• 42. (1) A ship at sea that is equipped with any of the following types of radio equipment shall maintain a continuous watch in accordance with subsection 15(2), paragraph 17(b), subsection 19(2) and paragraph 22(1)(b) on the frequencies specifically assigned for the transmission of maritime safety information appropriate to the time of day, the position of the ship and the equipment carried:

  • (a) a VHF radio installation;

  • (b) an MF radio installation;

  • (c) an MF/HF radio installation;

  • (d) an INMARSAT ship earth station;

  • (e) a NAVTEX receiver;

  • (f) enhanced group call equipment; and

  • (g) radio equipment capable of transmitting and receiving communications using NBDP.

• (2) A ship equipped with an MF/HF radio installation may keep the continuous watch by means of a scanning receiver.

43. A ship shall keep a VHF radiotelephone watch in accordance with the VHF Practices and Procedures Regulations.

• 44. (1) On a passenger ship, a tow-boat or a ship of 20 m or more in length that is required to have a reserve source of energy under section 22 of the Ship Station (Radio) Regulations, 1999, the reserve source of energy shall be capable of

  • (a) being used immediately in the event of a failure of the main source of electrical energy; and

  • (b) simultaneously operating

    • (i) the VHF radiotelephone,

    • (ii) the lighting required by paragraph 22(1)(b) of the Ship Station (Radio) Regulations, 1999, to be supplied by the reserve source of energy, and

    • (iii) one of the installations required by paragraph 10(1)(a), (b) or (c) of the Ship Station (Radio) Regulations, 1999, as appropriate for the sea area in which the ship is navigating.

• (2) The reserve source of energy shall have a capacity to provide electrical energy for

  • (a) one hour, if the radio equipment is provided with an emergency source of electrical power that meets the standards set out in TP 127 of the Department of Transport, entitled Ship Electrical Standards; and

  • (b) six hours, in any other case.

• (3) The electrical capacity of the reserve source of energy under distress conditions shall, for the period prescribed in subsection (2), be equal to the aggregate of

  • (a) one half of the electrical capacity necessary for the transmission of communications,

  • (b) the electrical capacity necessary for the continuous reception of communications, and

  • (c) the electrical capacity necessary for the continuous operation of any additional radio equipment or lighting connected to that reserve source of energy.

• (4) The reserve source of energy shall be independent of the propelling power of the ship and the ship’s electrical system.

• (5) The reserve source of energy shall, for a period prescribed in subsection (2), be capable of simultaneously supplying energy

  • (a) to all ship stations and radio equipment that can be connected to the reserve source of energy at the same time; or

  • (b) if only one ship station or item of radio equipment can be connected to the reserve source of energy at the same time as a VHF radiotelephone, to the ship station or radio equipment that uses the most power.

• (6) The reserve source of energy shall be used to supply the electrical lighting for a ship station or an item of radio equipment unless the electrical lighting has an independent source of energy that meets the minimum capacity requirements.