§  80.335   Procedures for canceling false distress alerts.

   If a distress alert is inadvertently transmitted, the following steps
   shall be taken to cancel the distress alert.

   (a) VHF Digital Selective Calling.

   (1) Reset the equipment immediately;

   (2) Immediately cancel the distress alert orally over the telephony
   distress traffic channel associated with each DSC channel on which the
   distress alert was transmitted;

   (3) Set to Channel 16; and

   (4) Transmit a broadcast message to “All stations” giving the ship's
   name, call sign or registration number, and MMSI, and cancel the false
   distress alert.

   (b) MF Digital Selective Calling.

   (1) Reset the equipment immediately;

   (2) Immediately cancel the distress alert orally over the telephony
   distress traffic channel associated with each DSC channel on which the
   distress alert was transmitted; and

   (3) Tune for radiotelephony transmission on 2182 kHz; and

   (4) Transmit a broadcast message to “All stations” giving the ship's
   name, call sign or registration number, and MMSI, and cancel the false
   distress alert.

   (c) HF Digital Selective Calling;

   (1) Reset the equipment immediately;

   (2) Immediately cancel the distress alert orally over the telephony
   distress traffic channel associated with each DSC channel on which the
   distress alert was transmitted;

   (3) Tune for radiotelephony on the distress and safety frequency in
   each band in which a false distress alert was transmitted; and

   (4) Transmit a broadcast message to “All stations” giving the ship's
   name, call sign or registration number, and MMSI, and cancel the false
   distress alert frequency in each band in which a false distress alert
   was transmitted.

   (d) INMARSAT ship earth station. Immediately notify the appropriate
   rescue coordination center that the alert is cancelled by sending a
   distress priority message by way of the same land earth station through
   which the false distress alert was sent. Provide ship name, call sign
   or registration number, and INMARSAT identity with the cancelled alert
   message.

   (e) EPIRB. If for any reason an EPIRB is activated inadvertently,
   immediately contact the nearest U.S. Coast Guard unit or appropriate
   rescue coordination center by telephone, radio or ship earth station
   and cancel the distress alert.

   (f) General and other distress alerting systems. Notwithstanding
   paragraphs (a) through (e) of this section, ships may use additional
   appropriate means available to them to inform the nearest appropriate
   U.S. Coast Guard rescue coordination center that a false distress alert
   has been transmitted and should be cancelled.

   [ 68 FR 46968 , Aug. 7, 2003, as amended at  73 FR 4485 , Jan. 25, 2008]

   return arrow Back to Top

Subpart H—Frequencies

   return arrow Back to Top

Radiotelegraphy

   return arrow Back to Top