§  80.325   Control of distress traffic.

   (a) Distress traffic consists of all messages relating to the immediate
   assistance required by the mobile station in distress. In distress
   traffic, the distress signal must be sent before the call and at the
   beginning of the preamble of any radiotelegram.

   (b) The control of distress traffic is the responsibility of the mobile
   station in distress or of the station which has sent the distress
   message. These stations may delegate the control of the distress
   traffic to another station.

   (c) The station in distress or the station in control of distress
   traffic may impose silence either on all stations of the mobile service
   in the area or on any station which interferes with the distress
   traffic. It must address these instructions "to all stations" or to one
   station only, according to circumstances. In either case, it must use
   one of the following signals which are reserved for use by the mobile
   station in distress and for the station controlling distress traffic:

   (1) In radiotelegraphy, the abbreviation QRT, followed by the distress
   signal SOS.

   (2) In radiotelephony, the signal SEELONCE MAYDAY.

   (d) If essential, any station of the mobile service near the ship,
   aircraft, or other vehicle in distress may also impose silence. It must
   use for this purpose:

   (1) In radiotelegraphy, the abbreviation QRT, followed by the word
   DISTRESS and its own call sign;

   (2) In radiotelephony, the word SEELONCE, followed by the word DISTRESS
   and its own call sign or other identification.