Merchant Shipping Act, 1951 (Act No. 57 of 1951)RegulationsMerchant Shipping (Radio Installations) Regulations, 2002Part 2 : GMDSS Requirements9. Installation of distress panel |
| (1) | In every passenger ship to which this Part applies a distress panel must be installed at the conning position. |
| (2) | The distress panel must— |
| (a) | contain either— |
| (i) | one single button that, when pressed, initiates a distress alert using all radio communication installations required on board for that purpose; or |
| (ii) | one button for each individual installation; |
| (b) | clearly and visually indicate whenever any button on the distress panel has been pressed; and |
| (c) | provide visual and aural indication of any distress alert or alerts received on board and indicate through which radio communication service the distress alert or alerts have been received. |
| (3) | Means must be provided to prevent inadvertent activation of the button or buttons on the distress panel. |
| (4) | If the satellite EPIRB required by regulation 10(1)(f) is used as the secondary means of initiating a distress alert and is not capable of remote activation, an additional satellite EPIRB must be installed in the wheelhouse near the conning position. |
| (5) | Information about the ship's position must continuously and automatically be provided to all relevant radio equipment to be included in the initial distress alert when the button or buttons on the distress panel is pressed. |