Sec.  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
    Sec. 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
    Sec. 80.1089(a)(1), the MF/HF radio installation required by  Sec. 80.1091(a)(2)(i)
   or  Sec. 80.1093(a), or the INMARSAT ship earth station required by
    Sec. 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  Sec. 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.

   [ 51 FR 31213 , Sept. 2, 1986, as amended at  68 FR 46977 , Aug. 7, 2003]