Sec.  80.355   Distress, urgency, safety, call and reply Morse code frequencies.

   This section describes the distress, urgency, safety, call and reply carrier
   frequencies assignable to stations for Morse code radiotelegraphy.

   (a) Frequencies in the 100–160 kHz band. The international calling frequency
   in the 100–160 kHz band is 143 kHz using A1A or J2A emission. When a ship
   station operating in the 100–160 kHz band desires to communicate with a
   coast  station,  it  must  call  on  the  frequency 143 kHz unless the
   International List of Coast Stations provides otherwise. Coast stations must
   reply on their normal working frequency in this band. Only individual calls,
   replies to such calls, and transmission of signals preparatory to traffic
   may be transmitted on 143 kHz.

   (b) Frequencies in the 2000–27500 kHz band —(1) Ship station frequencies.
   The following table describes the calling frequencies in the 4000–27500 kHz
   band which are available for use by authorized ship stations equipped with
   crystal-controlled oscillators for A1A, J2A, J2B, or J2D radiotelegraphy.
   There are two series of frequencies for worldwide use and two series of
   frequencies for each geographic region. Ship stations with synthesized
   transmitters may operate on every full 100 Hz increment in the 0.5 kHz
   channel for the frequencies listed, except for 100 Hz above and below those
   designated  for  worldwide  use. During normal business hours when not
   communicating on other frequencies, all U.S. coast radiotelegraph stations
   must monitor the worldwide frequencies and the initial calling frequencies
   for the region in which it is located. The specific frequencies which must
   be monitored by a coast station will vary with propagation conditions. The
   calling frequencies which are routinely monitored by specific coast stations
   can be determined by reference to the ITU publication entitled “List of
   Coast  Stations.”  Initial  calls by ship stations must be made on the
   appropriate  initial  calling  frequency first. Calls on the worldwide
   frequencies may be made only after calls on the appropriate initial calling
   frequency are unsuccessful.

   Ship Morse Calling Frequencies (kHz)
                ITU                                              ITU
   Region:                                                          
   Worldwide      3 4184.0 6276.0 8368.0 12552.0 16736.0 22280.5  C  25172.0
                  4 4184.5 6276.5 8369.0 12553.5 16738.0 22281.0  C  25172.0
   Atlantic:                                                        
   Initial        1 4182.0 6277.0 8366.0 12550.0 16734.0 22279.5  A  25171.5
   Alternate      2 4182.5 6277.5 8366.5 12550.5 16734.5 22280.0  A  25171.5
   Caribbean:                                                       
   Initial        1 4182.0 6277.0 8366.0 12550.0 16734.0 22279.5  A  25171.5
   Alternate      2 4182.5 6277.5 8366.5 12550.5 16734.5 22280.0  A  25171.5
   Gulf-Mexico:                                                     
   Initial        5 4183.0 6278.0 8367.0 12551.0 16735.0 22281.5  A  25171.5
   Alternate      6 4183.5 6278.5 8367.5 12551.5 16735.5 22282.0  A  25171.5
   N Pacific:                                                       
   Initial        7 4185.0 6279.0 8368.5 12552.5 16736.5 22282.5  B  25172.5
   Alternate      8 4185.5 6279.5 8369.5 12553.0 16737.0 22283.0  B  25172.5
   S Pacific:                                                       
   Initial        9 4186.0 6280.0 8370.0 12554.0 16737.5 22283.5  B  25172.5
   Alternate     10 4186.5 6280.5 8370.5 12554.5 16738.5 22284.0  B  25172.5

   (2) Coast Station frequencies. Coast stations may use any working carrier
   frequency for distress, safety and calling listed in  Sec. 80.357(b)(1) which is
   not identified with a specific use.

   (c) Frequencies in the VHF bands. (1) Survival craft stations using 121.500
   MHz may be assigned A3N emission for radiobeacon purposes.

   (2) EPIRB stations may be assigned 121.500 MHz and 243 MHz using A3E, A3X
   and NON emission or 406.0–406.1 MHz using G1D emission to aid search and
   rescue operations. See subpart V of this part.

   [ 51 FR 31213 , Sept. 2, 1986;  51 FR 34984 , Oct. 1, 1986;  52 FR 35245 , Sept.
   18, 1987;  56 FR 9886 , Mar. 8, 1991;  56 FR 11516 , Mar. 19, 1991;  68 FR 46969 ,
   Aug. 7, 2003;  69 FR 64674 , Nov. 8, 2004]