MERCHANT SHIPPING (RADIO) RULES, 1975 (LI 1018)

(1) Every ship of Class I and Class II shall be provided with a radio-telegraph installation which shall include the equipment specified in the First Schedule to these Rules. (2) Every ship of Class III and Class IV shall be provided with a radio-telephone installation which shall include the equipment specified in Parts I and II of the Second Schedule to these Rules, or with a radiotelegraph installation which shall include the equipment specified in the First Schedule to these Rules: Provided that the main and reserve radio-telegraph transmitters in such ships may be combined in a single instrument, if that instrument complies with the requirements of Parts I and III of the First Schedule to these Rules. (3) Every ship of Class V (a) shall be provided with a radiotelegraph installation which shall include the equipment specified in the First Schedule to these Rules except that fishing vessels which are restricted to operate on the west coast of Africa and do not proceed more than 50 miles from the nearest land shall not be provided with the equipment specified in Parts III and IV of the said Schedule. (4) Every ship of Class V (b) shall be provided with a radio-telephone installation which shall include the equipment specified in Parts I and II of the Second Schedule to these Rules, or with a radio-telegraph equipment as prescribed for a ship of Class V (a). (5) The Commissioner may, subject to the following conditions, exempt any ship from all or any of the requirements of the foregoing provisions:— (a) where it is shown to his satisfaction that the length of the voyage, the maximum distance of the ship from the shore, the absence of navigational hazards and other conditions affecting safety are such as to render full or, as the case may be, partial application of sub-rules (1), (2), (3) and (4) of this rule, unreasonable or unnecessary; (b) where it is shown to his satisfaction that exemption from any of the requirements of sub-rules (1), (2), (3) and (4) of this rule shall not affect the general efficiency of the distress service for the safety of ships; and (c) where exemption is sought for in respect of ship of Class I or Class II, that such ship is provided with radio-telephone installation required under sub-rule (2) of this rule.

(1) Every equipment prescribed for installation in ships under these Rules other than test measuring instruments provided in accordance with rule 11 or of rule 21 (f) of these Rules shall be free of mechanical defects — (a) while undergoing vibration test, dry heat test and low temperature test as prescribed in the Third Schedule to these Rules; (b) when subjected to damp heat test as prescribed in the Third Schedule to these Rules; and (c) immediately after undergoing such other tests as are prescribed in the Third Schedule to these Rules in respect of that equipment. (2) Any equipment intended for use in the open or in an open boat shall be such that after undergoing the mould growth test as prescribed in the Third Schedule, no mould growth shall be present on it.