Sec.  80.1063   Special requirements for INMARSAT–E EPIRB stations.

   (a)  Notwithstanding  the provisions in paragraph (b) of this section,
   INMARSAT–E EPIRBs must meet all the technical and performance standards
   contained in IEC 61097–5 Ed. 1.0, titled “Global maritime and distress
   safety system (GMDSS)—Part 5: INMARSAT–E—Emergency position indicating radio
   beacon  (EPIRB)  operating through the INMARSAT system—Operational and
   performance requirements, methods of testing and required test results,”
   including Annexes A, B, and C, 1997. IEC 61097–5 Ed. 1.0, including Annexes
   A, B, and C, is incorporated by reference (see  Sec. 80.1101).

   Note to paragraph(a): Service to INMARSAT–E EPIRB stations terminated on
   December 1, 2006, so distress signals from INMARSAT–E EPIRB stations will
   not be received by any Rescue Coordination Center.

   (b)  Prior to submitting a certification application for an INMARSAT–E
   radiobeacon, the radiobeacon must be certified by INMARSAT as complying with
   IEC 61097–5 Ed. 1.0. In addition, the radiobeacon must be tested as to
   compliance with the environmental and operational requirements identified in
   this  paragraph  (b) by the test facility which conducted the INMARSAT
   certification tests, or a test facility recognized by the U.S. Coast Guard.
   Information  regarding recognized test facilities may be obtained from
   Commandant (G–MSE), U.S. Coast Guard, 2100 2nd Street, SW., Washington, D.C.
   20593–0001, http://www.uscg.mil/hq/g-m/mse/lablist/161.011.htm. 

   (1) After an INMARSAT–E PIRB has been certified by the test facility, the
   following information must be submitted in duplicate to the Commandant
   (G–MSE), U.S. Coast Guard, 2100 2nd Street, SW., Washington D.C. 20593–0001:

   (i) The name of the manufacturer or grantee and the model number of the
   radiobeacon;

   (ii) Copies of the Inmarsat certification of compliance with IEC 61097–5 Ed.
   1.0;

   (iii)  Copies  of the test report and test data obtained from the test
   facility showing that the radiobeacon complies with IEC 61097–5 Ed. 1.0 and
   the environmental and operational requirements identified in this paragraph
   (b); and

   (iv) Instruction manuals associated with the radiobeacon, description of the
   test  characteristics  of the radiobeacon including assembly drawings,
   electrical  schematics,  description  of parts list, specifications of
   materials, and the manufacturer's quality assurance program.

   (2) After reviewing the information described in paragraph (c)(1) of this
   section,  the U.S. Coast Guard will issue a letter stating whether the
   radiobeacon satisfies all of the requirements specified in paragrpahs (a)
   and (b) of this section.

   (c) A certification application for an INMARSAT–EPIRB submitted to the
   Commission must also contain a copy of the U.S. Coast Guard letter stating
   that  the  radiobeacon  satisfies all of the requirements specified in
   paragraphs (a) and (b) of this section, a copy of the technical test data,
   and the instruction manual(s).

   (d)  The  manufacturer  or  grantee  must include with each marketable
   INMARSAT–E EPIRB appropriate material for registration of the radiobeacon
   with INMARSAT, along with a written warning that failure to register the
   radiobeacon could delay rescue services in an emergency.

   (e) To enhance protection of life and property it is mandatory that each
   INMARSAT–E EPIRB be registered with INMARSAT before installation and that
   information be kept up-to-date. Therefore, in addition to the identification
   plate or label requirements contained in  Sec.  Sec. 2.925 and 2.926 of this chapter,
   each  INMARSAT–E  EPIRB must be provided on the outside with a clearly
   discernable permanent plate or label containing the following statement:
   “The owner of this INMARSAT–E EPIRB must register the NOAA identification
   code  contained  on this label with INMARSAT at the following address:
   INMARSAT, 99 City Road, London, EC1Y 1AX, United Kingdom.” Vessel owners
   shall advise INMARSAT in writing upon change of vessel or EPIRB ownership,
   transfer of EPIRB to another vessel, or any other change in registration
   information.

   (f) For INMARSAT–E EPIRBs whose identification code can be changed after
   manufacture, the identification code shown on the plate or label must be
   easily replaceable using commonly available tools.

   [ 69 FR 64678 , Nov. 8, 2004, as amended at  73 FR 4489 , Jan. 25, 2008]

Subpart W—Global Maritime Distress and Safety System (GMDSS)

General Provisions

   This subpart contains the rules applicable to the Global Maritime Distress
   and Safety System (GMDSS). Every ship of the United States subject to part
   II of title III of the Communications Act or the Safety Convention must
   comply with the provisions of this subpart. The rules in this subpart are to
   be read in conjunction with the applicable requirements contained elsewhere
   in this part; however, in case of conflict, the provisions of this subpart
   shall govern with respect to the GMDSS. For the purposes of this subpart,
   distress and safety communications include distress, urgency, and safety
   calls and messages.

   Source:    57 FR 9065 , Mar. 16, 1992, unless otherwise noted.

   Note: No provision of this subpart is intended to eliminate, or in anyway
   modify, other requirements contained in this part with respect to part II of
   title III of the Communications Act.