Merchant Shipping Act, 1951 (Act No. 57 of 1951)SchedulesSecond ScheduleProtocol of 1978 Relating to the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea, 1974AnnexChapter II–1 : Construction — Subdivision and Stability, Machinery and Electrical InstallationsPart C — Machinery and Electrical InstallationsRegulation 26 : Emergency source of electrical power in cargo ships |
| (a) | Cargo ships of 5 000 tons gross tonnage and upwards. |
| (i) | In cargo ships of 5 000 tons gross tonnage and upwards there shall be a self-contained emergency source of power, located to the satisfaction of the Administration above the uppermost continuous deck and outside the machinery casings, to sure its functioning in the event of fire or other casualty causing failure to the main electrical installation. |
| (ii) | The power available shall be sufficient to supply all those services which are, in the opinion of the Administration, necessary for the safety of all on board in an emergency, due regard being paid to such services as may have to be operated simultaneously. Special consideration shall be given to— |
| (1) | emergency lighting at every boat station on deck and oversides, in all alleyways, stairways and exits, in the main machinery space and main generating set space, on the navigating bridge and in the chartroom; |
| (2) | the general alarm; and |
| (3) | navigation lights if solely electric, and the daylight signalling lamp if operated by the main source of electrical power. The power shall be adequate for a period of six hours. |
| (iii) | The emergency source of power may be either— |
| (1) | an accumulator (storage) battery capable of carrying the emergency load without recharging or excessive voltage drop; or |
| (2) | a generator driven by a suitable primemover with an independent fuel supply and with starting arrangements to the satisfaction of the Administration. The fuel used shall have a flashpoint of not less than 43°C 110°F).1 |
| (iv) | Arrangements shall be such that the complete emergency installation will function when the ship is inclined 22½ degrees and/or when the trim of the ship is 10 degrees. |
| (v) | Provision shall be made for the periodic testing of the complete emergency installation. |
| (b) | Cargo ships of less than 5 000 tons gross tonnage. |
| (i) | In cargo ships of less than 5 000 tons gross tonnage there shall be a self-contained emergency source of power located to the satisfaction of the Administration, and capable of supplying the illumination at launching stations and stowage positions of survival craft prescribed in subparagraphs (a) (ii), (b) (ii) and (b) (iii) of Regulation 19 of Chapter III, and in addition such other services as the Administration may require, due regard being paid to Regulation 38 of Chapter III. |
| (ii) | The power available shall be adequate for a period of at least three hours. |
| (iii) | These ships shall also be subject to subparagraphs (iii), (iv), a n d (v) of paragraph (a) of this |