Merchant Shipping Act, 1951 (Act No. 57 of 1951)RegulationsMerchant Shipping (Radio Installations) Regulations, 2002Part 2 : GMDSS Requirements8. Installation, location and control of radio equipment |
| (1) | Every radio installation required by this Part must— |
| (a) | be so located that no harmful interference of mechanical, electrical or other origin affects its proper use, and so as to ensure electromagnetic compatibility and avoidance of harmful interaction with other equipment and systems; |
| (b) | be so located as to ensure the greatest possible degree of safety and operational availability; |
| (c) | be protected against harmful effects of water, extremes of temperature and other adverse environmental conditions; |
| (d) | be provided with reliable, permanently arranged electrical lighting, independent of both the main and emergency sources of electrical power, for the adequate illumination of the radio controls for operating radio installation; and |
| (e) | be clearly marked with the call sign, the ship station identity and such other codes as are applicable for the use of the radio installation. |
| (2) | Control of the VHF radiotelephone channels required for navigational safety must be immediately available on the navigation bridge convenient to the conning position and, where necessary, facilities such as portable two-way VHF radio equipment must be available to permit radio communications from the wings of the navigation bridge. |
| (3) | Each radio transmitter and receiver fitted in accordance with this Part must be provided with a suitable antenna or antennas, so constructed and sited to enable each transmitter and receiver to perform effectively its intended communication function. |
(4)
| (a) | Where a radio installation is provided with a wire transmitting antenna— |
| (i) | the antenna must be provided with suitable insulators; |
| (ii) | if the antenna is suspended between supports liable to whipping, it must be protected against breakage; and |
| (iii) | a spare wire antenna, completely assembled for rapid replacement, must be provided. |
| (b) | Where MF or MF/HF radio installations are provided with a transmitting antenna that is not a supported wire antenna, a spare antenna of similar electrical characteristics must be provided. |
| (5) | Where in respect of any ship to which this Part applies it is impracticable to erect efficient and properly installed antennas for broadcast receivers that do not interfere with the efficiency of the ship's radio installation, the ship must be provided with a communal antenna system for broadcast receivers. |