Merchant Shipping Act, 1951 (Act No. 57 of 1951)RegulationsMerchant Shipping (Radio Installations) Regulations, 2002Part 2 : GMDSS Requirements10. Radio equipment to be provided for all sea areas |
| (1) | Every ship to which this Part applies must be provided with — |
| (a) | a VHF radio installation capable of transmitting and receiving — |
| (i) | DSC on the frequency 156.525 MHz (channel 70), whereby it must be possible to initiate the transmission of distress on channel 70 from the position from which the ship is normally navigated; and |
| (ii) | radiotelephony on the frequencies 156.300 MHz (channel 6), 156.650 MHz (channel 13) and 156.800 MHz (channel 16); |
| (b) | a radio installation capable of maintaining a continuous DSC watch on VHF channel 70, which may be separate from, or combined with, that required by paragraph (a)(i); |
| (c) | a radar transponder capable of operating in the 9 GHz band, which— |
| (i) | must be stowed so as to enable rapid placement in a survival craft; and |
| (ii) | may be one of those required by regulation 39 for a survival craft; |
| (d) | if the ships at sea in an area in which an international NAVTEX service is provided, a receiver capable of receiving international NAVTEX service broadcasts; |
| (e) | if the ship is at sea in an area of INMARSAT coverage but in which an international NAVTEX service is not provided, a radio facility for the reception of maritime safety information by the INMARSAT enhanced group calling system, unless the ship is at sea exclusively in areas in which an HF direct-printing telegraphy maritime safety information service is provided and is fitted with equipment capable of receiving that service; |
| (f) | subject to regulation 11(3), a satellite EPIRB? complying with the requirements of Annex 1. |
| (2) | Every passenger ship to which this Part applies must be provided with means for two-way on-scene radio communications for search and rescue purposes using the aeronautical frequencies 121.5 MHz and 123.1 MHz from the position from which the ship is normally navigated |