RADIOCOMMUNICATIONS INSTALLATION ON SHIPS RULES

SUBSIDIARY LEGISLATION 399.34

RADIOCOMMUNICATIONS INSTALLATION

ON SHIPS RULES

7th October, 1927

GOVERNMENT NOTICE 404 of 1927, as amended by Government Notices

57 of 1929 and 330 of 1931.

The title of these rules is the Radiocommunications

Installation on Ships Rules.

In these Rules -

Time of watch for ships required to carry one or two operators

Zones

Western limit

Eastern limit

Times of watch

Times of watch

for one operator

for two

Greenwich

operators

Mean Time

Greenwich

Mean Time

A. Eastern

Meridian

of Meridian

of

8h. to 10h.

0h. to 5h.

Atlantic,

3 0 º W c o a s t o f 30ºE, to the south

12h. to 14h.

8h. to 14h.

Mediterranean,

Greenland

of the cost of

16h. to 18h.

16h. to 18h.

North Sea,

Africa, eastern

20h. to 22h.

20h. to 22h.

Baltic, Western

limit

of

Arctic Sea.

Mediterranean,

Black Sea, and of

the Baltic, 30ºE

to the north coast

of Norway

B. Indian Ocean, Eastern limit of Meridian of 80 E,

4h. to 6h.

0h. to 2h.

Eastern Arctic

Zone A

west coast of

8h. to 10h.

4h. to 10h.

Sea

Ceylon

to

12h. to 14h.

12h. to 14h.

Adam’s Bridge,

16h. to 18h.

16h. to 18h.

then westward

20h. to 24h.

round coast of

India

C. China Sea,

Eastern limit of Meridian 160ºE

0h. to 2h.

0h. to 2h.

Western Pacific Zone B

4h. to 6h.

8h. to 10h.

Ocean

8h. to 10h.

12h. to 14h.

12h. to 14h.

16h. to 22h.

D. Central

Eastern Limit of Meridian 140ºW

0h. to 2h.

0h. to 2h.

Pacific Ocean

Zone C

4h. to 6h.

4h. to 6h.

8h. to 10h.

8h. to 10h.

20h. to 22h.

12h. to 18h.

20h. to 24h.

E. Eastern

Eastern Limit of M e r i d i a n

of

0h. to 2h.

0h. to 2h.

Pacific Ocean

Zone D

7 0 º W, s o u t h o f

4h. to 6h.

4h. to 6h.

the coast of

16h. to 18h.

8h. to 14h.

America, west

20h. to 22h.

16h. to 22h.

coast of America

F. Western

Meridian 70ºW M e r i d i a n

of

0h. to 2h.

0h. to 2h.

Atlantic Ocean

south of the coast 3 0 º W, c o a s t o f

12h. to 14h.

4h. to 10h.

and Gulf of

of America, east Greenland

16h. to 18h.

12h. to 18h.

Mexico

coast of America

20h. to 22h.

20h. to 22h.

RADIOCOMMUNICATIONS INSTALLATION ON SHIPS

(a) the number of hours occupied in a voyage from port to

port means the normal number of hours occupied in a

voyage between one port of call and the next;

(b) the expression "alarm-signal" means a signal

consisting of a series of twelve dashes sent in one

minute, the duration of each dash being four seconds,

and the duration of the space separating each dash

from the following dash being one second;

(c) the expression "operator" means one who holds the

first or second class certificate of proficiency in

radiotelegraphy from the Minister responsible for

radiocommunications or a certificate issued by the

Government is accepted by the Minister responsible

for radiocommunications as equivalent to a certificate

granted by him;

the expression "operator" in the case of a foreign ship

means one who holds a certificate of the appropriate

class issued by any government in pursuance of the

regulations annexed to the International Radio-

telegraph Convention for the time being in force;

(d) the expression "watcher" means one who holds the

certificate as a watcher in Radiotelegraphy from the

Minister responsible for radiocommunications or a

certificate issued by the Government which is accepted

by the Minister responsible for radiocommunications

as equivalent to a certificate granted by him;

(e) the expression "auto-alarm" means an automatic

apparatus approved by the inspector capable of

registering the alarm signal;

(f)

the expression "inspector" means the Inspector of

Radiocommunications appointed by the Prime

Minister;

(g) the expression "installation" shall be deemed to

include an outfit of tools which shall be kept and used

in the Radiocommunications Office only and also such

spare parts as are in the opinion of the inspector

necessary for the efficient working of the apparatus.

For the purposes of these Rules, ships shall be classified as

1. The function of the auto-alarm is to give warning of the receipt of a distress

call on 600 meters when watch is not being kept by an operator.

2. An auto-alarm must comprise -

(a) a radiocommunications receiver, capable of receiving waves of 600

metres, spark or i.c.w.;

(b) a selector that is to say a means of selecting one definite signal known

as the alarm;

(c) an alarm, that is to say, a means of giving audible warning such as a bell

or hooter.

The apparatus necessary under paragraph (a) must be an integral part of the auto-

alarm, and when installed may only be used as such.

3. An auto-alarm must fulfil the following conditions

(a) The radiocommunications receiver must respond without re-adjustment

to signals on wave lengths between 585 and 615 metres from a

transmitter of the spark type, having a steady note frequency of not less

than 100 per second, when the strength of signals is such that the field

strength is equivalent to that which would be produced by a transmitter

making use of 45 metre-amperes as defined in paragraph (v) of rule 4 at

a distance of 80 miles.

(b) (i) The selector must be operated only by energy received by the

radiocommunications receiver and must respond to all signals as

described in paragraph (a) above for the radiocommunications receiver.

(ii) The selector must be of such design as to operate the alarm during

the reception of the alarm signal at the termination of three consecutive

dashes.

(c) The alarm must be operated only by energy received from the selector

and be of approved type.

4. Before approval as a standard type for installation in ships an auto-alarm

must comply with the following tests -

(i)

The selector must in conjunction with the radiocommunications receiver

respond to 100 consecutive test-calls, produced locally; each call to

consist of three consecutive dashes under conditions free from

interference.

For the purposes of this test the timing of the beginning and the ending

of each of the test dashes shall not differ by more than 1 second from

the correct timing of the alarm signal of 12 dashes (Rule 2), always

provided that the dashes are not to be of less than 3½ nor more than 4½

seconds’ duration, and the spaces of not less than one fifth nor more

than 1½ seconds’ duration.

(ii) The auto-alarm shall be installed for 14 days in an area where

interference conditions are severe on the 600 metres wavelength and the

selector, in conjunction with the radiocommunications receiver, must

not respond in such a manner as to operate the alarm more than twice a

week to signals other than the alarm signal or the test signals indicated

in (i) above. During this period tests of the sensitivity of the receiver

shall be made in accordance with paragraph (a) of rule 3.

(ii) A farther test of 28 days’ duration shall be imposed with the object of

ascertaining the reliability of the auto-alarm under interference

conditions. For this purpose the auto-alarm shall be joined normally to

an external aerial, and the energy necessary for operating the auto-alarm

shall be produced locally by a buzzer or other suitable appliance

coupled to the aerial system; the energy given to the aerial by this

means shall be of not less amount than that furnished for the tests

indicated under paragraph (a) of rule 3. Each test call shall consist of

the alarm signal. During this period of 28 days a minimum of 500 such

test calls shall be made, of which 90 per cent must actuate the alarm and

the alarm must not be actuated more than twice a week by other signals.

Adjustments of the apparatus shall not be made more often than once

every 12 hours.

(iv) During every third day of the test laid down in sub-paragraph (iii)

above, the selector and the radiocommunications receiver will be

subjected to varying temperature conditions; for this purpose the

selector and radiocommunications receiver will be enclosed in a

chamber the interior of which will be raised in one hour to a

temperature of 45º C (113º Fah.), maintained at that temperature for two

hours and then allowed to cool naturally.

follows

Class I -

Ships carrying 200 persons or more;

Class II -

Ships carrying 50 but less than 200 persons;

Class III -

Ships carrying less than 50 persons.

In reckoning the number of persons carried by a ship there

shall be included the normal crew of the ship and the maximum

number of passengers permitted to be carried by the passenger

certificate of the ship.

The radiocommunications installation with which a ship

Ship battery log

Daily record

Name of Ship .........................................

Type of Battery .............................. Date supplied ......................

Date

and ending of discharge

commencement and

ending of discharge

working energy

commencement

after discharge

open circuit

open circuit

Volts when

Times of

Times of

Volts on

Volts on

Rate of

charge

Monthly examination

Volts of whole battery on open circuit .........................................

Volts of whole battery on minimum artificial discharge ...............

Volts of whole battery on maximum artificial discharge ..............

Volts of whole battery when working emergency gear .................

S.G. of each Cell as measured

Temp. of Acid

Corrected S.G

Before

After charge

Before

After charge

Before

charge

charge

charge

RADIOCOMMUNICATIONS INSTALLATION ON SHIPS

Note: This table is not required in the case of alkaline electrolyte cells.

Volts of whole battery on open circuit after discharge ........................

shall be provided (hereinafter referred to as "the installation") shall

be of a type approved by the Inspector of Radiocommunications to

the Government and shall in particular comply with the following

conditions

(i)

The installation shall be of the spark or

interrupted continuous wave type and shall be

capable of transmission and reception on the 600

metre wave.

(ii) The installation shall include a normal

installation and an emergency installation,

except that where the normal installation

complies with the requirements of this Rule as to

emergency installations as well as those as to

normal installations, a normal installation alone

shall suffice.

(iii) A normal installation must be capable of

transmitting clearly perceptible signals from

ship to ship over a range of at least 100 nautical

miles by day, under normal conditions and

circumstances.

(iv) An emergency installation must include an

independent source of energy capable of being

put into operation rapidly, and of working for at

least six continuous hours with a minimum range

from ship to ship of 80 nautical miles for ships

of Class I, and 50 nautical miles for ships of

Classes II and III, and such independent source

of energy must be capable of being worked for at

least six continuous hours independently of the

source of the propelling power for the ship, the

steam supply system and the main electricity

supply system.

(v) For the purposes of this Rule an installation shall

be deemed to comply with the above

requirements as to range, if it is able to maintain

communication on a 600-metre wave, at a range

of one and a half times the number of nautical

miles hereinbefore respectively prescribed over

sea by day, with any shore radiocommunications

station licensed by the competent authority of

the place where it exists, when employing a

receiver without amplification devices.

Alternatively the installation must operate

with sufficient power to give under normal

working conditions 60 metre amperes in the case

of a main installation, 45 metre amperes in the

case of an emergency installation on a 1st Class

ship and 26 metre amperes in the case of an

emergency installation on a 2nd Class ship. The

number of metre amperes is obtained by

multiplying the maximum current (R.M.S.)

intensity in amperes in the aerial by the

maximum height in metres of the highest point

of the aerial above the deepest load water line.

Sufficient electrical power must be available to operate the

installation efficiently in addition to that necessary for other

purposes.

The installation shall be housed in a separate room or

compartment (hereinafter called the radiocommunications room)

which must be placed in a position well above the water line and

such that extraneous noises do not interfere with reception.

All dangerous parts of the installation must be either

screened or effectively isolated.

There shall be provided, between the bridge of the ship and

the radiocommunications room, means of communication by voice

pipe, telephone or other means.

A reliable clock with second hand must be provided in the

radiocommunications room.

The following books, papers and publications are to be

readily accessible in the radiocommunications room -

(a) a copy of these Rules;

(b) the current edition of the "Handbook for

Radiocommunications Operators working Installations

licensed

by

the

Minister

responsible

for

radiocommunications";

(c) the ship’s radiocommunications licence;

(d) the international list of telegraph offices;

(e) the International List of Radiotelegraph Stations, with

latest supplements;

(f)

Liste Alphabetique des Indicatifs d’Appel, with latest

supplements;

(g) the latest issue of the Post Office Guide;

(h) handbook of instructions for the working of the

radiocommunications set;

(i)

an adequate supply of radiocommunications forms;

(j)

a radiocommunications log to contain a chronological

record of all messages sent and received, and of all

calls heard, or transmitted.

If not fitted with an approved automatic apparatus for

registering the alarm signal

(i)

a ship of Class I shall carry operators in accordance

with the following table, and while at sea, an operator

shall always be on watch

Nature of voyage

No. and Grades of Operators

(a) Voyage exceeding 48 3 operators, of whom one shall

hours from port to port

be an operator of the 1st grade

and not more than one an

operator of the 3rd grade.

(b) Voyage exceeding 8 2 operators of whom one shall

h o u r s b u t n o t e x c e e d i n g 4 8 be of the 1st or 2nd grade.

hours from port to port

(c) Voyage not exceeding 8 1 operator who shall be of the

hours from port to port

1st or 2nd grade.

(ii) A ship of Class II shall carry operators and watchers in

accordance with the following table, and while at sea

an operator shall always be on watch at the time

specified in Schedule I to these Rules, and either an

operator or a watcher shall always be on watch at other

times. Where only one operator is required to be

carried, either he shall be on watch throughout the

voyage or the ship shall be provided with automatic

apparatus

approved

by

the

Inspector

of

Radiocommunications to the Government. In the last

mentioned case the operator shall keep watch at such

periods as are prescribed in Rule 13. At all other

periods watch shall be kept by means of an auto-alarm.

Nature of voyage

No. and Grade of Operators and

Watchers

(a) Voyage exceeding 48 1 operator who shall be of the

hours from port to port

1st grade or 2nd grade, and 2

watchers

(b) Voyage exceeding 8 1 operator who shall be of the

h o u r s b u t n o t e x c e e d i n g 4 8 1st or 2nd grade, and 1 watcher.

hours from port to port

(c) Voyage not exceeding 8 1 operator who shall be of the

hours from port to port

1st or 2nd grade.

Within a period of twelve months from the date on which

an auto-alarm is approved by the Department of Trade and the

Minister responsible for radiocommunications, a ship of Class II

shall be fitted with such apparatus unless the duration of the voyage

on which it is employed does not exceed eight hours from port to

port, provided that this rule shall not apply to a ship of Class II so

long as it complies with rule 10 for a ship of Class I.

If fitted with an auto-alarm approved as aforesaid

(i)

a ship of Class I shall carry operators in accordance

with the following table and while at sea an operator

shall always be on watch during the times specified in

Schedule I to these Rules, and a watch shall be

maintained at all times either by an operator or by

means of the auto-alarm.

Nature of voyage

No. and Grade of Operators

(a) Voyage exceeding 48 2 operators, one of whom shall

hours from port to port

be of the 1st grade

(b) Voyage exceeding 48 1 operator who shall be of the

hours from port to port

1st or 2nd grade.

(ii) a ship of Class II shall carry one operator who shall be

of the first or second grade, and while at sea the

operator shall be on watch during the times specified

in Schedule I to these Rules, and a watch shall be

maintained at all other times by means of the auto-

alarm.

(iii) a ship of Class III shall carry one operator who shall

be of the first and second grade and, pending the

making of further rules, altering the times of watch to

be observed on such ships, the operator shall, while the

ship is at sea, always be on watch at the times

specified in Schedule I to these Rules.

(1) Vessels belonging to Class II employed on the

passenger service between Syracuse and Malta shall conform to the

following rules

(a) if only one operator is carried, he shall be on watch on

the outward voyage from Malta for one hour after

leaving Malta until reaching Cape Passero. On the

homeward voyage to Malta he shall be on watch from

Cape Passero until within one hour’s steaming of

Malta. At all other times, watch shall be maintained by

means of the auto-alarm;

(b) in order to ensure that the radiocommunications

apparatus is in working order, communications shall

be established with St. George’s Radio, on each round

voyage, at a distance of not less than fifty miles.

(2) Vessels belonging to Class II, employed on the passenger

service between Tunis and Malta shall conform to the following

(a) such vessels shall carry one operator. They must in

addition either carry one watcher or be provided with

an auto-alarm.

(b) while the ship is at sea, an operator or watcher shall be

on watch during the periods specified in Schedule I to

these Rules. If no watcher is carried, watch shall be

kept by means of the auto-alarm at the times the

operator is not on watch;

(c) in order to ensure that the radiocommunications

apparatus is in working order, communication shall be

RADIOCOMMUNICATIONS INSTALLATION ON SHIPS

established with St. George’s Radio, at a distance of

not less than 50 miles, on each round voyage.

An auto-alarm shall not be approved unless it complies

with the conditions specified in Schedule II.

In ships fitted with an auto-alarm

(i)

A means of giving audible warning shall be provided

in

the

radiocommunications

room,

in

the

radiocommunications’ cabin, and on the bridge. This

warning shall operate continuously after the alarm has

been actuated by the alarm signal, until stopped as

indicated below. The audible warning shall also

operate as above if a disconnection occurs in the

circuits of the filaments of the valves.

(ii) Only one switch for stopping the operating of the

audible warning shall be provided and this must be

situated in the radiocommunications room.

(iii) A change-over switch or system of switches

mechanically coupled together shall be provided for

changing over from normal reception to reception by

the auto-alarm. The aerial shall be associated with the

switch or switches in such a manner that the necessary

connections to enable the alarm to respond to the tests

laid down in rule 18 cannot be made unless the aerial

is connected to the auto-alarm.

(iv) The auto-alarm must be susceptible to local excitation

by the testing buzzer, so that the working of the

installation as a whole can be tested. A key may be

provided so that when desired the bridge bell can be

prevented from ringing when the alarm is being tested

but the key must be so designed that unless held down

it automatically establishes the circuit of the bridge

bell.

For the purposes of these Rules operators shall be graded

into three grades as follows

(a) A "First Grade Operator" is one who holds the First

Class Certificate of Proficiency from the Minister

responsible for radiocommunications issued under the

provisions of the International Radiotelegraph

Convention (London), 1912, or the First or Second

Class Certificate of Proficiency issued bt the Minister

responsible for radiocommunications under the

provisions of the International Radiotelegraph

Convention (Washington), 1927, and who has had

three years’ experience as an operator at sea, of which

period two years shall have bean in a ship where fixed

hours of watch are kept.

(b) A "Second Grade Operator" is one who holds the First

or Second Class Certificate of Proficiency issued by

the Minister responsible for radiocommunications and

can produce evidence that he has had six months’

satisfactory experience as an operator at sea.

(c) A "Third Grade Operator" is one who holds the First or

Second Class issued by the Minister responsible for

radiocommunications, or Special Certificate of

Proficiency, and who has not had less than six months’

experience as an operator at sea.

(d) An "operator" is one who holds a local certificate of

proficiency granted by the inspector.

(e) The Prime Minister may grant certificates to operators

and watchers and may accept certificates granted to

operators by the Government in pursuance of the

regulations

annexed

to

any

international

radiotelegraph Convention for the time being in force.

An operator of the second or lower grade who has not

during the last two years been employed at sea as an operator in a

ship having fixed hours of watch may be required by re-

examination or otherwise as necessary to show that he still

possesses the qualifications described on his certificate.

(a) The master shall take steps to ensure that the

radiocommunications service of the ship is maintained

in accordance with these Rules and with the conditions

of the licence granted by the Minister responsible for

radiocommunications under the Electronic

Communicaions (Regulation) Act.

(b) The master shall require that an operator or watcher is

on duty at the proper time and that he does not leave

the radiocommunications room unless another operator

or watcher takes his place.

(c) Sufficient power for the operation of the ship’s main

radiocommunications shall be available when required

for the transmission of signals at all times whilst the

ship is under way.

(d) In ships where the dynamo supplying the main

installation is not run continuously at sea there shall he

effi ci en t m e an s o f c om m u n ica ti o n t o en ab le t h e

radiocommunications operator to apply for power

without leaving the radiocommunications room.

(e) The emergency installation shall be used only for the

purpose for which it is installed except when it is

desirable that communication should be limited to very

short ranges.

(f) Batteries, whether forming part of the main or

emergency installations, shall be maintained in a fully-

charged condition, and power must be available for

charging the batteries at a definite time each day.

(g) A record of the batteries shall be kept on forms similar

to those scheduled to these Rules. These records shall

be open to inspection by the inspector.

RADIOCOMMUNICATIONS INSTALLATION ON SHIPS

In the case of ships fitted with auto-alarms

(i)

In ships in which watch is kept at certain specified

hours but is not continuous, the master shall require

the operator, when going off watch, to test the auto-

alarm and report to him or to the officer on the bridge,

whether it is in working order, and to keep a record of

the tests.

(ii) In ships in which watch is not kept at specified hours,

the master shall require the operator to test the auto-

alarm at frequent intervals, with not more than twelve

hours between any two tests, and report to him or to

the officer on the bridge whether it is in proper

working order, and to keep a record of the tests.

(iii) If a key for disconnecting the bridge bell, as permitted

in paragraph (iv) of rule 15 has been fitted, the master

shall require the bridge bell circuit to be tested at least

once even twenty-four hours, and an appropriate entry

made in the record of tests of the auto-alarm.

(iv) In the event of the failure of the auto-alarm on a ship

having no fixed working hours, the master shall

require the operator to keep the hours at watch

specified in Schedule I until the defects have been

remedied.

RADIOCOMMUNICATIONS INSTALLATION ON SHIPS

RADIOCOMMUNICATIONS INSTALLATION ON SHIPS