This subpart applies to each vessel of 1600 gross tons and over that has power driven main or auxiliary steering gear.

(a) Each vessel must have a steering failure alarm system that actuates an audible and visible alarm in the pilothouse when the actual position of the rudder differs by more than 5 degrees from the rudder position ordered by the followup control systems, required by part 58, subpart 58.25, of this chapter, for more than:

(1) 30 seconds for ordered rudder position changes of 70 degrees;

(2) 6.5 seconds for ordered rudder position changes of 5 degrees; and

(3) The time period calculated by the following formula for ordered rudder positions changes between 5 degrees and 70 degrees:

(b) The alarm system must be separate from, and independent of, each steering gear control system, except for input received from the steering wheel shaft.

Each steering failure alarm system must be supplied by a circuit that:

(a) Is independent of other steering gear system and steering alarm circuits;

(b) Is fed from the final emergency power source through the emergency distribution panel in the wheelhouse, if installed; and

(c) Has no overcurrent protection except short-circuit protection by an instantaneous fuse or circuit breaker rated or set at 400 to 500 percent of:

(1) The current-carrying capacity of the smallest alarm system interconnecting conductors; or

(2) The normal load of the system.