S.I. No. 318/1939 - Merchant Shipping (Wireless Telegraphy) Rules, 1939.

STATUTORY RULES AND ORDERS. 1939. No. 318.

MERCHANT SHIPPING (WIRELESS TELEGRAPHY) RULES, 1939.

The Minister for Industry and Commerce, in consultation with the Minister for Posts and Telegraphs, in pursuance of the powers conferred on him by the Merchant Shipping (Wireless Telegraphy) Act, 1919 (as adapted by subsequent enactments), and the Merchant Shipping (Safety and Load Line Conventions) Act, 1933 (No. 42 of 1933), hereby makes the following rules:—

PART I. PRELIMINARY AND GENERAL.

1 Short title

1. These Rules may be cited as the Merchant Shipping (Wireless Telegraphy) Rules, 1939.

2 Interpretation

2. The Interpretation Act, 1937 (No. 38 of 1937), applies to these Rules.

3 Application of these Rules.

3. (1) These Rules apply to every ship to which the Merchant Shipping (Wireless Telegraphy) Act, 1919, applies.

(2) In these Rules the word "ship" means a ship to which these Rules apply.

4 Classification of ships

4. For the purposes of these Rules, ships shall be classified in the following manner, that is to say :—

(a) passenger steamers of 3,000 tons gross tonnage or upwards and ships, not being passenger steamers, of over 5,500 tons gross tonnage (in these Rules referred to as ships belonging to class I),

(b) passenger steamers of under 3,000 tons gross tonnage and ships, not being passenger steamers, of not more than 5,500 and not less than 3,000 tons gross tonnage (in these Rules referred to as ships belonging to class II),

(c) ships, not being passenger steamers, of less than 3,000 and not less than 1,600 tons gross tonnage (in these Rules referred to as ships belonging to class III).

5 Saving for other rules

5. Nothing in these Rules shall be deemed to relieve the owner of a ship from compliance with the provisions of any other rules for the time being in force in relation to wireless telegraphy on ships.

6 Revocation

6. The Merchant Shipping (Wireless Telegraphy) Rules, 1920, and the Merchant Shipping (Wireless Telegraphy) Rules Amendment Rules, 1926 (Statutory Rules and Orders, No. 28 of 1926), are hereby revoked.

PART II. THE WIRELESS TELEGRAPH INSTALLATION.

7 Normal range, etc

7. (1) In this Part of these Rules, the expression "normal range" used in relation to a transmitter means the distance in nautical miles that signals on a frequency of 500 kilocycles (wavelength : 600 metres) can be transmitted by means of such transmitter over sea in day-time under normal conditions and circumstances so as to be clearly perceptible by means of a receiver employing a rectifier of the crystal type without amplification devices.

(2) In this Part of these Rules—

(a) references to the reckoning of the normal range of a transmitter shall be construed as meaning the reckoning of such normal range in relation to the power of such transmitter in metre amperes in the case of type B, or fully modulated type A2 transmitters, on the assumption that 100, 80 and 50 nautical miles correspond respectively to 60, 45 and 25 metre amperes and that the number of metre amperes is determined by multiplying the actual height in metres of the aerial, at its highest point above the deepest load water line of the ship in which such transmitter is provided, by the current in amperes measured at the base of the aerial, and

(b) references to the proving by test of the normal range of a transmitter shall be construed as meaning the proving of such normal range by test with a wireless telegraphy station designated by the Minister for Posts and Telegraphs as a standard station for marine wireless telegraphy range tests.

8 Provision of wireless apparatus

8. Every ship shall be provided with efficient wireless transmitting and receiving apparatus (in these Rules referred to as the apparatus) of a type approved by the Minister for Posts and Telegraphs.

9 Conditions with which the apparatus is to comply

9. The apparatus shall comply with the following conditions, that is to say :—

(a) it shall be capable of transmitting—

(i) waves of type A2 on frequencies of 500 kilocycles, 375 kilocycles, and either 425 kilocycles or 480 kilocycles (wavelengths; 600 metres, 800 metres and either 706 metres or 625 metres), or

(ii) waves of type B on frequencies of 500 kilocycles, 375 kilocycles, and 425 kilocycles (wavelengths : 600 metres, 800 metres, and 706 metres),

(b) it shall be capable of receiving on all frequencies either from 1,000 kilocycles to 15 kilocycles (wavelengths : 300 to 20,000 metres) or, where the Minister for Industry and Commerce (with the concurrence of the Minister for Posts and Telegraphs) has, in his discretion, so authorised, from 1,000 kilocycles to 150 kilocycles (wavelengths : 300 to 2,000 metres),

(c) it shall be capable of receiving by means of a rectifier of the crystal type,

(d) it shall be capable of permitting changes of frequency and, when communication is established, changes from transmission to reception and from reception to transmission to be made as rapidly as possible,

(e) the transmitter shall have a note frequency of at least 100,

(f) the normal range of the transmitter shall be such as complies with the following requirements, that is to say :

(i) when such normal range is reckoned, it shall be not less than 100 nautical miles, and

(ii) when such normal range is proved by test, it shall be not less than 150 nautical miles,

(g) it shall be provided with an independent source of electrical energy sufficient to maintain continuous full operation for a period of at least six hours without recourse to the propelling power of the ship or the main electricity system of the ship,

(h) all dangerous parts shall be screened or effectively isolated, and

(i) it shall not, on or after the 1st day of January, 1940, use waves of type B unless the full power measured at the terminals of the alternator is less than 300 watts.

10 Provision of emergency apparatus

10. It shall not be obligatory for the apparatus to comply with the conditions mentioned in paragraph (g) of the next preceding Rule if there is provided a second efficient wireless transmitting apparatus (in these Rules referred to as the emergency apparatus) of a type approved by the Minister and which—

(a) complies with the conditions mentioned in paragraphs (e), (g), (h) and (i) of the next preceding Rule, and

(b) also complies with the following conditions, that is to say :

(i) it shall be capable of transmitting waves of type A2 or B on a frequency of 500 kilocycles (wavelength : 600 metres),

(ii) it shall be capable of being put into operation rapidly,

(iii) in the case of a ship belonging to class I, the normal range of the transmitter shall be such as complies with the following requirements, that is to say :

(I) when such normal range is reckoned, it shall be not less than 80 nautical miles, and

(II) when such normal range is proved by test, it shall be not less than 120 nautical miles,

(iv) in the case of a ship belonging to class II or class III, the normal range of the transmitter shall be such as complies with the following requirements, that is to say :

(I) when such normal range is reckoned, it shall be not less than 50 nautical miles, and

(II) when such normal range is proved by test, it shall be not less than 75 nautical miles,

11 The wireless telegraph room

11. (1) A room (in these Rules referred to as the wireless telegraph room) shall be provided on every ship for the exclusive accommodation of the apparatus and the emergency apparatus (if any).

(2) The wireless telegraph room shall be placed in a position—

(a) as high as is practicable above the deepest load water line of the ship, and

(b) where there will be no interference, by extraneous noise or otherwise, with the proper reception of wireless signals.

(3) The wireless telegraph room shall be provided with—

(a) efficient means of communication with the bridge of the ship by voice-pipe, telephone or some other means,

(b) a reliable clock with a seconds hand,

(c) a reliable emergency light,

(d) sufficient tools to make minor adjustments to the apparatus, and

(e) a reasonable quantity of spare apparatus and spare parts.

12 Position of independent source of electrical energy

12. Any independent source of electrical energy provided in accordance with these Rules in respect of the apparatus or the emergency apparatus shall be placed in a position of the greatest possible safety and as near the wireless telegraph room as is practicable.

13 Maintenance of batteries

13. Where the apparatus or the emergency apparatus contains any batteries, such batteries shall be maintained in a fully charged condition and a statement that this requirement has been fulfilled shall be inserted by the master in the ship's official log book each day.

14 Provision of direction finder

14. (1) Every ship which is a passenger steamer of 5,000 tons gross tonage or upwards shall be provided with an efficient direction finding apparatus (in these Rules referred to as the direction finder).

(2) The direction finder shall be capable of—

(a) receiving clearly perceptible signals on frequencies of 500, 385 to 365 and 320 to 285 kilocycles (wavelengths : 600, 779 to 822 and 938 to 1,053 metres), and

(b) taking bearings of other wireless telegraphy stations from which true bearing and direction may be determined.

(3) Efficient means of communication shall be provided between the direction finder and the bridge of the ship.

15 Electric power to be available

15. On every ship there shall be available, while such ship is at sea, a supply of electric power from the ship's dynamo sufficient for operating the apparatus over the normal range specified in these Rules, for charging any batteries forming part of the apparatus and for operating the direction finder (if any).

PART III. THE WIRELESS TELEGRAPH SERVICE.

16 Meaning of approved auto-alarm

16. In this Part of these Rules, the expression " approved auto-alarm " means an apparatus of a type approved by the Minister for Industry and Commerce and the Minister for Posts and Telegraphs for automatically receiving and registering a wireless telegraphic signal consisting of a series of twelve dashes sent in one minute, the duration of each dash being four seconds and the duration of the space between each consecutive dash being one second.

17 Meaning of qualified operator and qualified watcher

17. (1) In this Part of those Rules, the expression " qualified operator " means a person—

(a) who holds—

(i) in case he is carried on a ship registered in Ireland, a certificate of proficiency in radio telegraphy, of the first or second class granted by the Minister for Posts and Telegraphs or granted by the authority empowered in that behalf by the legislature of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, Canada, the Commonwealth of Australia, New Zealand, the Union of South Africa or Newfoundland and recognised by the Minister for Posts and Telegraphs as equivalent to the like certificate granted by him, or

(ii) in case he is carried on a ship not registered in Ireland, a certificate showing that he is a qualified operator granted or accepted by the competent authority in the country in which such ship is registered and, where such certificate was not granted by the Minister for Posts and Telegraphs, recognised by that Minister as equivalent to the like certificate granted by him.

and

(b) who, if he has been unemployed as a qualified operator for a prolonged period, satisfies the Minister for Posts and Telegraphs by re-examination or otherwise (if so required to do) that he still holds the qualifications described in the certificate which he holds.

(2) In this Part of these Rules, the expression " qualified watcher " means a person—

(a) who holds—

(i) in case he is carried on a ship registered in Ireland, a watcher's certificate granted by the Minister for Posts and Telegraphs or granted by the authorityempowered in that behalf by the legislature of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, Canada, the Commonwealth of Australia, New Zealand, the Union of South Africa or Newfoundland and recognised by the Minister for Posts and Telegraphs as equivalent to the like certificate granted by him, or

(ii) in case he is carried on a ship not registered in Ireland, a watcher's certificate granted or accepted by the competent authority in the country in which such ship is registered and, where such certificate was not granted by the Minister for Posts and Telegraphs, recognised by that Minister as equivalent to the like certificate granted by him,

and

(b) who, if he has been unemployed as a qualified watcher for a prolonged period, satisfies the Minister for Posts and Telegraphs by re-examination or otherwise (if so required to do) that he still holds the qualifications described in the certificate which he holds.

18 Carrying of qualified operators and qualified watchers

18. One qualified operator shall be carried on every ship and, except where the ship is fitted with an approved auto-alarm, there shall also be carried—

(a) in the case of a ship belonging to class I whose hours at sea normally exceed 8 but do not normally exceed 48, one qualified watcher or another qualified operator, and

(b) in the case of a ship belonging to class I whose hours at sea normally exceed 48, two qualified watchers or a qualified watcher and another qualified operator or two other qualified operators.

19 Previous experience necessary in the case of certain qualified operators

19. (1) Where a ship registered in Ireland carries only one qualified operator, he shall have had at least three months previous experience at sea as a qualified operator.

(2) Where a ship registered in Ireland carries more than one qualified operator, the chief qualified operator shall have had at least three months previous experience at sea as a qualified operator.

20 Wireless telegraphy watches

20. Wireless telegraphy watches shall be maintained on board every ship registered in Ireland while such ship is at sea in accordance with the following provisions, that is to say :

(a) if such ship is not fitted with an approved auto-alarm and is either a ship belonging to class II whose hoursat sea do not normally exceed 8 or a ship belonging to class I or if such ship is fitted with an approved auto-alarm, such watches shall be maintained continuously.

(b) if such ship is not fitted with an approved auto-alarm and is a ship belonging to class II whose hours at sea normally exceed 8, such watches shall be maintained for not less than 8 hours a day including the periods mentioned in the fifth column of the First Schedule to these Rules opposite the mention in the second column of the said Schedule of the zone within whose limits (as specified in the third and fourth columns of the said Schedule) such ship for the time being is situated,

(c) if the ship is not fitted with an auto-alarm and is a ship belonging to class III, such watches shall be maintained for not less than 6 hours a day including the periods mentioned in the fifth column of the Second Schedule to these Rules opposite the mention in the second column of the said Schedule of the zone within whose limits (as specified in the third and fourth columns of the said Schedule) such ship for the time being is situated,

(d) subject to the provisions of the next following paragraph, such watches shall be maintained by a qualified operator or a qualified watcher, and

(e) if such ship is fitted with an approved auto-alarm, such watches may be maintained by means of the approved auto-alarm except during the periods mentioned in the fifth column of the Third Schedule to these Rules opposite the mention in the second column of the said Schedule of the zone within whose limits (as specified in the third and fourth columns of the said Schedule) such ship for the time being is situated.

21 Provisions in relation to ships fitted with approved auto-alarms

21. The following provisions shall have effect in relation to every ship fitted with an approved auto-alarm :

(a) there shall be provided in the wireless telegraph room, in the cabin of the qualified operator and on the bridge of the ship a means of giving audible warning of such a kind as to operate continuously after the receiver of the approved auto-alarm has been operated or if a disconnection occurs in the circuits of the filaments of the valves in such receiver,

(b) the said means of giving audible warning shall be capable of being stopped by means of one switch only which shall be situated in the wireless telegraph room,

(c) while the ship is at sea—

(i) sufficient battery power shall be available for the working of the approved auto-alarm,

(ii) the qualified operator shall, when going off watch, connect the receiver of the approved auto-alarm to the aerial, test the efficiency of the approved auto-alarm and report to the master or officer on watch on the bridge whether or not it is in working order,

(iii) the approved auto-alarm shall be tested at least once every 12 hours and a statement that this requirement has been fulfilled shall be entered by the master in the ship's official log book each day,

(iv) in the event of failure of the approved auto-alarm, the qualified operator shall, until it is repaired or until the ship reaches port, maintain wireless watches during the periods mentioned in the fifth column of the First Schedule to these Rules opposite the mention in the second column of the said Schedule of the zone within whose limits (as specified in the third and fourth columns of the said Schedule) the ship for the time being is situated,

(d) where, upon leaving port, the approved auto-alarm is not in working order, the ship shall, for the purposes of the provisions of these Rules relating to carrying of qualified operators and qualified watchers and to wireless watches, be deemed to be not fitted with an approved auto-alarm.

22 Keeping of wireless log

22. (1) A wireless log shall be kept and maintained on board every ship for the purpose of recording the following matters, that is to say :—

(a) the names of every qualified operator and qualified watcher carried on such ship,

(b) the times at which every such qualified operator or qualified watcher goes on and off wireless watch,

(c) all incidents occurring during any wireless watch connected with the wireless telegraph service which may appear to be of importance in regard to safety of life at sea,

(d) a record of all tests of the approved auto-alarm (if any) fitted on such ship,

(e) where practicable, all distress messages and distress traffic in full, and

(f) any other matters usually entered in a wireless log.

(2) Every wireless log shall be kept in the wireless telegraph room of the ship to which it relates and shall be available for inspection by any officer authorised in that behalf by the Minister for Industry and Commerce or the Minister for Posts and Telegraphs.

23 Keeping of records in relation to batteries

23. (1) A daily record in relation to the batteries used for the wireless telegraph service maintained on any ship shall be kept in the form set out in Part I of the Fourth Schedule to these Rules.

(2) A monthly record in relation to the batteries used for the wireless telegraph service maintained on any ship shall be kept in the form set out in Part II of the Fourth Schedule to these Rules.

(3) Records kept under this Article of these Rules shall be available for inspection by any officer authorised in that behalf by the Minister for Industry and Commerce or the Minister for Posts and Telegraphs.

24 Restriction on use of emergency installations

24. In no case shall an emergency installation which transmits waves of type B be used for any purpose other than transmission of a distress signal and distress traffic, if there is on board in working order a transmitting installation using waves of type A1 or type A2.

25 General direction and control

25. The wireless telegraph service maintained on a ship shall be under the general direction and control of the master.

FIRST SCHEDULE.

TIMES OF WATCH FOR SHIPS BELONGING TO CLASS II WHOSE HOURS AT SEA NORMALLY EXCEED 8 AND WHICH ARE NOT FITTED WITH AN APPROVED AUTO-ALARM.

SECOND SCHEDULE.

TIMES OF WATCH FOR SHIPS BELONGING TO CLASS III WHICH ARE NOT FITTED WITH AN APPROVED AUTO-ALARM.

THIRD SCHEDULE.

TIMES OF WATCH FOR OPERATORS IN SHIPS FITTED WITH APPROVED AUTO-ALARMS.

FOURTH SCHEDULE.

SHIP BATTERY LOG.

PART I.

DAILY RECORD.

PART II.

MONTHLY RECORD.

Note.—This Table is not required in the case of Alkaline Electrolyte Cells.

Remarks.

Operator's Signature            Date

GIVEN under the Official Seal of the Minister for Industry and Commerce, this 27th day of December, 1939.

R. C. FERGUSON, Secretary,

Department of Industry and Commerce.