The emergency phone, also called a magnetic phone, is a telephone powered by an operator-activated crank handle. Thus, it is perfect for maintaining communications aboard during a power outage, since it is independent of the vessel's power supply.
The system is used for emergency communications between the bridge, steering gear control room, fire control room, emergency generator room and other important locations.
The emergency telephone uses a traditional handset coupled to a hand-cranked generator and a location switch. Listening and speaking alternate, as with a walkie-talkie (push-to-talk).
Since all emergency phones look and work the same, selection depends primarily on the number of stations that can be interconnected.
