# The Merchant Shipping (Radio Installations) Regulations 1992, Regulation 27: Supply of electrical energy


(1) At all times while a ship to which this Part applies is at sea and at all reasonable times when she is in port, there shall be available a source of energy sufficient to operate the VHF radiotelephone installation at its nominal rated output power. If batteries are provided they shall have sufficient capacity and shall be maintained at all times while at sea in such condition as to be able to supply continuously for at least six hours a total current equal to the sum of—
(a) the current consumption of the VHF radiotelephone receiver and;
(b) one fifth of the current consumption of the VHF radiotelephone transmitter.
(2) In respect of—
(a) new installations in all cargo ships of 300 tons and more but less than 500 tons, and
(b) new and existing installations in all cargo ships of 500 tons or more and passenger ships,installation from an alternative source of electrical energy situated in the upper part of the ship unless the source of energy required by paragraph (1) of this regulation is situated there. The source of energy in the upper part of the ship may be the reserve source of energy required by regulation 33(2) or 41(2) of these Regulations, in which case the VHF usage of such reserve source of energy shall be limited to distress, urgency and safety communications.
(3) Where provision is made for operating the VHF radiotelephone installation from alternative sources of electrical energy, means shall be provided for rapidly changing from one source of energy to the other.

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Source: https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/1992/3/regulation/27 (the official version)
Page: https://openlegislation.uk/merchant-shipping-radio-installations-regulations-1992/regulation-27
Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Source: legislation.gov.uk, The National Archives.