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) The capacity of the battery or batteries must be checked, using 
an appropriate method, at intervals not exceeding 12 months. These 
checks must be performed when the vessel is not at sea.
    (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 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.

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