of these Rules.

(3) The source of electrical energy provided under paragraph (2) of this

Rule

shall not be used at any time except for the operation of—

(

a

) the emergency transmitter and receiver

(

b

) the lamps required by paragraph 3 (

c

) and (

d

) of Rule 9 of these Rules ;

(

c

) the automatic keying device ;

(

d

) an autoalarm ;

(

e

) a direction-finder.

13 Tools, Measuring Instruments, Spare Parts, etc.

13.

Every radiotelegraph ship shall be provided with the tools, measuring instruments, spare parts and other material specified in the Sixth Schedule to these Rules.

14 Exemption of Class III ships

14.

The Minister may exempt any ship of Class III from any of the requirements of the foregoing provisions of this Part of these Rules, subject to such conditions as he thinks fit.

15 Provision of Radio Officers

15.

—(1) Every radiotelegraph ship which upon proceeding to sea is not provided with an autoalarm complying with the requirements specified in the Seventh Schedule to these Rules shall be provided with radio officers as follows :—

Class I.—Three radio officers.

Class II.—Two radio officers if she is at sea for not more than 48 hours between consecutive ports, and three radio officers if she is at sea for more than 48 hours between consecutive ports.

Class III.—One radio officer.

(2) Every radiotelegraph ship which upon proceeding to sea is provided with an autoalarm complying with the aforesaid requirements shall be provided with radio officers as follows :—

Class I.—Two radio officers.

Class II.—One radio officer.

Class III.—One radio officer.

16 Qualifications of Radio Officers.

16.

—(1) For the purposes of these Rules no person shall be qualified to be a radio officer on board a ship registered in the State unless he holds a valid certificate of proficiency or competence in radiotelegraphy of the first or second class granted by the Minister for Posts and Telegraphs, or by an authority empowered in that behalf by the laws of Great Britain or any Commonwealth country, and recognised by the Minister for Posts and Telegraphs as the equivalent of such a certificate granted by him. In the case of one at least of the radio officers on board apassenger steamer registered in the State, such certificate shall be a certificate of the first class granted by the Minister for Posts and Telegraphs or a certificate granted by such an authority and recognised by the Minister for Posts and Telegraphs as the equivalent of a certificate of the first class granted by him.

(2) For the purposes of paragraph (1) of this Rule no certificate of proficiency or competence shall be deemed to be valid at any date if it was granted more than 2 years before that date and either

(

a

) the holder's periods of experience do not total three months, or

(

b

) the holder's last experience was more than 2 years before that date,

unless the holder satisfies the Minister for Posts and Telegraphs by re-examination or otherwise that he still possesses all of the qualifications described in his certificate. For the purposes of this paragraph the expression " experience " means experience at sea as a radio officer or wireless operator or experience as an operator of radiotelegraph apparatus at a radiotelegraph station maintained on land by the Minister for Posts and Telegraphs for communication with ships.

(3) At least one of the radio officers on board a ship of Class I or Class II registered in the State shall be a person who has had experience at sea as a radio officer or wireless operator for a total of not less than—

(

a

) two years in the case of ships of Class I ;

(

b

) one year in the case of ships of Class II (

a

) ;

(

c

) six months in the case of ships of Class II (

b

), being ships of 3,000 tons or upwards ;

(

d

) three months, in the case of ships of Class II (

b

), being ships of 1,600 tons and upwards but under 3,000 tons.

(4) For the purposes of these Rules no person shall be deemed to be a radio officer on board a ship not registered in the State unless he holds a valid certificate of proficiency or competence in radio-telegraphy granted by an authority empowered or recognised in that behalf by the laws of the country in which the ship is registered and recognised by the Minister for Posts and Telegraphs as the equivalent of such a certificate granted by him.

17 Radio Watch by Radiotelegraph.

17.

—(1) Subject to the provisions of paragraph (1) of Rule 18 radio watch shall be maintained at sea on board every radiotelegraph ship by a radio officer as follows :—

(

a

) if the ship upon proceeding to sea is not provided with an autoalarm complying with the requirements specified in the Seventh Schedule to these Rules :—

(i) in the case of a ship of Class I or Class II a continuous watch ;

(ii) in the case of a ship of Class III a watch of eight hours a day at the times specified in Column 5 of the Eighth Schedule to these Rules in relation to the zone in which the ship then is ;

(

b

) if the ship upon proceeding to sea is provided with an auto-alarm as aforesaid :—

(i) in the case of a ship of Class I a watch of sixteen hours a day at the times specified in Column 4 of the Eighth Schedule to these Rules in relation to the zone in which the ship then is ;

(ii) in the case of a ship of Class II or Class III a watch of eight hours a day at the times specified in Column 5 of the Eighth Schedule to these Rules in relation to the zone in which the ship then is.

(2) Any autoalarm provided on board a radiotelegraph ship shall be in operation at all times at which a radio watch is not maintained unless the autoalarm has broken down since the ship last put to sea and cannot be repaired at sea so as to operate effectively.

18 Watchkeeping, etc., by Radio Officers.

18.

—(1) Every radio officer on board a radiotelegraph ship shall keep radio watch by means of headphone reception throughout his period of duty except when another radio officer keeps radio watch by headphone reception. Provided that—

(

a

) radio watch may be maintained by means of loud-speaker reception, or

(

b

) if loud-speaker reception is impracticable radio watch may be dispensed with except during a silence period,

for such periods as may be necessary to enable the radio officer to perform other duties in compliance with these Rules or with the Merchant Shipping (Direction-Finders) Rules, 1953.

(2) Every radio officer on board a radiotelegraph ship provided with an autoalarm complying with the requirements specified in the Seventh Schedule to these Rules shall, whenever radio watch ceases to be maintained during or at the end of his period of duty, connect the autoalarm with the ship's main aerial, or with any other equally efficient aerial, and shall put the autoalarm into operation. Every radio officer who leaves an autoalarm in operation when he goes off duty shall before going off duty

(

a

) test the efficiency of the autoalarm : and

(

b

) immediately report the result of such test to the master of the ship or to the officer in charge of the navigation of the ship.

(3) Every such radio officer who finds an autoalarm connected to an aerial when he goes on duty shall immediately test the efficiency of the autoalarm before making any adjustment thereto.

(4) While a radiotelegraph ship is at sea, the radio officer, or if there is more than one, the first radio officer, shall cause the following tests to be made :—

(

a

) a test once a day of the emergency radiotelegraph transmitter connected with an artificial aerial complying with the requirements specified in paragraph 13 of Part III of the Second Schedule to these Rules ;

(

b

) if the ship is engaged on an international voyage a test once during every voyage of the emergency radiotelegraph transmitter connected with the emergency aerial, if any ;

(

c

) a test once a day by voltmeter and once a month by hydrometer of any batteries which are a source of energy for the radiotelegraph installation ;

(

d

) a test once a day of any other source of electrical energy provided for the emergency radiotelegraph equipment ; and

(

e

) a test once a day of the audible alarm circuits and of the bells forming part of the autoalarm.

(5) While a radiotelegraph ship is at sea, the radio officer, or if there is more than one, the first radio officer, shall take all steps within his power to cause the equipment referred to in these Rules to be properly maintained and when necessary to be repaired and adjusted. Such officer shall cause all batteries, being a source of electrical energy for any part of the radiotelegraph installation, which are found not to be fully charged to be brought up to that condition as soon as may be.

19 Restriction of Use of Emergency Transmitter.

19.

The transmitter forming part of the emergency radiotelegraph equipment shall not be used to transmit messages other than those relating to the safety of life at sea, unless such transmitter complies with the requirements specified in Part I of the Second Schedule to these Rules.

20 Radiotelegraph Log.

20.

—(1) A radiotelegraph log-book in the form specified in the Ninth Schedule hereto shall be kept in a radiotelegraph room on board every radiotelegraph ship registered in the State, and shall be available for inspection by any person authorised in that behalf by the Minister or by the Minister for Posts and Telegraphs.

(2) Every radio officer on board such a ship shall, when on duty, enter in such log-book:—

(

a

) his name ;

(

b

) the times at which he goes on and off duty ;

(

c

) the identifying number of each message transmitted by him, or received by him, together with the time and date of such transmission or reception, the station to which each message is transmitted by him and the station from which each message is received by him ; and

(

d

) a record of all incidents occurring during his period of duty which relates to the radiotelegraph installation and the operation thereof and which appear to him to be of importance to the safety of life at sea ; in particular, he shall make the following entries:—

(i) the full text of all messages transmitted by him or received by him which relate to immediate assistance required by persons in distress at sea or above the sea ;

(ii) the full text of all messages transmitted by him or received by him which are preceded by a signal in general international use as an urgency signal or a safety signal ;

(iii) a record of the radio watch maintained by him during each of the silence periods ;

(iv) a record of any incident occurring during his period of duty which affects the efficiency of the radiotelegraph installation ;

(v) a record of the tests conducted by him in accordance with paragraphs (2), (3) and (4) of Rule 18 of these Rules, and of the results of such tests ;

(vi) a record of the charging by him of any batteries used as a source of energy for the radiotelegraph installation ; and

(vii) if the ship is provided with an autoalarm, details of any failure or repair thereof during his period of duty.

(3) The radio officer, or if there is more than one, the first radio officer shall cause an entry to be made in such log-book at least once a day recording the time shown by the clock in each radiotelegraph room in comparison with Greenwich Mean Time, and any correction made in respect of that clock.

(4) The master of the ship and, if there is more than one radio officer, the first radio officer shall inspect and sign such log-book once a day.

(5) Section 242 of the Merchant Shipping Act, 1894 (which provides for the delivery of the official log-book to the Superintendent) and Section 256 of that Act (which provides among other things for the custody of the official log-book) shall apply to the radiotelegraph log-book as they apply to the official log-book.

PART III. RADIOTELEPHONY.

21 Aerial.

21.

Every radiotelephone ship shall be fitted with an aerial, and in addition shall carry a spare aerial completely assembled for immediate erection. A rigging plan of the fitted aerial shall be available on board and shall show—

(

a

) elevation and plan views of the aerial

(

b

) the measurements of the aerial in feet and inches ; and

(

c

) the height of the aerial in metres measured in the manner specified in paragraph (3) of Rule 22 of these Rules.

22 Range.

22.

—(1) The normal range of the radiotelephone transmitter provided in accordance with the foregoing provisions of these Rules shall not be less than 150 miles.

(2) The range of a radiotelephone transmitter for the purposes of these Rules shall be determined at the option of the Owner of the ship either by reckoning or by test.

(3) For the purposes of these Rules the normal range of a radiotelephone transmitter, when determined by reckoning on the radiotelephone distress frequency, shall be calculated by ascertaining the product of the root mean square current in amperes at the base of the aerial and the maximum height in metres of the aerial measured from the lead-out insulator. The transmitter shall be deemed to comply with the requirements of this Rule if the product so ascertained is not less than

(

a

) 7 · 5 metre-amperes if the aerial has a horizontal top-length of not less than one half of its maximum height measured from the lead-out insulator ;

(

b

) 12 · 8 metre-amperes in the case of any other aerial.

(4) For the purposes of these Rules, the normal range of a radiotelephone transmitter, when determined by test on the radio-telephone distress frequency, shall be the distance to which signals can be transmitted by such transmitter over the sea by day under normal conditions on that frequency so as to set up at the receiver by the unmodulated carrier a total root mean square field strength of at least 25 microvolts per metre.

23 Supply of Electrical Energy.

23.

—(1) There shall be available in every radiotelephone ship while she is at sea a supply of electrical energy sufficient to operate the radiotelephone installation in accordance with these Rules. The supply of electrical energy shall if it is a direct current supply, be of correct polarity. In the case of a radiotelephone installation which is not an existing installation an emergency source of electrical energy shall be provided in the upper part of the ship unless the main source of electrical energy is so situated. Each source of energy provided in compliance with this Rule shall be of such capacity as to be able to supply continuously for a period of six hours a total current equal to the sum of :—

(

a

) one-half of the current required to operate the radiotelephone transmitter for the transmission of speech ;

(

b

) the current required to operate the radiotelephone receiver ; and

(

c

) the current consumed by the electric lamp required by paragraph (

d

) of Rule 24 of these Rules.

(2) If a single battery is provided for the foregoing purpose means shall also be provided for either

(i) operating the radiotelephone receiver and transmitter from the ship's main source of electrical energy, or

(ii) float-charging the battery while it is in use, in which case there shall be adequate protection against voltage use.

Such means shall be so designed as not to require the earthing of the ship's main source of electrical energy, and a filter shall be provided to prevent mainsborne interference from entering the receiver.

(3) When the batteries for the radiotelephone transmitter are not in use, each battery shall be capable of being fully charged within a period of not more than 16 hours by the means for charging required by Rule 7 of these Rules.

24 Miscellaneous Requirements.

24.

The following provisions shall apply to every radiotelephone ship :—

(

a

) The radiotelephone installation required by these Rules shall be installed as high as practicable in the ship.

(

b

) An efficient two-way means of communication shall be provided between the place where the aforesaid radio-telephone installation is installed and any other place from which the ship is normally navigated.

(

c

) A reliable clock shall be securely mounted within sight of the operating position of the aforesaid radiotelephone installation.

(

d

) An electric lamp shall be provided and shall be operated from the emergency source of electrical energy required by Rule 23 of these Rules, or, if no emergency source of electrical energy is so required, from the main source. The lamp shall be permanently arranged so as to be capable of providing adequate illumination of the operating controls of the aforesaid radiotelephone installation and the clock required by sub-paragraph (

c

) of this Rule. The lamp shall be controlled by two-way switches placed respectively near an entrance to the room in which the said radiotelephone installation is installed and at the operating position thereof in that room.

25 Provision and Qualifications of Radiotelephone Operators.

25.

—(1) Every radiotelephone ship shall be provided with at least one radiotelephone operator.

(2) For the purposes of these Rules no person shall be qualified to be a radiotelephone operator on board a ship registered in the State unless he holds a valid certificate of proficiency or competence in radiotelephony or radiotelegraphy granted by the Minister for Posts and Telegraphs or by an authority empowered in that behalf by the laws of Great Britain or any Commonwealth country and recognised by the Minister for Posts and Telegraphs as the equivalent of such a certificate granted by him.

(3) For the purposes of these Rules no person shall be deemed to be a radiotelephone operator on board a ship registered in a country other than the State unless he holds a valid certificate of proficiency or competence in radiotelephony or radiotelegraphy granted by an authority empowered or recognised in that behalf by the laws of the country in which the ship is registered and recognised by the Minister for Posts and Telegraphs as the equivalent of such a certificate granted by him.

26 Radio Watch by Radiotelephone.

26.

While a radiotelephone ship is at sea radio watch shall be maintained by a radiotelephone operator for at least 8 hours a day, at the times specified in Column 5 of the Eighth Schedule of these Rules in relation to the zone in which the ship then is.

27 Watchkeeping, etc., by Radiotelephone Operators.

27.

—(1) Every radiotelephone operator on board a radiotelephone ship shall keep radio watch during the periods of duty assigned to him by the master of the ship.

(2) While a radiotelephone ship is at sea, the radiotelephone operator, or if there is more than one, the first radiotelephone operator shall cause any batteries which are a source of electrical energy for, the radiotelephone installation to be tested once a day and brought up to fully-charged condition as soon as may be.

28 Radiotelephone Log.

28.

—(1) A radiotelephone log-book in the form specified in the Tenth Schedule hereto shall be kept near the radiotelephone installation in every radiotelephone ship, and shall be available for inspection by any person authorised in that behalf by the Minister or the Minister for Posts and Telegraphs.

(2) Paragraphs (2), (3), (4) and (5) of Rule 20 shall apply to such radiotelephone log-book as they apply to a radiotelegraph log book, and references in the said paragraphs to a radio officer, a radio-telegraph installation and a radiotelegraph room shall be construed accordingly. Provided that an entry shall be required to be made in the radiotelephone logbook only of the general sense of the messages referred to in sub-paragraph (

d

) of paragraph (2) of that Rule.

PART IV TECHNICAL REQUIREMENTS OF RADIO EQUIPMENT FOR LIFEBOATS

29 Radio Equipment for Motor Lifeboats

29.

—(1) The radiotelegraph equipment required by paragraph (10) of Rule 4, and paragraph (10) of Rule 5 of the Merchant Shipping (Life-Saving and Fire Appliances) Rules, 1953, shall comply with the specifications set forth in Part I of the Fifth Schedule hereto.

(2) The battery included in such equipment shall not be used for any purpose other than the operation of such equipment and of the searchlight provided in compliance with the aforesaid Rules.

30 Portable Radio Equipment for Lifeboats

30.

The equipment required by paragraph (11) of Rule 4, paragraph (11) of Rule 5 and paragraph (5) of Rule 11 of the Merchant Shipping (Life-Saving and Fire Appliances) Rules, 1953, shall comply with the specifications set forth in Part II of the Fifth Schedule hereto.

31 Tests of Radio Equipment for Lifeboats.

31.

—(1) When a radiotelegraph ship provided with the equipment referred to in Rule 29 or Rule 30 of these Rules is at sea the radio officer, or if there is more than one the first radio officer shall at least once every 7 days, cause the transmitter forming part of such installation or equipment to be tested with its artificial aerial and cause any batteries, other than self-priming batteries, which are a source of electrical energy for such installation or equipment to be tested by voltmeter and hydrometer and brought up to fully-charged condition as soon as may be.

(2) The radio officer making the tests referred to in paragraph (1) of this Rule shall cause the results of such tests to be entered in the radiotelegraph log-book.

FIRST SCHEDULE

Rule 1 (4)

TRANSITIONAL PROVISIONS