scope:

These Marine Recommendations have been drawn up to serve as a guide for the equipment of merchant vessels with electric apparatus for lighting, signaling. communication. power and propulsion. They indicate what is considered good engineering practices with reference to safety of the personnel and of the ship itself as well as reliability and durability of the apparatus; it is not intended however, that improvements. which may be developed from time tv time. should be excluded.

These recommendations are intended to supplement the other standards of the A.I.E.E., which should be followed wherever applicable.

Attention is directed to the fact that regulations for electrical installations on shipboard are promulgated by the Maritime Commission, Department of Commerce. Bureau of Marine Inspection and Navigation. Federal Communications Commission and the American Bureau of Shipping, (these recommendations have given due consideration to all the regulations), but since the above referenced sponsoring bodies are frequently modifying the requirements to meet changing conditions, reference should always be made to the latest edition of their requirements.

Distribution of electric energy may be made either by direct current or alternating current, but in present practise for electric auxiliaries direct current is usually employed. On this account, the main body of these recommendations covering auxiliaries relates to direct-current insta!1ations, but information is also given concerning recommended practise for alternating-current installations.