The radiotelephone requirements of this subpart are applicable to all compulsory ships which are not required to comply with subpart W of this part in total or in part because they have received an exemption from all or some of the subpart W provisions.

(a) The radiotelephone station is a radiotelephone installation and other equipment necessary for the proper operation of the installation.

(b) The radiotelephone station must be installed to insure safe and effective operation of the equipment and to facilitate repair. Adequate protection must be provided against the effects of vibration, moisture, and temperature.

(c) The radiotelephone station and all necessary controls must be located at the level of the main wheelhouse or at least one deck above the ship's main deck.

(d) The principal operating position of the radiotelephone station must be in the room from which the ship is normally steered while at sea. In installations on cargo ships of 300 gross tons and upwards but less than 500 gross tons on which the keel was laid prior to January 1, 1965, the location of the principal operating controls may be in a room adjoining and opening into the room from which the vessel is normally steered while at sea. If the station can be operated from any location other than the principal operating position, a positive means must be provided at the principal operating position to take full control of the station.

The radiotelephone installation includes:

(a) A radiotelephone transmitter;

(b) A receiver as specified in § 80.858(a);

(c) A main source of energy;

(d) A reserve source of energy, when required by § 80.860(a);

(e) An antenna system.

(a) The transmitter must be capable of transmission of H3E and J3E emission on 2182 kHz, and J3E emission on 2638 kHz and at least two other frequencies within the band 1605 to 3500 kHz available for ship-to-shore or ship-to-ship communication.

(b) The duty cycle of the transmitter must permit transmission of the international radiotelephone alarm signal.

(c) The transmitter must be capable of transmitting clearly perceptible signals from ship to ship during daytime under normal conditions over a range of 150 nautical miles.

(d) The transmitter complies with the range requirement specified in paragraph (c) of this section if:

(1) The transmitter is capable of being matched to actual ship station transmitting antenna meeting the requirements of § 80.863; and

(2) The output power is not less than 60 watts peak envelope power for H3E and J3E emission on the frequency 2182 kHz and for J3E emission on the frequency 2638 kHz into either an artificial antenna consisting of a series network of 10 ohms resistance and 200 picofarads capacitance, or an artificial antenna of 50 ohms nominal impedance. An individual demonstration of the power output capability of the transmitter, with the radiotelephone installation normally installed on board ship, may be required.

(e) The transmitter must provide visual indication whenever the transmitter is supplying power to the antenna.

(f) The transmitter must be protected from excessive currents and voltages.

(g) A durable nameplate must be mounted on the transmitter or made an integral part of it showing clearly the name of the transmitter manufacturer and the type or model of the transmitter.

(h) An artificial antenna must be provided to permit weekly checks of the automatic device for generating the radiotelephone alarm signal on frequencies other than the radiotelephone distress frequency.

(a) The receiver required by § 80.854(a) of this part must be capable of reception of H3E and J3E emissions on the radiotelephone distress frequency. The receiver must be capable of reception of J3E emissions on 2638 kHz and the receiving frequencies associated with the transmitting frequencies authorized pursuant to § 80.855(a).

(b) One or more loudspeakers capable of being used to maintain the distress frequency (2182 kHz) watch at the principal operating position and at any other place where the listening watch is performed must be provided.

(c) The receiver required by paragraph (a) of the section must:

(1) Have a sensitivity of 50 microvolts;

(2) Be capable of operation when energized by the main source of energy, and by the reserve source of energy if a reserve source is required by § 80.860(a);

(3) Be protected from excessive currents and voltages;

(4) Be provided with a nameplate showing the name of the receiver manufacturer and the type or model.

(d) The sensitivity of a receiver is the strength in microvolts of a signal, modulated 30 percent at 400 cycles per second, required at the receiver input to produce an audio output of 50 milliwatts to the loudspeaker with a signal-to-noise ratio of at least 6 decibels. Evidence of a manufacturer's rating or a demonstration of the sensitivity of a required receiver computed on this basis must be furnished upon request of a Commission representative.

(a) The main power supply must simultaneously energize the radiotelephone transmitter at its required antenna power and the required receivers. Under this load condition the voltage of the main power supply at the radiotelephone input terminals must not deviate from its rated potential by more than 10 percent on ships completed on or after July 1, 1941, nor by more than 15 percent on ships completed before that date.

(b) Means must be provided for charging any batteries used as a main power supply. A continuous indication of the rate and polarity of the charging current must be provided during charging of the batteries.

(a) When the main power supply is not on the same deck as the main wheelhouse or at least one deck above the vessel's main deck, a reserve power supply must be provided and must be so situated. The location of the reserve power supply must be located as near to the required transmitter and receivers as practicable and meet all applicable rules and regulations of the United States Coast Guard.

(b) The reserve power supply must be independent of the propelling power of the ship and of any other electrical system, and must simultaneously energize the radiotelephone transmitter at its required antenna power, the required receivers, the emergency light and the automatic radiotelephone alarm signal generator. The reserve power supply must be available at all times.

(c) The reserve power supply may be used to energize the bridge-to-bridge radiotelephone and the VHF radiotelephone installation required by § 80.871.

(d) All circuits connected to the reserve power supply must be protected from overloads.

(e) Means must be provided for charging any batteries used as a reserve power supply. A continuous indication of the rate and polarity of the charging current during charging of the batteries must be provided.

(f) The cooling system of each internal combustion engine used as a part of the reserve power supply must be adequately treated to prevent freezing or overheating consistent with the season and route to be traveled by the particular vessel involved.

(g) The reserve power supply must be available within 1 minute.

If the main power supply or the reserve power supply provided for the purpose of complying with §§ 80.859 and 80.860 consists of batteries, the batteries must have sufficient reserve capacity available at all times while the vessel is leaving or attempting to leave a harbor or port for a voyage in the open sea, and while being navigated in the open sea outside of a harbor or port, to permit operation of the radiotelephone transmitter and the required receivers for at least 6 hours continuously under normal working conditions.

(a) When directed by the Commission or its authorized representative, the station licensee must prove that the requirements of § 80.861 are met.

(b) Proof of the ability of a battery used as a main or reserve source to operate continuously for 6 hours can be established by a discharge test over a prescribed period of time, when supplying power at the voltage required for normal and operation to an electrical load as prescribed by paragraph (d) of this section.

(c) When the reserve power supply is an engine-driven generator, proof of the adequacy of the engine fuel supply to operate the unit contiuously for 6 hours can be established by measuring the fuel consumption for 1 hour when supplying power, at the voltage required for normal operation, to an electrical load as prescribed by paragraph (d) of this section.

(d) In determining the electrical load to be supplied, the following formula must be used:

(1) One-half of the current of the required transmitter at its rated power output.

(2) One fourth of the current of the automatic radiotelephone alarm signal generator; plus

(3) Current of receiver; plus

(4) Current of emergency light(s); plus

(5) Current of the bridge-to-bridge transceiver when connected.

(e) At the conclusion of the test specified in paragraphs (b) and (c) of this section, no part of the main or reserve power supply must have an excessive temperature rise, nor must the specific gravity or voltage of any battery be below 90 percent discharge point of the fully charged value.

(a) An antenna system must be installed which is as nondirectional and as efficient as is practicable for the transmission and reception of radio ground waves over seawater. The installation and construction of the required antenna must insure operation in time of emergency.

(b) If the required antenna is suspended between masts or other supports liable to whipping, a safety link which, under heavy stress, will operate to greatly reduce such stress without breakage of the antenna, the halyards, or other antenna-supporting elements, must be installed.

(c) When an electrical ground connection is used as an element of the antenna system, the connection must be efficient.

(a) Emergency electric light(s) must be installed to illuminate the operating controls of the radiotelephone installation at the principal operating position, the card of instructions, and the radiotelephone station clock if the latter is not self-illuminated.

(b) The emergency electric light(s) must be energized from the reserve power supply, if a reserve power supply is required. In cases where a reserve power supply is not required, the emergency lights must be energized independently of the system which supplies the normal lighting.

A clock having a face of at least 12.7 cm (5 in.) in diameter must be mounted in a position that can be observed from the principal operating position.

A spare transmitting antenna completely assembled for immediate erection must be provided. If the installed transmitting antenna is suspended between supports, this spare antenna must be a single-wire transmitting antenna of the same length and must also include suitable insulators.

(a) Each ship station must be provided with such tools, testing equipment, instruction books and circuit diagrams to enable the radiotelephone installation to be maintained in efficient working condition while at sea. Each ship station licensee must compile a list of spare parts, tools, test equipment and circuit diagrams it considers necessary for compliance with this requirement. This list must be available at inspection. The Commission may consider equipment manufacturer lists of recommended spare parts, tools, test equipment, and repair circuit diagrams in determining compliance with this subsection. These items must be located convenient to the radio room.

(b) The testing equipment must include an instrument or instruments for measuring A.C. volts, D.C. volts and ohms.

A card of instructions giving a clear summary of the radiotelephone distress procedure must be securely mounted and displayed in full view of the principal operating position.

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) All passenger ships irrespective of size and all cargo ships of 300 gross tons and upwards subject to part II of title III of the Communications Act or to the Safety Convention are required to carry a VHF radiotelephone station complying with this subpart. Ships subject only to the Communications Act may use a VHF radiotelephone installation meeting the technical standards of the Bridge-to-Bridge Act to satisfy the watch requirements of § 80.305(a)(3) if the equipment can transmit and receive on 156.800 MHz.

(b) The VHF radiotelephone station must be installed to insure safe and effective operation of the equipment and facilitate repair. It must be protected against vibration, moisture and temperature.

(c) The principal operating position of the radiotelephone station must be in the room from which the ship is normally steered while at sea.

(d) The radiotelephone stations on ships subject to Part II of Title III of the Communications Act must be capable of operating on the frequency 156.800 MHz and in other respects meet the requirements of § 80.143. The radiotelephone stations on ships subject to the Safety Convention must be capable of operating in the simplex mode on the ship station transmitting frequencies specified in the frequency band 156.025 MHz to 157.425 MHz and in the semiduplex mode on the two frequency channels specified in the following table:

The VHF radiotelephone installation includes:

(a) A VHF radiotelephone transmitter,

(b) A VHF radiotelephone receiver,

(c) A power supply,

(d) An antenna system.

(a) The transmitter must be capable of transmission of G3E emission on 156.300 MHz and 156.800 MHz, and on frequencies which have been specified for use in a system established to promote safety of navigation. Vessels in waters of other Administrations are required to communicate on any channel designated by that Administration for navigational safety in the bands specified in § 80.871(d).

(b) The transmitter must be adjusted so that the transmission of speech normally produces peak modulation within the limits of 75 percent and 100 percent.

(c) The transmitter must deliver a carrier power between 8 and 25 watts into a 50 ohm effective resistance. Provision must be made for reducing the carrier power to a value between 0.1 and 1.0 watts.

(d) The transmitter complies with the power output requirements specified in paragraph (c) of this section when:

(1) The transmitter is capable of being adjusted for efficient use with an actual ship station transmitting antenna meeting the requirements of § 80.876; and

(2) The transmitter has been demonstrated capable, with normal operating voltages applied, of delivering not less than 8 watts of carrier power into 50 ohms effective resistance over the frequency band specified in § 80.871(d). An individual demonstration of the power output capability of the transmitter, with the radiotelephone installation normally installed on board ship, may be required; and

(3) It is certificated as required by subpart F of this part.

(a) The receiver used for providing the watch for navaigational safety required by § 80.313 must be certificated by the Commission and capable of effective reception of G3E emission on the frequencies required by § 80.871(d) when connected to the antenna specified in § 80.876.

(b) The receiver must have a usable sensitivity of 0.5 microvolts.

(c) The receiver must deliver adequate audio output power to be heard in the ambient noise level likely to be expected on board ships with a loudspeaker and/or a telephone handset.

(d) In the simplex mode when the transmitter is activated the receiver output must be muted.

(a) There must be readily available for use under normal load conditions a power supply sufficient to simultaneously energize the VHF transmitter at its required antenna power, and the VHF receiver. Under this load condition the voltage of the source of energy at the power input terminals of the VHF radiotelephone installation must not deviate from its rated value by more than 10 percent on ships completed on or after March 1, 1957, nor by more than 15 percent on ships completed before that date.

(b) When the power supply for the VHF radiotelephone installation consists of batteries, they must be installed in the upper part of the ship, secured against shifting with motion of the ship, capable of operating the installation for 6 hours, and accessible with not less than 26 cm (10 in.) head room.

(c) Means must be provided for charging any rechargeable batteries used in the ship's VHF radiotelephone installation. There must be provided a device which, during charging of the batteries, will give a continuous indication of the charging current.

(d) The VHF radiotelephone installation may be connected to the reserve power supply of a compulsorily fitted radiotelephone or radiotelegraph installation.

A vertically polarized nondirectional antenna must be provided for VHF radiotelephone installations. The construction and installation of this antenna must insure proper operation in an emergency.

The controls and indicators used on equipment of the VHF radiotelephone installation must meet the following standards:

(a) The size of controls must easily permit normal adjustment. The function and the setting of the controls must be clearly indicated.d

(b) Controls must be illuminated to permit satisfactory operation of the equipment.

(c) Means must be provided to reduce to extinction any light output from the equipment which could affect safety of navigation.

(d) An on/off switch must be provided for the entire installation with a visual indication that the installation is switched on.

(e) The equipment must indicate the channel number, as given in the Radio Regulations, to which it is tuned. It must allow the determination of the channel number under all conditions of external lighting. Channel 16 must be distinctively marked.

(f) The receiver must have a manual volume control and a squelch control.

(g) If the external controls are on a separate control unit and more than one such control unit is provided, the one on the bridge must have priority over the others. When there is more than one control unit, indication must be given to the other(s) that the transmitter is in operation.

(a) Vessels operated solely within twenty nautical miles of shore must be equipped with a VHF radiotelephone installation as described in this subpart, and maintain a continuous watch on Channel 16.

(b) Vessels operated solely within one hundred nautical miles of shore must be equipped with a medium frequency transmitter capable of transmitting J3E emission and a receiver capable of reception of J3E emission within the band 1710 to 2850 kHz, in addition to the VHF radiotelephone installation required by paragraph (a) of this section, and must maintain a continuous watch on 2182 kHz. Additionally, such vessels must be equipped with either:

(1) A single sideband radiotelephone capable of operating on all distress and safety frequencies in the medium frequency and high frequency bands listed in § 80.369(a) and (b), on all the ship-to-shore calling frequencies in the high frequency bands listed in § 80.369(d), and on at least four of the automated mutual-assistance vessel rescue (AMVER) system HF duplex channels (this requirement may be met by the addition of such frequencies to the radiotelephone installation required by paragraph (b) of this section); or

(2) If operated in an area within the coverage of an INMARSAT maritime mobile geostationary satellite in which continuous alerting is available, an INMARSAT ship earth station meeting the equipment authorization rules of parts 2 and 80 of this chapter.

Vessels subject to subpart R of this part must be equipped as follows:

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

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

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

(d) A two-way VHF radiotelephone meeting the requirements of § 80.1101(c)(7).

Ships subject to this subpart must maintain a watch on the frequency 2182 kHz pursuant to § 80.305.