In every ship the electrical equipment and installations (including any electrical means of propulsion) shall be such that the ship and all persons on board are protected against electrical hazards.

In every ship a main source of electrical power shall be provided of sufficient capacity to supply all the services referred to in regulation 53(3). The main source of electrical power shall consist of at least two generating sets of such power, that services essential for the propulsion and safety of the ship can be operated when any one of the sets is out of service.

Any transforming equipment supplying an electrical system referred to in this regulation shall be arranged to ensure the same continuity of supply as that required for generating sets by this regulation.

The main busbars shall be sub-divided in every ship which has a total installed electrical power of the main generating sets in excess of 3 megawatts. Each section of the busbars shall be interconnected by removable links or other suitable means such that the main generating sets and any supplies to duplicated services which are directly connected to the busbars are, so far as is practicable, equally divided between the sections. Other arrangements may be permitted if it can be shown that they can provide equivalent system redundancy.

The main source of electrical power shall be capable of illuminating any part of the ship normally accessible to and used by the passengers or the crew.

Emergency electrical lighting provided in accordance with these Regulations shall be arranged so that a fire or other casualty in spaces containing the emergency source of electrical power, the associated transforming equipment, if any, the emergency switchboard and the emergency lighting switchboard will not render inoperative the main electrical lighting system required by paragraph (1).

Lighting fittings shall be arranged to prevent rises in temperature which would be injurious to the fitting or the electric wiring or which would result in a risk of fire.

In every ship, there shall be provided a self-contained emergency source of electrical power which shall be so designed and arranged that it will operate at full rated power when the ship is listed 22.5 degrees and when the trim of the ship is 10 degrees from an even keel or any combination of heel and trim within these limits.

The emergency and transitional sources of electrical power and the associated equipment shall be in accordance with the conditions and specifications set out in Schedule 7 in Merchant Shipping Notice MSN 1698 (M).

All electric cables external to equipment shall be flame retardant and shall be installed so that their flame retarding or equivalent properties are not impaired. Installation of cables which do not comply with the foregoing for particular purposes, such as radio frequency cables, may be permitted if it can be shown that compliance would be impracticable.

Cables shall be installed and supported in such a manner as to avoid chafing and other damage. All metal sheaths and metal armour of cables shall be electrically continuous and shall be earthed except that such earthing may be omitted for particular purposes.

Cables serving emergency services shall not so far as is practicable be routed through galleys, laundries, machinery spaces of Category A and their casings or other high risk areas except insofar as it is necessary to provide emergency services in such areas. Cables connecting fire pumps to the emergency switchboard shall be of a fire resistant type where they pass through high fire risk areas.

Cabling for emergency alarms and public address systems fitted in ro-ro passenger ships on or after 1st July 1998 shall be approved by a Certifying Authority.

Cables serving emergency services shall where practicable be installed in such a manner as to preclude them being rendered unserviceable by the effect of a fire in an adjacent space and subsequent heating of the dividing bulkhead.

The electrical, mechanical, flame retarding and, where applicable, fire resisting properties of the terminations and joints in any conductor shall be at least equivalent to those of the conductor.

All electrical apparatus shall be constructed and installed so that it will not cause injury when handled or touched in the normal manner. In particular when electrical lamps, welding equipment, tools or other apparatus are used in confined or damp spaces or spaces with large exposed conductive surfaces, special provision shall be made so far as is practicable, to ensure that the danger of electric shock is reduced to a minimum. Such spaces shall at least include open decks and machinery spaces.

Every main and emergency switchboard shall be so arranged as to give easy access for operation and sufficient access for maintenance without danger to any person. Every such switchboard shall be suitably guarded and a non-conducting mat or grating shall be provided at the back and front where necessary. No exposed parts which may have a voltage between conductors or to earth exceeding 250 volts direct current or 50 volts RMS ac shall be installed on the face of any switchboard or control panel.

The hull return system shall not be used in any such ship for the power, heat and light distribution systems thereof.

The final sub-circuits of any hull return system of distribution shall be two wire.

The insulation of any distribution system that is not earthed shall be continuously monitored by a system capable of giving audible and visual indication of abnormally low insulation values.

For ships constructed on or after 1st October 1994, [the requirement of] paragraph (4) does not preclude the use of limited and locally earthed systems, provided that any possible resulting current does not flow directly through any dangerous spaces.

Every separate electrical circuit shall be protected against short circuits.

Each separate electrical circuit, other than a circuit which operates the ship’s steering gear shall, unless it is permitted otherwise, be protected against overload. There shall be clearly and permanently indicated on or near each overload protective device the current carrying capacity of the circuit which it protects and the rating or setting of the device.

All lighting and power circuits terminating in a cargo space shall be provided with a multiple pole switch outside the space for disconnecting all such circuits.

Accumulator batteries shall be housed in boxes or compartments which are constructed to protect the batteries from damage and are so ventilated as to minimise the accumulation of explosive gas. Subject to regulation 60(1), electrical or other equipment which may constitute a source of ignition of flammable vapours shall not be installed in any compartment assigned to accumulator batteries. Accumulator batteries shall not be installed in sleeping accommodation spaces.

Every electrical space-heater forming part of the equipment of a ship shall be fixed in position and shall be so constructed as to reduce the risk of fire to a minimum. No such heater shall be constructed with an element so exposed that clothing, curtains or other material can be scorched or set on fire by heat from the element.

The insulation of any distribution system that is not earthed shall be continuously monitored by a system capable of giving audible and visual indication of abnormally low insulation values.

In special category spaces the electrical equipment shall be certified for use in explosive petrol and air mixtures and the cables shall be appropriate for use in such mixtures; except that in such spaces above the bulkhead deck, electrical equipment that is enclosed and protected to prevent discharge of sparks may be used if installed more than 450 millimetres above any deck on which vapours may accumulate.

In cargo spaces, other than special category spaces, intended for the carriage of motor vehicles with fuel in their tanks for their propulsion the electrical equipment shall be certified for use in explosive petrol and air mixtures and the cables shall be appropriate for use in such mixtures.

In any ventilation trunk connected to any enclosed space for the carriage of motor vehicles with fuel in their tanks for their propulsion, including a special category space, electrical equipment shall be certified for use in explosive petrol and air mixtures and the cables shall be appropriate for use in such mixtures.