Collapse to view only § 353. Radio equipment and operators
- § 351. Ship radio stations and operations
- § 352. Exemptions
- § 353. Radio equipment and operators
- § 353a. Operators and watches on radiotelephone equipped ships
- § 354. Technical requirements of equipment on radiotelegraph equipped ships
- § 354a. Technical requirements of equipment on radiotelephone equipped ships
- § 355. Survival craft
- § 356. Approval of installations by Commission
- § 357. Safety information
- § 358. Master’s control over operations
- § 359. Certificates of compliance; issuance, modification, and cancellation
- § 360. Station licenses; inspection of equipment by Commission
- § 361. Control by Commission; review of decisions
- § 362. Forfeitures; recovery
- § 363. Automated ship distress and safety systems
§ 351. Ship radio stations and operations
(a) Except as provided in section 352 hereof it shall be unlawful—
(1) For any ship of the United States, other than a cargo ship of less than three hundred gross tons, to be navigated in the open sea outside of a harbor or port, or for any ship of the United States or any foreign country, other than a cargo ship of less than three hundred gross tons, to leave or attempt to leave any harbor or port of the United States for a voyage in the open sea, unless such ship is equipped with an efficient radio station in operating condition, as specified by subparagraphs (A) and (B) of this paragraph, in charge of and operated by one or more radio officers or operators, adequately installed and protected so as to insure proper operation, and so as not to endanger the ship and radio station as hereinafter provided, and, in the case of a ship of the United States, unless there is on board a valid station license issued in accordance with this chapter.
(A) Passenger ships irrespective of size and cargo ships of one thousand six hundred gross tons and upward shall be equipped with a radiotelegraph station complying with the provisions of this part;
(B) Cargo ships of three hundred gross tons and upward but less than one thousand six hundred gross tons, unless equipped with a radiotelegraph station complying with the provisions of this part, shall be equipped with a radiotelephone station complying with the provisions of this part.
(2) For any ship of the United States of one thousand six hundred gross tons and upward to be navigated in the open sea outside of a harbor or port, or for any such ship of the United States or any foreign country to leave or attempt to leave any harbor or port of the United States for a voyage in the open sea, unless such ship is equipped with efficient radio direction finding apparatus approved by the Commission, properly adjusted in operating condition as hereinafter provided.
(b) A ship which is not subject to the provisions of this part at the time of its departure on a voyage shall not become subject to such provisions on account of any deviation from its intended voyage due to stress of weather or any other cause over which neither the master, the owner, nor the charterer (if any) has control.
(June 19, 1934, ch. 652, title III, § 351, as added May 20, 1937, ch. 229, § 10(b), 50 Stat. 192; amended Aug. 13, 1954, ch. 729, § 1(a), 68 Stat. 704; Pub. L. 89–121, § 2, Aug. 13, 1965, 79 Stat. 512.)
§ 352. Exemptions
(a) Vessels excepted
The provisions of this part shall not apply to—
(1) A ship of war;
(2) A ship of the United States belonging to and operated by the Government, except a ship of the Maritime Administration of the Department of Transportation, the Inland and Coastwise Waterways Service, or the Panama Canal Company;
(3) A foreign ship belonging to a country which is a party to any Safety Convention in force between the United States and that country which ship carries a valid certificate exempting said ship from the radio provisions of that Convention, or which ship conforms to the radio requirements of such Convention or Regulations and has on board a valid certificate to that effect, or which ship is not subject to the radio provisions of any such Convention;
(4) Yachts of less than six hundred gross tons not subject to the radio provisions of the Safety Convention;
(5) Vessels in tow;
(6) A ship navigating solely on any bays, sounds, rivers, or protected waters within the jurisdiction of the United States, or to a ship leaving or attempting to leave any harbor or port of the United States for a voyage solely on any bays, sounds, rivers, or protected waters within the jurisdiction of the United States;
(7) A ship navigating solely on the Great Lakes of North America and the River Saint Lawrence as far east as a straight line drawn from Cap des Rosiers to West Point, Anticosti Island, and, on the north side of Anticosti Island, the sixty-third meridian, or to a ship leaving or attempting to leave any harbor or port of the United States for a voyage solely on such waters and within such area;
(8) A ship which is navigated during the course of a voyage both on the Great Lakes of North America and in the open sea, during the period while such ship is being navigated within the Great Lakes of North America and their connecting and tributary waters as far east as the lower exit of the Saint Lambert lock at Montreal in the Province of Quebec, Canada.
(b) Radio station unreasonable or unnecessary
Except for nuclear ships, the Commission may, if it considers that the route or the conditions of the voyage or other circumstances are such as to render a radio station unreasonable or unnecessary for the purposes of this part, exempt from the provisions of this part any ship or class of ships which falls within any of the following descriptions:
(1) Passenger ships which in the course of their voyage do not go more than twenty nautical miles from the nearest land or, alternatively, do not go more than two hundred nautical miles between two consecutive ports;
(2) Cargo ships which in the course of their voyage do not go more than one hundred and fifty nautical miles from the nearest land;
(3) Passenger vessels of less than one hundred gross tons not subject to the radio provisions of the Safety Convention;
(4) Sailing ships.
(c) Unforeseeable equipment failures
(d) Radio direction finding apparatus unreasonable or unnecessary
(June 19, 1934, ch. 652, title III, § 352, as added May 20, 1937, ch. 229, § 10(b), 50 Stat. 192; amended Sept. 26, 1950, ch. 1049, § 2(a)(2), 64 Stat. 1038; Aug. 13, 1954, ch. 729, § 1(b), (c), 68 Stat. 705; Pub. L. 89–121, § 3, Aug. 13, 1965, 79 Stat. 512; Pub. L. 97–31, § 12(151), Aug. 6, 1981, 95 Stat. 167.)
§ 353. Radio equipment and operators
(a) Two radio officers required
(b) One radio officer required
(c) Required watches
(d) Hours of watch
(e) Operational status of auto alarms in open sea
(June 19, 1934, ch. 652, title III, § 353, as added May 20, 1937, ch. 229, § 10(b), 50 Stat. 193; amended July 8, 1941, ch. 278, 55 Stat. 579; June 22, 1943, ch. 137, 57 Stat. 161; July 25, 1947, ch. 327, § 2(a), 61 Stat. 451; Aug. 13, 1954, ch. 729, § 1(d), 68 Stat. 705; Pub. L. 89–121, § 4, Aug. 13, 1965, 79 Stat. 513.)
§ 353a. Operators and watches on radiotelephone equipped ships
(a) Each cargo ship which in accordance with this part is equipped with a radiotelephone station shall, for safety purposes, carry at least one operator who may be the master, an officer, or a member of the crew.
(b) Each cargo ship of the United States which in accordance with this part is equipped with a radiotelephone station shall, while being navigated in the open sea outside of a harbor or port, maintain continuous watch whenever the station is not being used for authorized traffic.
(June 19, 1934, ch. 652, title III, § 354, as added Aug. 13, 1954, ch. 729, § 2(b), 68 Stat. 706; amended Pub. L. 89–121, § 5, Aug. 13, 1965, 79 Stat. 514.)
§ 354. Technical requirements of equipment on radiotelegraph equipped ships
The radiotelegraph station and the radio direction finding apparatus required by section 351 of this title shall comply with the following requirements:
(a) The radiotelegraph station shall include a main installation and a reserve installation, electrically separate and electrically independent of each other: Provided, That, in installations on cargo ships of three hundred gross tons and upward but less than one thousand six hundred gross tons, and in installations on cargo ships of one thousand six hundred gross tons and upward installed prior to November 19, 1952, if the main transmitter complies with all the requirements for the reserve transmitter, the latter may be omitted.
(b) The radiotelegraph station shall be so located that no harmful interference from extraneous mechanical or other noise will be caused to the proper reception of radio signals, and shall be placed in the upper part of the ship in a position of the greatest possible safety and as high as practicable above the deepest load waterline. The location of the radiotelegraph operating room or rooms shall be approved by the Commandant of the Coast Guard. The radiotelegraph installation shall be installed in such a position that it will be protected against the harmful effects of water or extremes of temperature, and shall be readily accessible both for immediate use in case of distress and for repair.
(c) The radiotelegraph operating room shall be of sufficient size and of adequate ventilation to enable the main and reserve radiotelegraph installations to be operated efficiently, and shall not be used for any purpose which will interfere with the operation of the radiotelegraph station. The sleeping accommodation of at least one radio officer shall be situated as near as practicable to the radiotelegraph operating room. In ships the keels of which are laid on or after May 26, 1965, this sleeping accommodation shall not be within the radiotelegraph operating room.
(d) The main and reserve installations shall be capable of transmitting and receiving on the frequencies, and using the classes of emission, designated by the Commission pursuant to law for the purposes of distress and safety of navigation.
(e) The main and reserve installations shall, when connected to the main antenna, have a minimum normal range of two hundred nautical miles and one hundred nautical miles, respectively; that is, they must be capable of transmitting and receiving clearly perceptible signals from ship to ship by day and under normal conditions and circumstances over the specified ranges.
(f) Sufficient electrical energy shall be available at all times to operate the main installation over the normal range required by subsection (e) of this section as well as for the purpose of charging any batteries forming part of the radiotelegraph station.
(g) The reserve installation shall include a source of electrical energy independent of the propelling power of the ship and of any other electrical system and shall be capable of being put into operation rapidly and of working for at least six continuous hours. The reserve source of energy and its switchboard shall be as high as practicable in the ship and readily accessible to the radio officer.
(h) There shall be provided between the bridge of the ship and the radiotelegraph operating room, and between the bridge and the location of the radio direction finding apparatus, when such apparatus is not located on the bridge, an efficient two-way system for calling and voice communication which shall be independent of any other communication system in the ship.
(i) The radio direction finding apparatus shall be efficient and capable of receiving signals with the minimum of receiver noise and of taking bearings from which the true bearing and direction may be determined. It shall be capable of receiving signals on the radiotelegraph frequencies assigned by the radio regulations annexed to the International Telecommunication Convention in force for the purposes of distress, direction finding, and maritime radio beacons, and, in installations made after May 26, 1965, such other frequencies as the Commission may for safety purposes designate.
(June 19, 1934, ch. 652, title III, § 355, formerly § 354, as added May 20, 1937, ch. 229, § 10(b), 50 Stat. 193; amended 1946 Reorg. Plan No. 3, §§ 101–104, eff. July 16, 1946, 11 F.R. 7875, 60 Stat. 1097; renumbered § 355 and amended Aug. 13, 1954, ch. 729, § 2(a)(1), (c), 68 Stat. 706; Pub. L. 89–121, § 6, Aug. 13, 1965, 79 Stat. 514.)
§ 354a. Technical requirements of equipment on radiotelephone equipped ships
Cargo ships of three hundred gross tons and upward but less than one thousand six hundred gross tons may, in lieu of the radiotelegraph station prescribed by section 354 of this title, be equipped with a radiotelephone station complying with the following requirements:
(a) The radiotelephone station shall be in the upper part of the ship, so located that it is sheltered to the greatest possible extent from noise which might impair the correct reception of messages and signals, and, unless such station is situated on the bridge, there shall be efficient communication with the bridge.
(b) The radiotelephone installation shall be capable of transmitting and receiving on the frequencies, and using the classes of emission, designated by the Commission pursuant to law for the purposes of distress and safety of navigation.
(c) The radiotelephone installation shall have a minimum normal range of one hundred and fifty nautical miles; that is, it shall be capable of transmitting and receiving clearly perceptible signals from ship to ship by day and under normal conditions and circumstances over this range.
(d) There shall be available at all times a main source of electrical energy sufficient to operate the installation over the normal range required by subsection (c) of this section. If batteries are provided they shall have sufficient capacity to operate the transmitter and receiver for at least six continuous hours under normal working conditions. In installations made on or after November 19, 1952, a reserve source of electrical energy shall be provided in the upper part of the ship unless the main source of energy is so situated.
(June 19, 1934, ch. 652, title III, § 356, as added Aug. 13, 1954, ch. 729, § 2(d), 68 Stat. 706; amended Pub. L. 89–121, § 7, Aug. 13, 1965, 79 Stat. 515.)
§ 355. Survival craft
Every ship required to be provided with survival craft radio by treaty to which the United States is a party, by statute, or by regulation made in conformity with a treaty, convention, or statute, shall be fitted with efficient radio equipment appropriate to such requirement under such rules and regulations as the Commission may find necessary for safety of life. For purposes of this section, “radio equipment” shall include portable as well as nonportable apparatus.
(June 19, 1934, ch. 652, title III, § 357, formerly § 355, as added May 20, 1937, ch. 229, § 10(b), 50 Stat. 194; renumbered § 357 and amended Aug. 13, 1954, ch. 729, § 2(a)(1), (e), 68 Stat. 706, 707; Pub. L. 89–121, § 8, Aug. 13, 1965, 79 Stat. 516.)
§ 356. Approval of installations by Commission
Insofar as is necessary to carry out the purposes and requirements of this part, the Commission shall have authority, for any ship subject to this part—
(1) To approve the details as to the location and manner of installations of the equipment required by this part or of equipment necessitated by reason of the purposes and requirements of this part.
(2) To approve installations, apparatus, and spare parts necessary to comply with the purposes and requirements of this part.
(3) To prescribe such additional equipment as may be determined to be necessary to supplement that specified in this part, for the proper functioning of the radio installation installed in accordance with this part or for the proper conduct of radio communication in time of emergency or distress.
(June 19, 1934, ch. 652, title III, § 358, formerly § 356, as added May 20, 1937, ch. 229, § 10(b), 50 Stat. 194; renumbered § 358, Aug. 13, 1954, ch. 729, § 2(a)(1), 68 Stat. 706; amended Pub. L. 103–414, title III, § 303(a)(19), Oct. 25, 1994, 108 Stat. 4295.)
§ 357. Safety information
(a) Transmission of information concerning safety at sea
(b) Charges for transmission of safety information
(c) Reimbursement by Commission
(d) Charges for transmission of distress messages
(e) Free services
(June 19, 1934, ch. 652, title III, § 359, formerly § 357, as added May 20, 1937, ch. 229, § 10(b), 50 Stat. 195; renumbered § 359, Aug. 13, 1954, ch. 729, § 2(a)(1), 68 Stat. 706; amended Pub. L. 89–121, § 9, Aug. 13, 1965, 79 Stat. 516.)
§ 358. Master’s control over operations
The radio installation, the operators, the regulation of their watches, the transmission and receipt of messages, and the radio service of the ship except as they may be regulated by law or international agreement, or by rules and regulations made in pursuance thereof, shall in the case of a ship of the United States be under the supreme control of the master.
(June 19, 1934, ch. 652, title III, § 360, formerly § 358, as added May 20, 1937, ch. 229, § 10(b), 50 Stat. 195; renumbered § 360, ch. 729, § 2(a)(1), Aug. 13, 1954, 68 Stat. 706.)
§ 359. Certificates of compliance; issuance, modification, and cancellation
(a) Each vessel of the United States to which the Safety Convention applies shall comply with the radio and communication provisions of said Convention at all times while the vessel is in use, in addition to all other requirements of law, and shall have on board an appropriate certificate as prescribed by the Safety Convention.
(b) Appropriate certificates concerning the radio particulars provided for in said Convention shall be issued upon proper request to any vessel which is subject to the radio provisions of the Safety Convention and is found by the Commission to comply therewith. Cargo ship safety radio telegraphy certificates, cargo ship safety radiotelephony certificates, and exemption certificates with respect to radio particulars shall be issued by the Commission. Other certificates concerning the radio particulars provided for in the said Convention shall be issued by the Commandant of the Coast Guard or whatever other agency is authorized by law to do so upon request of the Commission made after proper inspection or determination of the facts. If the holder of a certificate violates the radio provisions of the Safety Convention or the provisions of this chapter, or the rules, regulations, or conditions prescribed by the Commission, and if the effective administration of the Safety Convention or of this part so requires, the Commission, after hearing in accordance with law, is authorized to modify or cancel a certificate which it has issued, or to request the modification or cancellation of a certificate which has been issued by another agency upon the Commission’s request. Upon receipt of such request for modification or cancellation, the Commandant of the Coast Guard, or whatever agency is authorized by law to do so, shall modify or cancel the certificate in accordance therewith.
(June 19, 1934, ch. 652, title III, § 361, formerly § 359, as added May 20, 1937, ch. 229, § 10(b), 50 Stat. 195; renumbered § 361 and amended Aug. 13, 1954, ch. 729, § 2(a)(1), (f), 68 Stat. 706, 707; Pub. L. 89–121, § 10, Aug. 13, 1965, 79 Stat. 516.)
§ 360. Station licenses; inspection of equipment by Commission
(a) In addition to any other provisions required to be included in a radio station license, the station license of each ship of the United States subject to this subchapter shall include particulars with reference to the items specifically required by this subchapter.
(b) Every ship of the United States that is subject to this part shall have the equipment and apparatus prescribed therein inspected at least once each year by the Commission or an entity designated by the Commission. If, after such inspection, the Commission is satisfied that all relevant provisions of this chapter and the station license have been complied with, the fact shall be so certified on the station license by the Commission. The Commission shall make such additional inspections at frequent intervals as the Commission determines may be necessary to ensure compliance with the requirements of this chapter. The Commission may, upon a finding that the public interest could be served thereby—
(1) waive the annual inspection required under this section for a period of up to 90 days for the sole purpose of enabling a vessel to complete its voyage and proceed to a port in the United States where an inspection can be held; or
(2) waive the annual inspection required under this section for a vessel that is in compliance with the radio provisions of the Safety Convention and that is operating solely in waters beyond the jurisdiction of the United States: Provided, That such inspection shall be performed within 30 days of such vessel’s return to the United States.
(June 19, 1934, ch. 652, title III, § 362, formerly § 360, as added May 20, 1937, ch. 229, § 10(b), 50 Stat. 196; renumbered § 362, Aug. 13, 1954, ch. 729, § 2(a)(1), 68 Stat. 706; amended Pub. L. 87–811, Oct. 15, 1962, 76 Stat. 922; Pub. L. 104–104, title IV, § 403(n), Feb. 8, 1996, 110 Stat. 132.)
§ 361. Control by Commission; review of decisions
Nothing in this subchapter shall be interpreted as lessening in any degree the control of the Commission over all matters connected with the radio equipment and its operation on shipboard and its decision and determination in regard to the radio requirements, installations, or exemptions from prescribed radio requirements shall be final, subject only to review in accordance with law.
(June 19, 1934, ch. 652, title III, § 363, formerly § 361, as added May 20, 1937, ch. 229, § 10(b), 50 Stat. 196; renumbered § 363, Aug. 13, 1954, ch. 729, § 2(a)(1), 68 Stat. 706.)
§ 362. Forfeitures; recovery
The following forfeitures shall apply to this part, in addition to the penalties and forfeitures provided by subchapter V of this chapter:
(a) Any ship that leaves or attempts to leave any harbor or port of the United States in violation of the provisions of this part, or the rules and regulations of the Commission made in pursuance thereof, or any ship of the United States that is navigated outside of any harbor or port in violation of any of the provisions of this part, or the rules and regulations of the Commission made in pursuance thereof, shall forfeit to the United States the sum of $5,000, recoverable by way of suit or libel. Each such departure or attempted departure, and in the case of a ship of the United States each day during which such navigation occurs shall constitute a separate offense.
(b) Every willful failure on the part of the master of a ship of the United States to enforce or to comply with the provisions of this chapter or the rules and regulations of the Commission as to equipment, operators, watches, or radio service shall cause him to forfeit to the United States the sum of $1,000.
(June 19, 1934, ch. 652, title III, § 364, formerly § 362, as added May 20, 1937, ch. 229, § 10(b), 50 Stat. 196; renumbered § 364, Aug. 13, 1954, ch. 729, § 2(a)(1), 68 Stat. 706; amended Pub. L. 101–239, title III, § 3002(g), Dec. 19, 1989, 103 Stat. 2131.)
§ 363. Automated ship distress and safety systems
Notwithstanding any provision of this chapter or any other provision of law or regulation, a ship documented under the laws of the United States operating in accordance with the Global Maritime Distress and Safety System provisions of the Safety of Life at Sea Convention shall not be required to be equipped with a radio telegraphy station operated by one or more radio officers or operators. This section shall take effect for each vessel upon a determination by the United States Coast Guard that such vessel has the equipment required to implement the Global Maritime Distress and Safety System installed and operating in good working condition.
(June 19, 1934, ch. 652, title III, § 365, as added Pub. L. 104–104, title II, § 206, Feb. 8, 1996, 110 Stat. 114.)