§  80.1063   Special requirements for INMARSAT-E EPIRB stations.

   Link to an amendment published at  76 FR 67616 , Nov. 2, 2011.

   (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 § 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 § § 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.