14. If it is impracticable to locate the batteries in the upper part of a ship whose construction was begun before June 1, 1978 or that is less than 20 m in length, they shall be located as high in the hull as is practicable.

• 15. (1) A VHF radio installation on a ship shall be capable of transmitting and receiving

  • (a) communications using DSC on frequency 156.525 MHz (channel 70), and

  • (b) voice communications on

    • (i) frequency 156.3 MHz (channel 6),

    • (ii) frequency 156.65 MHz (channel 13),

    • (iii) frequency 156.8 MHz (channel 16), and

    • (iv) any other frequencies that are specifically assigned for the transmission of maritime safety information in the area in which the ship is navigating.

• (2) A VHF radio installation shall be capable of maintaining a DSC continuous watch on frequency 156.525 MHz (channel 70), except while the radio installation’s transmitter is transmitting a communication.

• 16. (1) A VHF radio installation on board a Safety Convention ship shall meet the standards set out in International Maritime Organization Resolution A.803(19), entitled Performance Standards for Shipborne VHF Radio Installations Capable of Voice Communication and Digital Selective Calling and be certified by a country to which the Safety Convention applies as having passed the tests set out in the following standards of either

  • (a) the International Electrotechnical Commission:

    • (i) IEC 1097-3, entitled Global maritime distress and safety system (GMDSS) — Part 3: Digital selective calling (DSC) equipment — Operational and performance requirements, methods of testing and required testing results,

    • (ii) IEC 1097-7, entitled Global maritime distress and safety system (GMDSS) - Part 7: Shipborne VHF radiotelephone transmitters and receivers — Operational and performance requirements, methods of testing and required test results, and

    • (iii) IEC 1097-8, entitled Global maritime distress and safety system (GMDSS) — Part 8: Shipborne watchkeeping receivers for the reception of digital selective calling (DSC) in the maritime MF, MF/HF and VHF bands — Operational and performance requirements, methods of testing and required test results; or

  • (b) the European Telecommunications Standards Institute:

    • (i) EN 300 338, entitled Electromagnetic compatibility and Radio spectrum Matters (ERM); Technical characteristics and methods of measurement for equipment for generation, transmission and reception of Digital Selective Calling (DSC) in the maritime MF, MF/HF and/or VHF mobile service,

    • (ii) EN 301 033, entitled Electromagnetic compatibility and Radio spectrum Matters (ERM); Technical characteristics and methods of measurement for shipborne watchkeeping receivers for reception of Digital Selective Calling (DSC) in the maritime MF, MF/HF and VHF bands, and

    • (iii) ETS 300 162, entitled Electromagnetic compatibility and Radio spectrum Matters (ERM); Radiotelephone transmitters and receivers for the maritime mobile service operating in the VHF bands; Technical characteristics and methods of measurement.

• (2) A VHF radio installation on board a ship that is not a Safety Convention ship shall

  • (a) meet the standards prescribed in subsection (1);

  • (b) be certified by a country to which the Safety Convention applies as having passed the tests set out in standard EN 301 025 of the European Telecommunications Standards Institute, entitled Electromagnetic compatibility and Radio spectrum Matters (ERM); Technical characteristics and methods of measurement for VHF radiotelephone equipment for general communications and associated equipment for Class “D” Digital Selective Calling (DSC); or

  • (c) be certified by a country to which the Safety Convention applies as having passed the tests set out in standard IEC 62238 of the International Electrotechnical Commission, entitled Maritime navigation and radiocommunication equipment and systems — VHF radiotelephone equipment incorporating Class “D” digital selective calling (DSC) — Methods of testing and required test results.