🔍 Key Concepts

• SOLAS requirements for survival craft portable VHF radiotelephone batteries • Difference between portable VHF survival craft radios and ship’s main VHF (GMDSS) sets • Typical minimum operating time standards for other survival craft electronics (EPIRBs, SARTs, etc.)

💭 Think About

• Think about how long survivors in a liferaft are expected to be able to call and listen on a survival craft VHF while awaiting rescue. • Compare the required endurance of a survival craft VHF battery with the (much longer) endurance typically required for EPIRBs and SARTs—should it be shorter, similar, or much longer? • Consider which option best matches an international minimum standard rather than what might just seem convenient or economical.

✅ Before You Answer

• Verify the specific SOLAS chapter and GMDSS performance standard that covers survival craft VHF radiotelephones (not the fixed ship’s set). • Check that the endurance applies to operation at a duty cycle including both transmit and receive, not just standby. • Confirm that the time requirement is stated as a minimum operating time in hours for the survival craft transceiver battery.