Ships, while at sea, must be capable:

(a) Except as provided in §§ 80.1087(a)(1) and 80.1091(a)(4)(iii), of transmitting ship-to-shore distress alerts by at least two separate and independent means, each using a different radiocommunication service;

(b) Of receiving shore-to-ship distress alerts;

(c) Of transmitting and receiving ship-to-ship distress alerts;

(d) Of transmitting and receiving search and rescue co-ordinating communications;

(e) Of transmitting and receiving on-scene communications;

(f) Of transmitting and receiving signals for locating;

(g) Of transmitting and receiving maritime safety information;

(h) Of transmitting and receiving general radiocommunications to and from shore-based radio sytsems or networks; and

(i) Of transmitting and receiving bridge-to-bridge communications.

(a) Ships must be provided with radio installations capable of complying with the functional requirements prescribed by § 80.1081 throughout its intended voyage and, unless exempted under § 80.1071, complying with the requirements of § 80.1085 and, as appropriate for the sea area of areas through which it will pass during its intended voyage, the requirements of either § 80.1087, § 80.1089, § 80.1091, or § 80.1093.

(b) The radio installation must:

(1) Be so located that no harmful interference of mechanical, electrical or other origin affects its proper use, and so as to ensure electromagnetic compatibility and avoidance of harmful interaction with other equipment and systems;

(2) Be so located as to ensure the greatest possible degree of safety and operational availability;

(3) Be protected against harmful effects of water, extremes of temperature and other adverse environmental conditions;

(4) Be provided with reliable, permanently arranged electrical lighting, independent of the main and emergency sources of electrical power, for the adequate illumination of the radio controls for operating the radio installation; and

(5) Be clearly marked with the call sign, the ship station identity and other codes as applicable for the use of the radio installation.

(c) Control of the VHF radiotelephone channels required for navigational safety must be immediately available on the navigating bridge convenient to the conning position and, where necessary, facilities should be available to permit radiocommunications from the wings of the navigating bridge. Portable VHF equipment may be used to meet the latter provision.

(d) Shipborne Integrated Radiocommunication System (IRCS) may be utilized to integrate all GMDSS equipment into a standard operator's console. Such installation must be certified in accordance with § 80.1103 and meet the requirements of IMO Resolution A.811(19) (incorporated by reference, see § 80.7).

(e) In passenger ships, a distress panel shall be installed at the conning position. This panel shall contain either one single button which, when pressed, initiates a distress alert using all radiocommunications installations required on board for that purpose or one button for each individual installation. The panel shall clearly and visually indicate whenever any button or buttons have been pressed. Means shall be provided to prevent inadvertent activation of the button or buttons. If the satellite EPIRB is used as the secondary means of distress alerting and is not remotely activated, it shall be acceptable to have an additional EPIRB installed in the wheelhouse near the conning position.

(f) In passenger ships, information on the ship's position shall be continuously and automatically provided to all relevant radiocommunications equipment to be included in the initial distress alert when the button or buttons on the distress panel is pressed.

(g) In passenger ships, a distress alarm panel shall be installed at the conning position. The distress alarm panel shall provide visual and aural indication of any distress alert or alerts received on board and shall also indicate through which radiocommunication service the distress alerts have been received.

This section contains the general equipment requirements for all ships subject to this subpart.

(a) Ships must be provided with:

(1) A VHF radio installation capable of transmitting and receiving:

(i) DSC on the frequency 156.525 MHz (channel 70), and it must be able to initiate the transmission of distress alerts on channel 70 from the position from which the ship is normally navigated; and

(ii) Radiotelephony on the frequencies 156.300 MHz (channel 6), 156.650 MHz (channel 13), and 156.800 MHz (channel 16);

(2) A dedicated, non-scanning radio installation capable of maintaining a continuous DSC watch on VHF channel 70 which may be separate from, or combined with, that required by paragraph (a)(1)(i) of this section;

(3) A radar transponder capable of operating in the 9 GHz band or an AIS-SART, which must be stowed so that it is easily utilized (this device may be one of those required by § 80.1095(b) for a survival craft);

(4) A receiver capable of receiving international NAVTEX service broadcasts;

(5) If the ship is engaged on voyages in any area of INMARSAT coverage in which an international NAVTEX service is not provided, a radio facility for reception of maritime safety information by the INMARSAT enhanced group calling system, i.e., SafetyNet, (this requirement does not apply to ships engaged exclusively on voyages in areas where an HF direct-printing telegraphy maritime safety information service, as identified by the IMO GMDSS Master Plan Publication, is provided and the ship is fitted with equipment capable of receiving such service); and

(6) A satellite emergency position-indicating radio beacon (satellite EPIRB) which must be:

(i) Capable of transmitting a distress alert through the polar orbiting satellite service operating in the 406.0-406.1 MHz band (406.0-406.1 MHz EPIRB); and

(ii) Installed in an easily accessible position, ready to be manually released and capable of being carried by one person into a survival craft, capable of floating free if the ship sinks and of being automatically activated when afloat, and capable of being activated manually.

(iii) Examined and tested annually in accordance with the IMO standard, IMO Circular MSC/Circ.1040 (incorporated by reference, see § 80.7). See § 80.1105(k).

(b) Ships must carry either the most recent edition of the IMO publication entitled GMDSS Master Plan of Shore-Based Facilities, the U.S. NGA Publication 117, or the Admiralty List of Radio Signals Volume 5 Global Maritime Distress and Safety System. Notice of new editions will be published on the Commission's Wireless Telecommunications Bureau Web page under “Marine Services” and information will be provided about obtaining the new document.

(c) All GMDSS equipment capable of transmitting an automatic distress alert which includes position of the ship must have either an integral navigation receiver or capability of being connected to an external navigation receiver. If an external navigation receiver is installed, it shall be connected to all of the alerting devices referred to in paragraph (a) of this section. If there is no navigation receiver, the position must be entered manually for each alerting device at least once every 4 hours (at the change of the navigation watch).

(d) Every passenger ship shall be provided with means for two-way on-scene radiocommunications for search and rescue purposes using the aeronautical frequencies 121.5 and 123.1 MHz from the position from which the ship is normally navigated.

This section contains the additional equipment requirements for ships that remain within sea area A1 at all times.

(a) In addition to meeting the requirements of § 80.1085, ships engaged on voyages exclusively in sea area A1 must be provided with a radio installation capable of initiating the transmission of ship-to-shore distress alerts from the position from which the ship is normally navigated, operating either:

(1) On VHF using DSC; or

(2) Through the polar orbiting satellite service on 406.0-406.1 MHz (this requirement may be fulfilled by the EPIRB required by § 80.1085(a)(6), either by installing the EPIRB close to, or by allowing remote activation from, the position from which the ship is normally navigated); or

(3) On MF using DSC if the ship is engaged on voyages within coverage of MF coast stations equipped with DSC; or

(4) On HF using DSC; or

(5) Through the INMARSAT geostationary satellite service if within INMARSAT coverage. This requirement may be fulfilled by an INMARSAT ship earth station capable of two way communication.

(b) The VHF radio installation, required by § 80.1085(a)(1), must also be capable of transmitting and receiving general radiocommunications using radiotelephony.

This section contains the additional equipment requirements for ships that remain within sea areas A1 or A2 at all times. Ships fitting in accordance with this section satisfy the sea area A1 requirements denoted in § 80.1087.

(a) In addition to meeting the requirements of § 80.1085, ships engaged on voyages beyond sea area A1, but remaining within sea area A2, must be provided with:

(1) An MF radio installation capable of transmitting and receiving, for distress and safety purposes, on the frequencies:

(i) 2187.5 kHz using DSC; and

(ii) 2182 kHz using radiotelephony;

(2) A radio installation capable of maintaining a continuous DSC watch on the frequency 2187.5 kHz which may be separate from or combined with, that required by paragraph (a)(1)(i) of this section; and

(3) Means of initiating the transmission of ship-to-shore distress alerts by a radio service other than MF operating either:

(i) Through the polar orbiting satellite service on 406.0-406.1 MHz (this requirement may be fulfilled by the EPIRB required by § 80.1085(a)(6), either by installing the EPIRB close to, or by allowing remote activation from, the position from which the ship is normally navigated); or

(ii) On HF using DSC; or

(iii) Through the INMARSAT geostationary satellite service if within INMARSAT coverage; this requirement may be fulfilled by an INMARSAT ship earth station.

(b) It must be possible to initiate transmission of distress alerts by the radio installations specified in paragraphs (a)(1) and (a)(3) of this section from the position from which the ship is normally navigated.

(c) Ships subject to this section must be capable of transmitting and receiving general radiocommunications using radiotelephony or direct-printing telegraphy by either:

(1) A radio installation operating on working frequencies in the bands between 1605-4000 kHz or between 4000-27500 kHz (this requirement may be fulfilled by the addition of this capability to the equipment required by paragraph (a)(1) of this section); or

(2) An INMARSAT ship earth station.

This section contains the additional equipment requirements for ships that remain within sea areas A1, A2, or A3 at all times. Ships fitting in accordance with this section satisfy the requirements denoted in § 80.1087 or § 80.1089 for sea-areas A1 and A2. Ships fitting in accordance to this section have the option to comply with either the requirements of paragraph (a) or (b) of this section.

(a) In addition to meeting the requirements of § 80.1085, ships subject to this section must be provided with:

(1) An INMARSAT ship earth station capable of:

(i) Transmitting and receiving distress and safety data communications;

(ii) Initiating and receiving distress priority calls;

(iii) Maintaining watch for shore-to-ship distress alert, including those directed to specifically defined geographical areas;

(iv) Transmitting and receiving general radiocommunications, using either radiotelephony or direct-printing telegraphy; and

(2) An MF radio installation capable of transmitting and receiving, for distress and safety purposes, on the frequencies:

(i) 2187.5 kHz using DSC; and

(ii) 2182 kHz using radiotelephony; and

(3) A radio installation capable of maintaining a continuous DSC watch on the frequency 2187.5 kHz which may be separate from or combined with that required by paragraph (a)(2)(i) of this section; and

(4) Means of initiating the transmission of ship-to-shore distress alerts by a radio service operating either:

(i) Through the polar orbiting satellite service on 406.0-406.1 MHz (this requirement may be fulfilled by the EPIRB required by § 80.1085(a)(6), either by installing the EPIRB close to, or by allowing remote activation from, the position from which the ship is normally navigated); or

(ii) On HF using DSC: or

(iii) Through the INMARSAT geostationary satellite service, by an additional ship earth station.

(b) In addition to meeting the requirements of § 80.1085, ships subject to this section must be provided with:

(1) An MF/HF radio installation capable of transmitting and receiving on all distress and safety frequencies in the bands between 1605-27500 kHz using DSC, radiotelephony, and narrow-band direct-printing telegraphy; and

(2) Equipment capable of maintaining DSC watch on 2187.5 kHz, 8414.5 kHz and on at least one of the distress and safety DSC frequencies 4207.5 kHz, 6312 kHz, 12577 kHz, or 16804.5 kHz although it must be possible to select any of these DSC distress and safety frequencies at any time (this equipment may be separate from, or combined with, the equipment required by paragraph (b)(1) of this section); and

(3) Means of initiating the transmission of ship-to-shore distress alerts by a radiocommunication service other than HF operating either:

(i) Through the polar orbiting satellite service on 406.0-406.1 MHz (this requirement may be fulfilled by the 406.0-406.1 MHz EPIRB required by § 80.1085(a)(6), either by installing the 406.0-406.1 MHz EPIRB close to, or by allowing remote activation from, the position from which the ship is normally navigated); or

(ii) Through the INMARSAT geostationary satellite service (this requirement may be fulfilled by an INMARSAT ship earth station).

(4) In addition, ships must be capable of transmitting and receiving general radiocommunications using radiotelephony or direct-printing telegraphy by an MF/HF radio installation operating on working frequencies in the bands between 1605-4000 kHz and between 4000-27500 kHz (this requirement may be fulfilled by the addition of this capability to the equipment required by paragraph (b)(1) of this section).

(c) It must be possible to initiate transmission of distress alerts by the radio installations specified in paragraphs (a)(1), (a)(2), (a)(4), (b)(1), and (b)(3) of this section from the position from which the ship is normally navigated.

This section contains the additional equipment requirements for ships that sail in all sea areas, i.e., sea areas A1, A2, A3, and A4. Ships fitting in accordance with this section satisfy the requirements denoted in §§ 80.1087, 80.1089, and 80.1091 for sea areas A1, A2, and A3.

(a) In addition to meeting the requirements of § 80.1085 of this part, ships engaged on voyages in all sea areas must be provided with the radio installations and equipment required by § 80.1091(b), except that the equipment required by § 80.1091(b)(3)(ii) and § 80.1091(b)(3)(iii) cannot be accepted as an alternative to that required by § 80.1091(b)(3)(i), which must always be provided.

(b) Ships engaged on voyages in all sea areas also must comply with the requirements of § 80.1091(c).

(a) At least three two-way VHF radiotelephone apparatus must be provided on every passenger ship and on every cargo ship of 500 tons gross tonnage and upwards. At least two two-way VHF radiotelephone apparatus must be provided on every cargo ship of between 300-500 tons gross tonnage. Portable two-way VHF radiotelephones must be stowed in such locations that they can be rapidly placed in any survival craft other than life rafts required by Regulation III/26.1.4 of the SOLAS Convention. (The SOLAS Convention can be purchased from International Maritime Organization (IMO), Publications, International Maritime Organization, 4 Albert Embankment, London SE1 7SR, United Kingdom; telephone 011 44 71 735 7611, www.imo.org.) Alternatively, survival craft may be fitted with a fixed two-way VHF radiotelephone installation. Two-way VHF radiotelephone apparatus, portable or fixed, must conform to performance standards as specified in § 80.1101.

(b) At least one radar transponder or AIS-SART (collectively, “search and rescue locating devices”) must be carried on each side of every passenger ship and every cargo ship of 500 tons gross tonnage and upwards. At least one search and rescue locating device must be carried on every cargo ship of 300 tons gross tonnage and upwards but less than 500 tons gross tonnage. Such search and rescue locating devices must conform to performance standards as specified in § 80.233 for AIS-SARTs or § 80.1101 for radar transponders. The search and rescue locating devices must be stowed in such locations that they can be rapidly placed in any survival craft other than liferafts required on cargo ships in forward and aft areas (see Regulation III/26.1.4 of the SOLAS Convention). Alternatively, one search and rescue locating device must be stowed in each survival craft other than those required by Regulation III/26.1.4 of the SOLAS Convention. One of these search and rescue locating devices may be the search and rescue locating device required by § 80.1085(a)(3).

(c) Survival craft equipment must be tested at intervals not to exceed twelve months. For batteries used for survival craft equipment, the month and year of its manufacture must be permanently marked on the battery. Also, the month and year upon which 50 percent of its useful life will expire must be permanently marked on both the battery and the outside of the transmitter. Batteries must be replaced if 50 percent of their useful life has expired or if the transmitter has been used in an emergency situation.

(a) There must be available at all times, while the ship is at sea, a supply of electrical energy sufficient to operate the radio installations and to charge any batteries used as part of a reserve source of energy for the radio installations.

(b) A reserve source of energy to supply radio installations must be provided on every ship for the purpose of conducting distress and safety radiocommunications, in the event of failure of the ship's main and emergency sources of electrical power. The reserve sources of energy must be capable of simultaneously operating the VHF radio installation required by § 80.1085(a)(1) and, as appropriate for the sea area or sea areas for which the ship is equipped, either the MF radio installation required by § 80.1089(a)(1), the MF/HF radio installation required by § 80.1091(a)(2)(i) or § 80.1093(a), or the INMARSAT ship earth station required by § 80.1091(a)(1) and any of the additional loads mentioned in paragraphs (d), (e) and (h) of this section for a period of at least:

(1) One hour, on ships constructed on or after February 1, 1995;

(2) One hour, on ships constructed before February 1, 1995, if the emergency source of electrical power complies fully with all relevant requirements of SOLAS, Chapter II-1, Regulation 42 or 43 (as amended); or

(3) Six hours, on ships constructed before February 1, 1995, and on cargo ships of less than 500 tons gross tonnage, if the emergency source of electrical power is not provided or does not comply fully with all relevant requirements of SOLAS, Chapter II-1, Regulation 42 or 43 (as amended).

(c) The reserve sources of energy need not supply independent HF and MF radio installations at the same time. The reserve sources of energy must be independent of the propelling power of the ship and the ship's electrical system.

(d) Where, in addition to the VHF radio installation, two or more of the other radio installations, referred to in paragraph (b) of this section, can be connected to the reserve sources of energy, they must be capable of simultaneously supplying, for one hour, as specified in paragraph (b) of this section, the VHF radio installation and;

(1) All other radio installations which can be connected to the reserve sources of energy at the same time; or

(2) Whichever of the other radio installations will consume the most power, if only one of the other radio installations can be connected to the reserve sources of energy at the same time as the VHF radio installation.

(e) The reserve sources of energy may be used to supply the electrical lighting required by § 80.1083(b)(4).

(f) Where a reserve source of energy consists of a rechargeable accumulator battery or batteries:

(1) A means of automatically charging such batteries must be provided which must be capable of recharging them to minimum capacity requirements within 10 hours; and

(2) Battery charge levels should be checked at intervals of 30 days or less with equipment turned ON and the battery charger turned OFF. Portable equipment with primary batteries such as EPIRBs and SARTs should be checked at the same intervals using methods recommended by the manufacturer. The results of battery checks should be recorded in the radio log.

(g) The accumulator batteries which provide a reserve source of energy must be installed to ensure: The highest degree of service, a reasonable lifetime, reasonable safety; that the battery temperatures remain within the manufacturer's specifications whether under charge or idle; and that when fully charged, the batteries will provide at least the minimum required hours of operation under all weather conditions.

(h) If an uninterrupted input of information from the ship's navigational or other equipment to a radio installation required by this subpart (including the navigational receiver referred to in SOLAS Chapter IV, Regulation 18) is needed to ensure its proper performance, means must be provided to ensure the continuous supply of such information in the event of failure of the ship's main or emergency source of electrical power.

(i) An uninterruptible power supply or other means of ensuring a continuous supply of electrical power, within equipment tolerances, shall be provided to all GMDSS equipment that could be affected by normal variations and interruptions of ship's power.

(a) The abbreviations used in this section are as follows:

(1) International Maritime Organization (IMO).

(2) International Telecommunication Union—Telecommunication Standardization Bureau (ITU-T) (Standards formerly designated as CCITT are now designated as ITU-T.)

(3) International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC).

(4) International Organization for Standardization (ISO).

(5) International Telecommunication Union—Radiocommunication Bureau (ITU-R) (Standards formerly designated as CCIR are now designated as ITU-R.)

(b) All equipment specified in this subpart must meet the general requirements for shipboard equipment in conformity with performance specifications listed in this paragraph, which are incorporated by reference. (See § 80.7).

(1) IMO Resolution A.694(17), as revised by IMO Resolution MSC.149(77)

(2) ITU-T E.161.

(3) ITU-T E.164.1.

(4) IEC 60092-101.

(5) IEC 60533.

(6) IEC 60945.

(7) ISO Standard 3791.

(c) The equipment specified in this subpart must also conform to the appropriate performance standards listed in paragraphs (c)(1) through (12) of this section, which are incorporated by reference (see § 80.7), and must be tested in accordance with the applicable IEC testing standards listed in paragraph (c)(13) of this section, which are also incorporated by reference. (See § 80.7).

(1) NAVTEX receivers:

(i) IMO Resolution A.525(13), as revised by IMO Maritime Safety Committee (MSC) Resolution MSC.148(77).

(ii) ITU-R M.540-2.

(2) VHF radio equipment:

(i) IMO Resolution A.803(19), as amended by IMO Resolution MSC.68(68).

(ii) ITU-R M.493-13.

(iii) ITU-R M.541-9.

(3) MF radio equipment:

(i) IMO Resolution A.804(19), as amended by IMO Resolution MSC.68(68).

(ii) ITU-R M.493-13.

(iii) ITU-R M.541-9.

(4) MF/HF radio equipment:

(i) IMO Resolution A.806(19), as amended by IMO Resolution MSC.68(68).

(ii) ITU-R M.493-13.

(iii) ITU-R M.541-9.

(iv) IMO Resolution A.700(17).

(5) 406.0-406.1 MHz EPIRBs:

(i) IMO Resolution A.810(19), as amended by IMO Resolution MSC.56(66) and IMO Resolution MSC.120(74).

(ii) IMO Resolution A.662(16).

(iii) ITU-R M.633-3.

(iv) The 406.0-406.1 MHz EPIRBs must also comply with § 80.1061.

(6) 9 GHz radar transponders:

(i) IMO Resolution A.802(19), as amended by IMO Resolution MSC.247(83).

(ii) ITU-R M.628-4.

(7) Two-Way VHF radiotelephone:

(i) IMO Resolution A.809(19), as revised by IMO Resolution MSC.149(77).

(ii) IMO Resolution MSC.80(70).

(8) INMARSAT Ship Earth Station Capable of Two-Way Communications: IMO Resolution A.808(19).

(9) INMARSAT-C SES: IMO Resolution A.807(19), as amended by IMO Resolution MSC.68(68).

(10) INMARSAT EGC: IMO Resolution A.664(16).

(11) Shipboard radar:

(i) IEC 60945.

(ii) IEC 62388 Edition 1.0 (2007-12).

(iii) IMO Resolution A.694(17).

(iv) IMO Resolution MSC.191(79).

(v) IMO Resolution MSC.192(79).

(vi) ITU-R M.1177-3.

(12) Automatic Identification Systems (AIS):

(i) ITU-R M.1371-3.

(ii) IMO Resolution MSC.74(69).

(iii) IEC 61162-1.

(iv) IEC 61993-2 .

(13) Standards for testing GMDSS equipment:

(i) IEC 61097-1.

(ii) IEC 61097-3.

(iii) IEC 61097-4.

(iv) IEC 61097-6.

(v) IEC 61097-7.

(vi) IEC 61097-8.

(vii) IEC 61097-9.

(viii) IEC 61097-10.

(ix) IEC 61097-12.

(x) IEC 61097-13.

(a) All equipment specified in § 80.1101 must be certified in accordance with subpart J of part 2 of this chapter specifically for GMDSS use, except for equipment used in the INMARSAT space segment which must be type-approved by INMARSAT and are subject to Supplier's Declaration of Conformity pursuant to the procedures in subpart J of part 2 of this chapter specifically for GMDSS use. The technical parameters of the equipment must conform to the performance standards as specified in § 80.1101. For emergency position-indicating radiobeacons operating on 406.0-406.1 MHz (406.0-406.1 MHz EPIRBs) that were authorized prior to April 15, 1992, and meet the requirements of § 80.1101, the manufacturer may attest by letter that the equipment (indicate FCC ID#) meets the requirements of § 80.1101 and request that it be denoted as approved for GMDSS use.

(b) Applicants for certification must submit with their applications measurement data sufficiently complete to ensure compliance with the technical parameters. The application must include the items listed in 47 CFR 2.1033. Additional measurement data or information may be requested depending upon the equipment. For items not listed in § 2.1033 of this chapter, the applicant must attest that the equipment complies with performance standards as specified in § 80.1101 and, where applicable, that measurements have been made that demonstrate the necessary compliance. Submission of representative data demonstrating compliance is not required unless requested by the Commission.

(c) Applicants using Supplier's Declaration of Conformity must attest that the equipment complies with performance standards as specified in § 80.1101 and, where applicable, that measurements have been made that demonstrate the necessary compliance. Submission of representative data demonstrating compliance is not required unless requested by the Commission. An application must include the items listed in §§ 2.931 and 2.938 of this chapter and a copy of the type-approval certification indicating that equipment meets GMDSS standards and includes all peripheral equipment associated with the specific unit under review.

(d) Submission of a sample unit is not required unless specifically requested by the Commission.

(e) In addition to the requirements in part 2 of this chapter, equipment specified in § 80.1101 shall be labeled as follows: “This device complies with the GMDSS provisions of part 80 of the FCC rules.” Such a label is not required for emergency position-indicating radiobeacons operating on 406.0-406.1 MHz (406.0-406.1 MHz EPIRBs) that were authorized prior to April 15, 1992.

(a) Equipment must be so designed that the main units can be replaced readily, without elaborate recalibration or readjustment. Where applicable, equipment must be constructed and installed so that it is readily accessible for inspection and on-board maintenance purposes. Adequate information must be provided to enable the equipment to be properly operated and maintained (see IMO Resolution A.569(14)).

(b) Radio equipment required by this subpart must be maintained to provide the availability of the functional requirements specified in § 80.1081 and to meet the performance standards specified in § 80.1101.

(c) On ships engaged on voyages in sea areas A1 and A2, the availability must be ensured by duplication of equipment, shore-based maintenance, or at-sea electronic maintenance capability, or a combination of these.

(d) On ships engaged on voyages in sea areas A3 and A4, the availability must be ensured by using a combination of at least two of the following methods: duplication of equipment, shore-based maintenance, or at-sea electronic maintenance capability.

(e) Irrespective of the maintenance methods used, a ship must not depart from any port unless and until the ship is capable of performing all distress and safety functions as specified in § 80.1081.

(f) Irrespective of the maintenance methods used, all manufacturers' instruction manuals and maintenance manuals for each piece of equipment required and installed must be available on-board ship. Adequate tools, spare parts, and test equipment appropriate to the methods used by the ship as recommended by the manufacturer should be provided. The manuals, tools, spare parts, and test equipment, as applicable, should be readily accessible.

(g) If the duplication of equipment maintenance method is used, the following radio installations, in addition to other equipment requirements specified in this subpart, must be available on-board ships for their sea areas as applicable. Equipment carried in accordance with this paragraph must comply with §§ 80.1101 and 80.1103. Additionally, each radio installation must be connected to a separate antenna and be installed and be ready for immediate operation.

(1) Ships, equipped in accordance with § 80.1087 for sea area A1, must carry a VHF radio installation complying with the requirements of § 80.1085(a)(1).

(2) Ships, equipped in accordance with § 80.1089 for sea areas A1 and A2, must carry a VHF radio installation complying with the requirements of § 80.1085(a)(1) and an MF radio installation complying with the requirements of § 80.1089(a)(1) and being able to fully comply with watch requirements as specified in § 80.1123(a)(2). The MF radio installation installed for duplication must also comply with the requirements § 80.1089(c).

(3) Ships, equipped in accordance with § 80.1091 for sea areas A1, A2, and A3, must carry a VHF radio installation complying with the requirements of § 80.1085(a)(1) and either an MF/HF radio installation complying with the requirements of § 80.1091(b)(1) and being able to fully comply with watch requirements as specified in § 80.1123(a)(2) or an INMARSAT ship earth station complying with the requirements of § 80.1091(a)(1). The MF/HF radio installation or the INMARSAT ship earth station installed for duplication must also comply with the requirements § 80.1091(c).

(4) Ships, equipped in accordance with § 80.1093 for sea areas A1, A2, A3, and A4, must carry a VHF radio installation complying with the requirement of § 80.1085(a)(1) and an MF/HF radio installation complying with the requirements of § 80.1091(b)(1) and being able to fully comply with watch requirements as specified in § 80.1123(a)(2). The MF/HF radio installation installed for duplication must also comply with the requirements § 80.1091(c).

(h) The radio installations specified in paragraph (g) of this section (referred as “duplicated equipment”), in addition to the appropriate radio equipment specified in § 80.1099 (referred as “basic equipment”), must be connected to the reserve sources of energy required by § 80.1099. The capacity of the reserve sources of energy should be sufficient to operate the particular installation (i.e., the basic equipment or the duplicated equipment) with the highest power consumption, for the appropriate period specified in § 80.1099. However, the arrangement for the reserve sources of energy must be such that a single fault in this arrangement cannot affect both the basic and the duplicated equipment.

(i) If the shore-based maintenance method is used, the following requirements apply.

(1) Maintenance services must be completed and performance verified and noted in the ship's record before departure from the first port of call entered after any failure occurs.

(2) Each GMDSS equipment must be tested and performance verified and the results noted in the ship's record before departure from every port. To accomplish this, each ship shall carry a performance checkoff sheet listing each GMDSS equipment carried on a mandatory basis.

(j) If the at-sea maintenance method is used, the following requirements apply.

(1) Adequate additional technical documentation, tools, test equipment, and spare parts must be carried on-board ship to enable a qualified maintainer as specified in § 80.1074 to perform tests and localize and repair faults in the radio equipment.

(2) Only persons that comply with the requirements of § 80.1074 may perform at-sea maintenance on radio installations required by this subpart.

(k) Satellite EPIRBs shall be tested at intervals not exceeding 12 months for all aspects of operational efficiency with particular emphasis on frequency stability, signal strength and coding. The test may be conducted on board the ship or at an approved testing or servicing station.

Unless the normal use of the required radiotelephone station demonstrates that the equipment is operating, a test communication on a required or working frequency must be made each day the ship is navigated. When this test is performed by a person other than the master and the equipment is found to be defective, the master must be promptly notified.

(a) The regulations contained within this subpart apply to all passenger ships regardless of size and cargo ships of 300 tons gross tonnage and upwards.

(b) The requirements of this subpart do not modify the requirements for ships navigated on the Great Lakes or small passenger boats. The requirements contained in subpart T of this part continue to apply. The requirements contained in part III of title III of the Communications Act continue to apply (see subpart S of this part).

(c) No provision in this subpart is intended to prevent the use by any ship, survival craft, or person in distress, of any means at their disposal to attract attention, make known their position and obtain help.

(a) Ships must have the required equipment inspected at least once every 12 months by an FCC-licensed technician holding a GMDSS Radio Maintainer's License. If the ship passes the inspection the technician will issue a Safety Certificate. Safety Certificates may be obtained from the Commission's National Call Center at 1-888-CALL FCC (1-888-225-5322). The effective date of the ship Safety Certificate is the date the station is found to be in compliance or not later than one business day later. The FCC-licensed technician must use the latest FCC Information Bulletin, How to Conduct a GMDSS Inspection, which may be obtained at http://www.fcc.gov.

(b) Certificates issued in accordance with the Safety Convention must be posted in a prominent and accessible place on the ship.

(a) For the purpose of this subpart, a ship's area of operation is defined as follows:

(1) Sea area A1. An area within the radiotelephone coverage of at least one VHF coast station in which continuous DSC alerting is available as defined by the International Maritime Organization.

(2) Sea area A2. An area, excluding sea area A1, within the radiotelephone coverage of at least one MF coast station in which continuous DSC alerting is available as defined by the International Maritime Organization.

(3) Sea area A3. An area, excluding sea areas A1 and A2, within the coverage of an INMARSAT geostationary satellite in which continuous alerting is available.

(4) Sea area A4. An area outside sea areas A1, A2 and A3.

(b) Maritime sea areas are delineated in the International Maritime Organization Publication GMDSS Master Plan of Shore-Based Facilities. The Master Plan can be purchased from the International Maritime Organization, 4 Albert Embankment, London SE1 7SR, United Kingdom.

(a) In certain circumstances, partial or conditional exemptions may be granted to individual ships from the requirements of §§ 80.1085, 80.1087, 80.1089, 80.1091, and 80.1093 provided: such ships comply with the functional requirements of § 80.1081 and a showing is made that such an exemption will not have a material effect upon the general efficiency of the service for the safety of all ships.

(b) An exemption may be granted under paragraph (a) of this section only:

(1) If the conditions affecting safety are such as to render the full application of §§ 80.1085, 80.1087, 80.1089, 80.1091, and 80.1093 unreasonable or unnecessary or otherwise not in the public interest;

(2) In exceptional circumstances, for a single voyage outside the sea area or sea areas for which the ship is equipped.

(c) All fishing vessels of 300 gross tons and upward are exempt from subpart W requirements applicable for carriage of VHF-DSC and MF-DSC equipment until one year after the USCG establishes GMDSS coast facilities for Sea Areas A1 and A2, if the following provisions are met:

(1) The ship is equipped with:

(i) A VHF radiotelephone installation.

(ii) A MF or HF radiotelephone installation.

(iii) A Category 1, 406.0-406.1 MHz EPIRB meeting the requirements of § 80.1061;

(iv) A NAVTEX receiver meeting the requirements of § 80.1101(c)(1);

(v) Survival craft equipment meeting the requirements of § 80.1095;

(vi) A Search and Rescue Transponder meeting the requirements of § 80.1101(c)(6); and

(2) The ship remains within coverage of a VHF coast station and maintains a continuous watch on VHF Channel 16; or

(3) The vessel remains within coverage of an MF coast station and maintains a continuous watch on 2182 kHz and VHF Channel 16.

(a) Ships must carry at least two persons holding GMDSS Radio Operator's Licenses as specified in § 13.7 of this chapter for distress and safety radiocommunications purposes. The GMDSS Radio Operator's License qualifies personnel as a GMDSS radio operator for the purposes of operating a GMDSS radio installation, including basic equipment adjustments as denoted in the knowledge requirements specified in § 13.203 of this chapter.

(1) A qualified GMDSS radio operator must be designated to have primary responsibility for radiocommunications during distress incidents, except if the vessel operates exclusively within twenty nautical miles of shore, in which case a qualified restricted radio operator may be so designated.

(2) A second qualified GMDSS radio operator must be designated as backup for distress and safety radiocommunications, except if the vessel operates exclusively within twenty nautical miles of shore, in which case a qualified restricted GMDSS radio operator may be so designated.

(b) A qualified GMDSS radio operator, and a qualified backup, as specified in paragraph (a) of this section must be:

(1) Available to act as the dedicated radio operator in cases of distress as described in § 80.1109(a);

(2) Designated to perform as part of normal routine each of the applicable communications described in § 80.1109(b);

(3) Responsible for selecting HF DSC guard channels and receiving scheduled maritime safety information broadcasts;

(4) Designated to perform communications described in § 80.1109(c);

(5) Responsible for ensuring that the watches required by § 80.1123 are properly maintained; and

(6) Responsible for ensuring that the ship's navigation position is entered into all installed DSC equipment, either automatically through a connected or integral navigation receiver, or manually at least every four hours when the ship is underway.

(a) Ships that elect the at-sea option for maintenance of GMDSS equipment (see § 80.1105) must carry at least one person who qualifies as a GMDSS radio maintainer, as specified in paragraph (b) of this section, for the maintenance and repair of equipment specified in this subpart. This person may be, but need not be, the person designated as GMDSS radio operator as specified in § 80.1073.

(b) The following licenses qualify personnel as GMDSS radio maintainers to perform at-sea maintenance of equipment specified in this subpart. For the purposes of this subpart, no order is intended by this listing or the alphanumeric designator.

(1) DM: GMDSS Maintainer's License;

(2) DB: GMDSS Operator's/Maintainer's License.

(c) While at sea, all adjustments of radio installations, servicing, or maintenance of such installations that may affect the proper operation of the GMDSS station must be performed by, or under the immediate supervision and responsibility of, a qualified GMDSS radio maintainer as specified in paragraph (b) of this section.

(d) The GMDSS radio maintainer must possess the knowledge covering the requirements set forth in IMO Assembly on Training for Radio Personnel (GMDSS), Annex 5 and IMO Assembly on Radio Maintenance Guidelines for the Global Maritime Distress and Safety System related to Sea Areas A3 and A4.

A record must be kept, as required by the Radio Regulations and § 80.409 (a), (b) and (e), of all incidents connected with the radiocommunication service which appear to be of importance to safety of life at sea.

The following table describes the frequencies used in the Global Maritime Distress and Safety System:

(a) Distress traffic consists of all messages relating to the immediate assistance required by the ship in distress, including search and rescue communications and on-scene communications. Distress traffic must as far as possible be on the frequencies contained in § 80.1077.

(b) Urgency and safety communications include: navigational and meteorological warnings and urgent information; ship-to-ship safety navigation communications; ship reporting communications; support communications for search and rescue operations; other urgency and safety messages and communications relating to the navigation, movements and needs of ships and weather observation messages destined for an official meteorological service.

(c) Intership navigation safety communications are those VHF radiotelephone communications conducted between ships for the purpose of contributing to the safe movement of ships. The frequency 156.650 MHz is used for intership navigation safety communications (see § 80.1077).

(a) The transmission of a distress alert indicates that a mobile unit or person is in distress and requires immediate assistance. The distress alert is a digital selective call using a distress call format in bands used for terrestrial radiocommunication or a distress message format, which is relayed through space stations.

(b) The distress alert must be sent through a satellite either with absolute priority in general communication channels or on exclusive distress and safety frequencies or, alternatively, on the distress and safety frequencies in the MF, HF, and VHF bands using digital selective calling.

(c) The distress alert must be sent only on the authority of the person responsible for the ship, aircraft or other vehicle carrying the mobile station or the mobile earth station.

(d) All stations which receive a distress alert transmitted by digital selective calling must immediately cease any transmission capable of interfering with distress traffic and must continue watch on the digital selective call distress calling channel until the call has been acknowledged to determine if a coast station acknowledges the call using digital selective calling. Additionally, the station receiving the distress alert must set watch on the associated distress traffic frequency for five minutes to determine if distress traffic takes place. The ship can acknowledge the call using voice or narrowband direct printing as appropriate on this channel to the ship or to the rescue authority.

(a) The distress alert must identify the station in distress and its position. The distress alert may also contain information regarding the nature of the distress, the type of assistance required, the course and speed of the mobile unit, the time that this information was recorded and any other information which might facilitate rescue.

(b) The format of distress calls and distress messages must be in accordance with ITU-R M.493-13 and ITU-R M.541-9 (both incorporated by reference, see § 80.7), as specified in § 80.1101.

(c) Ship-to-shore distress alerts are used to alert Rescue Coordination Centers via coast stations or coast earth stations that a ship is in distress. These alerts are based on the use of transmissions via satellites (from a ship earth station or a satellite EPIRB) and terrestrial services (from ship stations and EPIRBs).

(d) Ship-to-ship distress alerts are used to alert other ships in the vicinity of the ship in distress and are based on the use of digital selective calling in the VHF and MF bands. The HF bands should not be used to notify ships in the vicinity unless no response is received within five minutes on VHF or MF.

(e) Shore-to-ship distress alert relays are used by a station or Rescue Coordination Center to relay information about a ship in distress to, as appropriate, all ships, a selected group of ships, or a specific ship by satellite and/or terrestrial means. The distress alert relay must contain the identification of the mobile unit in distress, its position and all other information which might facilitate rescue.

The provisions of §§ 80.334 and 80.335 apply to false distress alerts.

(a) A station in the mobile or mobile-satellite service which learns that a mobile unit is in distress must initiate and transmit a distress alert relay in any of the following cases:

(1) When the mobile unit in distress is not itself in a position to transmit the distress alert; or

(2) When the master or person responsible for the mobile unit not in distress or the person responsible for the land station determines that further help is necessary.

(b) A station transmitting a distress alert relay in accordance with paragraph (a) of this section or § 80.1121(c) must indicate that it is not itself in distress.

(a) Normally, distress calls received using digital selective calling are only acknowledged using a DSC acknowledgement by a coast station. Ships should delay any acknowledgement in order to give sufficient time for a coast station to acknowledge the call. In cases where no acknowledgement has been heard and no distress traffic has been heard, the ship should transmit a distress alert relay to the coast station. Upon advice from the Rescue Coordination Center, the ship may transmit a DSC acknowledgement call to stop it from being repeated. Acknowledgement by digital selective calling of receipt of a distress alert in the terrestrial services must comply with ITU-R M.541-9 (incorporated by reference, see § 80.7).

(b) Acknowledgement through a satellite of receipt of a distress alert from a ship earth station must be sent immediately (see § 80.1119).

(c) Acknowledgement by radiotelephony of receipt of a distress alert from a ship station or a ship earth station must be given in the following form:

(1) The distress signal MAYDAY;

(2) The call sign or other identification of the station sending the distress message, spoken three times;

(3) The words THIS IS (or DE spoken as DELTA ECHO in case of language difficulties);

(4) The call sign or other identification of the station acknowledging receipt, spoken three times;

(5) The word RECEIVED (or RRR spoken as ROMEO ROMEO ROMEO in case of language difficulties);

(6) The distress signal MAYDAY.

(d) The acknowledgement by direct-printing telegraphy of receipt of a distress alert from a ship station must be given in the following form:

(1) The distress signal MAYDAY;

(2) The call sign or other identification of the station sending the distress alert;

(3) The word DE;

(4) The call sign or other identification of the station acknowledging receipt of the distress alert;

(5) The signal RRR;

(6) The distress signal MAYDAY.

(e) The acknowledgement by direct-printing telegraphy of receipt of a distress alert from a ship earth station must be given by the coast earth station receiving the distress alert by retransmitting the ship station identity of the ship transmitting the distress alert.

(a) Coast stations that receive a distress alert should defer acknowledgement for a short interval so that receipt may be acknowledged by a Rescue Coordination Center. Where an acknowledgement is not forthcoming within 3 minutes, the coast station in receipt of distress alerts must ensure that they are routed to a Rescue Coordination Center as soon as possible. Coast stations must provide assistance for distress communications when requested to do so by the U.S. Coast Guard. (This subpart does not specify any radio watches for coast stations.)

(b) Coast earth stations in receipt of distress alerts must ensure that they are routed as soon as possible to a Rescue Coordination Center. Coast earth stations must relay, as soon as possible, an acknowledgement of a distress alert from a Rescue Coordination Center.

(c) Certain messages must be carried without charge, regardless of the means by which they are transmitted:

(1) Distress alert messages;

(2) Search and rescue coordination messages;

(3) Medical assistance messages where an imminent danger to life is present, or

(4) Urgent meteorological or navigational danger messages passed in the ship-to-shore direction.

(a) Ship or ship earth stations that receive a distress alert must, as soon as possible, inform the master or person responsible for the ship of the contents of the distress alert.

(b) For VHF and MF, ships in receipt of a distress alert shall not transmit a distress alert relay, but should listen on the distress traffic channel for 5 minutes and, if appropriate, acknowledge the alert by radiotelephony to the ship in distress and inform the coast station and/or Rescue Coordination Center. Distress alert relays to “all ships” on these bands may only be sent by a ship who has knowledge that another ship in distress is not itself able to transmit the distress alert, and the Master of the ship considers that further help is necessary.

(c) For HF, ships in receipt of a distress alert shall listen on the distress traffic channel for 5 minutes. If no distress communications are heard and if the call is not acknowledged by a coast station, the ship shall transmit a distress relay on HF to the coast radio station and inform the Rescue Coordination Center. Distress alert relays to “all Ships” on HF may only be sent by a ship who has knowledge that another ship in distress is not itself able to transmit the distress alert, and the Master of the ship considers that further help is necessary.

(d) In cases where distress alert continues to be received from the same source, the ship may, after consultation with the Rescue Coordination Center, transmit a DSC acknowledgment to terminate the call.

(e) A ship station in receipt of a shore-to-ship distress alert relay (see § 80.1113(e)) should establish communication as directed and render such assistance as required and appropriate.

(a) While at sea, all ships must maintain a continuous watch:

(1) On VHF DSC channel 70, if the ship is fitted with a VHF radio installation in accordance with § 80.1085(a)(2);

(2) On the distress and safety DSC frequency 2187.5 kHz, if the ship is fitted with an MF radio installation in accordance with § 80.1089(a)(2) or § 80.1091(a)(3);

(3) On the distress and safety DSC frequencies 2187.5 kHz and 8414.5 kHz also on at least one of the distress and safety DSC frequencies 4207.5 kHz, 6312 kHz, 12577 kHz, or 16804.5 kHz appropriate to the time of day and the geographical position of the ship, if the ship is fitted with an MF/HF radio installation in accordance with § 80.1091(a)(2)(ii) or § 80.1093(a) of this part (this watch may be kept by means of a scanning receiver limited to six distress and safety DSC frequencies); and

(4) For satellite shore-to-ship distress alert, if the ship is fitted with an INMARSAT ship earth station in accordance with § 80.1091(a)(1).

(b) While at sea, all ships must maintain radio watches for broadcasts of maritime safety information on the appropriate frequency or frequencies on which such information is broadcast for the area in which the ship is navigating.

(c) Every ship while at sea must maintain, when practicable, a continuous listening watch on VHF Channel 16. This watch must be kept at the position from which the ship is normally navigated or at a position which is continuously manned.

(d) On receipt of a distress alert transmitted by use of digital selective calling techniques, ship stations must set watch on the radiotelephone distress and safety traffic frequency associated with the distress and safety calling frequency on which the distress alert was received.

(e) Ship stations with narrow-band direct printing equipment must set watch on the narrow-band direct-printing frequency associated with the distress alert signal if it indicates that narrow-band direct-printing is to be used for subsequent distress communications. If practicable, they should additionally set watch on the radiotelephone frequency associated with the distress alert frequency.

(a) The distress signal consists of the word MAYDAY, pronounced in radiotelephony as the French expression “M'aider”. For distress traffic by radiotelephony, when establishing communications, calls must be prefixed by the distress signal MAYDAY.

(b) Error correction techniques, in accordance with ITU-R M.625-3 (incorporated by reference, see § 80.7), as specified in § 80.1101, must be used for distress traffic by direct-printing telegraphy. All messages must be preceded by at least one carriage return, a line feed signal, a letter shift signal and the distress signal MAYDAY.

(c) Distress communications by direct-printing telegraphy should be in the ARQ mode when ships are communicating directly to the Coast Guard or other coast stations on channels which they normally guard. Other distress communications, including those on simplex channels provided for that purpose, should be in the broadcast forward error correction mode. The ARQ mode may subsequently be used when it is advantageous to do so.

(d) The Rescue Coordination Center responsible for controlling a search and rescue operation will also coordinate the distress traffic relating to the incident or may appoint another station to do so.

(e) The Rescue Coordination Center coordinating distress traffic, the unit coordinating search and rescue operations, or the coast station involved may impose silence on stations which interfere with that traffic. This instruction may be addressed to all stations or to one station only, according to circumstances. In either case, the following will be used:

(1) In radiotelephony, the signal SEELONCE MAYDAY, pronounced as the French expression “silence, m'aider”;

(2) In narrow-band direct-printing telegraphy normally using forward-error correcting mode, the signal SILENCE MAYDAY. However, the ARQ mode may be used when it is advantageous to do so.

(f) Until they receive the message indicating that normal working may be resumed (see paragraph (h) of this section), all stations which are aware of the distress traffic, and which are not taking part in it, and which are not in distress, are forbidden to transmit on the frequencies in which the distress traffic is taking place.

(g) Stations following distress traffic that are able to continue normal service may do so when the distress traffic is well established and on condition that it observes the provisions of paragraph (f) of this section and that it does not interfere with distress traffic.

(h) When distress traffic has ceased on frequencies which have been used for distress traffic, the Rescue Coordination Center controlling a search and rescue operation must initiate a message for transmission on these frequencies indicating that distress traffic has finished.

(i) In radiotelephony, the message referred to in paragraph (h) of this section consists of:

(1) The distress signal MAYDAY;

(2) The call “Hello all stations” or CQ (spoken as CHARLIE QUEBEC) spoken three times;

(3) The words THIS IS (or DE spoken as DELTA ECHO in the case of language difficulties);

(4) The call sign or other identification of the station sending the message;

(5) The time when the distress situation has ceased;

(6) The name and call sign of the mobile station which was in distress;

(7) The words SEELONCE FEENEE pronounced as the French words “silence fini”

(j) In direct-printing telegraphy, the message referred to in paragraph (h) of this section consists of:

(1) The distress signal MAYDAY;

(2) The call CQ;

(3) The word DE;

(4) The call sign or other identification of the station sending the message;

(5) The time when distress situation has ceased;

(6) The name and call sign of the mobile station which was in distress; and

(7) The words SILENCE FINI.

(a) On-scene communications are those between mobile unit in distress and assisting mobile units, and between the mobile units and unit coordinating search and rescue operations.

(b) Control of on-scene communications is the responsibility of the unit coordinating search and rescue operations. Simplex communications must be used so that all on-scene mobile stations may share relevant information concerning the distress incident. If direct-printing telegraphy is used, it must be in the forward error-correcting mode in accordance with ITU-R Recommendation M.625-3, with Annex, as specified in § 80.1101.

(c) The preferred frequencies in radiotelephony for on-scene communications are 156.8 MHz and 2182 kHz. The frequency 2174.5 kHz may also be used for ship-to-ship on-scene communications using narrow-band direct-printing telegraphy in the forward error correcting mode in accordance with ITU-R M.625-3 (incorporated by reference, see § 80.7), as specified in § 80.1101.

(d) In addition to 156.8 MHz and 2182 kHz, the frequencies 3023 kHz, 4125 kHz, 5680 kHz, 123.1 MHz and 156.3 MHz may be used for ship-to-aircraft on-scene communications.

(e) The selection or designation of on-scene frequencies is the responsibility of the unit coordinating search and rescue operations. Normally, once an on-scene frequency is established, a continuous aural or teleprinter watch is maintained by all participating on-scene mobile units on the selected frequency.

(a) Locating signals are radio transmissions intended to facilitate the finding of a mobile unit in distress or the location of survivors. These signals include those transmitted by searching units and those transmitted by the mobile unit in distress, by survival craft, by float-free EPIRBS, by satellite EPRIBs, and by search and rescue radar transponders to assist the searching units.

(b) Homing signals are those locating signals which are transmitted by mobile units in distress, or by survival craft, for the purpose of providing searching units with a signal that can be used to determine the bearing to the transmitting stations.

(c) Locating signals may be transmitted in the following frequency bands: 117.975-136 MHz, 121.5 MHz, 156-174 MHz, 406-406.1 MHz, and 9200-9500 MHz.

(d) The 9 GHz locating signals must be in accordance with ITU-R M.628-4 (incorporated by reference, see § 80.7), as specified in § 80.1101.

(a) In a terrestrial system the announcement of the urgency message must be made on one or more of the distress and safety calling frequencies specified in § 80.1077 using digital selective calling and the urgency call format. A separate announcement need not be made if the urgency message is to be transmitted through the maritime mobile-satellite service.

(b) The urgency signal and message must be transmitted on one or more of the distress and safety traffic frequencies specified in § 80.1077, or via the maritime mobile-satellite service or on other frequencies used for this purpose.

(c) The urgency signal consists of the words PAN PAN. In radiotelephony each word of the group must be pronounced as the French word “panne”.

(d) The urgency call format and the urgency signal indicate that the calling station has a very urgent message to transmit concerning the safety of a mobile unit or a person.

(e) In radiotelephony, the urgency message must be preceded by the urgency signal, repeated three times, and the identification of the transmitting station.

(f) In narrow-band direct-printing, the urgency message must be preceded by the urgency signal and the identification of the transmitting station.

(g) The urgency call format or urgency signal must be sent only on the authority of the master or the person responsible for the mobile unit carrying the mobile station or mobile earth station.

(h) The urgency call format or the urgency signal may be transmitted by a land station or a coast earth station with the approval of the responsible authority.

(i) When an urgency message which calls for action by the stations receiving the message has been transmitted, the station responsible for its transmission must cancel it as soon as it knows that action is no longer necessary.

(j) Error correction techniques, in accordance with ITU-R M.625-3 (incorporated by reference, see § 80.7), as specified in § 80.1101, must be used for urgency messages by direct-printing telegraphy. All messages must be preceded by at least one carriage return, a line feed signal, a letter shift signal, and the urgency signal PAN PAN.

(k) Urgency communications by direct-printing telegraphy should be in the ARQ mode when communicating directly to the Coast Guard or other coast stations on channels which they normally guard. Other distress communications, including those on simplex channels provided for that purpose, should be in the broadcast forward error correction mode. The ARQ mode may subsequently be used when it is advantageous to do so.

(a) In a terrestrial system the announcement of the safety message must be made on one or more of the distress and safety calling frequencies specified in § 80.1077 using digital selective calling techniques. A separate announcement need not be made if the message is to be transmitted through the maritime mobile-satellite service.

(b) The safety signal and message must normally be transmitted on one or more of the distress and safety traffic frequencies specified in § 80.1077, or via the maritime mobile satellite service or on other frequencies used for this purpose.

(c) The safety signal consists of the word SECURITE. In radiotelephony, it is pronounced as in French.

(d) The safety call format or the safety signal indicates that the calling station has an important navigational or meteorological warning to transmit.

(e) In radiotelephony, the safety message must be preceded by the safety signal, repeated three times, and the identification of the transmitting station.

(f) In narrow-band direct-printing, the safety message must be preceded by the safety signal and the identification of the transmitting station.

(g) Error correction techniques, in accordance with ITU-R M.625-3 (incorporated by reference, see § 80.7), as specified in § 80.1101, must be used for safety messages by direct-printing telegraphy. All messages must be preceded by at least one carriage return, a line feed signal, a letter shift signal, and the safety signal SECURITE.

(h) Safety communications by direct-printing telegraphy should be in the ARQ mode when communicating directly to the Coast Guard or other coast stations on channels which they normally guard. Other distress communications, including those on simplex channels provided for that purpose, should be in the broadcast forward error correction mode. The ARQ mode may subsequently be used when it is advantageous to do so.

(a) The operational details of the stations transmitting maritime safety information in accordance with this section are indicated in the ITU List of Radiodetermination and Special Service Stations and the IMO Master Plan of Shore-Based Facilities.

(b) The mode and format of the transmissions mentioned in this section is in accordance with ITU-R M.540-2 (incorporated by reference, see § 80.7) as specified in § 80.1101.

(c) Maritime safety information is transmitted by means of narrow-band direct-printing telegraphy with forward error correction using the frequency 518 kHz in accordance with the international NAVTEX system (see § 80.1077).

(d) The frequency 490 kHz may be used, after full implementation of the GMDSS, for the transmission of maritime safety information by means of narrow-band direct-printing telegraphy with forward error correction (see § 80.1077).

(e) Internationally, the frequency 4209.5 kHz is used for NAVTEX-type transmissions by means of narrow-band direct-printing telegraphy with forward error correction (see § 80.1077).

(f) Maritime safety information is transmitted by means of narrow-band direct-printing telegraphy with forward error correction using the frequencies 4210 kHz, 6314 kHz, 8416.5 kHz, 12579 kHz, 16806.5 kHz, 19680.5, 22376 kHz, and 26100.5 kHz (see § 80.1077).

(g) Maritime safety information is transmitted via satellite in the maritime mobile-satellite service using the band 1530-1545 MHz (see § 80.1077).