Sec.  80.1113   Transmission of a distress alert.

   (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 Recommendation M.493–11, “Digital Selective-calling system for
   use in the Maritime Mobile Service,” with Annexes 1 and 2, 2004, and ITU–R
   Recommendation M.541–9, “Operational Procedures for the Use of Digital
   Selective-Calling Equipment in the Maritime Mobile Service,” with Annexes 1
   through 5, 2004, as specified in  Sec. 80.1101. ITU–R Recommendation M.493–11,
   with Annexes 1 and 2, and ITU–R Recommendation M.541–9, with Annexes 1
   through 5, 2004, are incorporated by reference. The Director of the Federal
   Register approves this incorporation by reference in accordance with 5
   U.S.C. 552(a) and 1 CFR part 51. Copies of these standards can be inspected
   at the Federal Communications Commission, 445 12th Street, SW., Washington,
   DC (Reference Information Center) or at the National Archives and Records
   Administration (NARA). For information on the availability of this material
   at NARA, call 202–741–6030, or go to:
   http://www.archives.gov/federal_register/code_of_federal_regulations/ibr_loc
   ations.html  .  The  ITU–R  Recommendation  can  be purchased from the
   International Telecommunication Union (ITU), Place des Nations, CH–1211
   Geneva 20, Switzerland.

   (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.

   [ 51 FR 31213 , Sept. 2, 1986, as amended at  68 FR 46980 , Aug. 7, 2003;  73 FR 4491 , Jan. 25, 2008]