§ 80.1061   Special requirements for 406.0-406.1 MHz EPIRB stations.

   (a) Notwithstanding the provisions in paragraph (b) of this section,
   406.0-406.1 MHz EPIRBs must meet all the technical and performance
   standards contained in RTCM 11000 (incorporated by reference, see
   § 80.7), and must also comply with the standards specified in
   § 80.1101(c)(5). Beginning January 17, 2018, all new applications for
   certification of 406.0-406.1 MHz EPIRBs must demonstrate compliance
   with the requirements of RTCM 11000. 406.0-406.1 MHz EPIRBs that do not
   meet the requirements of RTCM 11000 shall not be manufactured,
   imported, or sold in the United States beginning January 17, 2020.
   Operation of 406.0-406.1 MHz EPIRBs that do not meet the requirements
   of RTCM 11000 shall be prohibited on vessels subject to 47 CFR subparts
   R, S, or W beginning January 17, 2023. Existing 406.0-406.1 MHz EPIRBs
   that do not meet the requirements of RTCM 11000 must be operated as
   certified.

   (b) The 406.0-406.1 EPIRB must contain as an integral part a “homing”
   beacon operating only on 121.500 MHz that meets all the requirements
   described in the RTCM Recommended Standards document described in
   paragraph (a) of this section. The 121.500 MHz “homing” beacon must
   have a continuous duty cycle that may be interrupted during the
   transmission of the 406.0-406.1 MHz signal only. Additionally, at least
   30 percent of the total power emitted during any transmission cycle
   must be contained within plus or minus 30 Hz of the carrier frequency.

   (c) Prior to submitting a certification application for a 406.0-406.1
   MHz radiobeacon, the radiobeacon must be certified by a test facility
   recognized by one of the COSPAS-SARSAT Partners that the equipment
   satisfies the design characteristics associated with the measurement
   methods incorporated in RTCM Standard 11000 (incorporated by reference,
   see § 80.7). Additionally, the radiobeacon must be subjected to the
   environmental and operational tests associated with the test procedures
   described in Appendix A of RTCM Standard 11000, by a test facility
   accepted by the U.S. Coast Guard for this purpose. Information
   regarding accepted test facilities may be obtained from Commandant
   (CG-ENG-4), U.S. Coast Guard Stop 7509, 2703 Martin Luther King Jr.
   Ave. SE., Washington, DC 20593-7126,
   http://cgmix.uscg.mil/EQLabs/EQLabsSearch.aspx.

   (1) After a 406.0-406.1 MHz EPIRB has been certified by the recognized
   test facilities the following information must be submitted in
   duplicate to typeapproval@uscg.mil or the Commandant (CG-ENF-4), U.S.
   Coast Guard Stop 7509, 2703 Martin Luther King Jr. Ave. SE.,
   Washington, DC 20593-7509:

   (i) The name of the manufacturer or grantee and model number of the
   EPIRB;

   (ii) Copies of the certificate and test data obtained from the test
   facility recognized by a COSPAS/SARSAT Partner showing that the
   radiobeacon complies with the COSPAS-SARSAT design characteristics
   associated with the measurement methods incorporated in RTCM 11000;

   (iii) Copies of the test report and test data obtained from the test
   facility recognized by the U.S. Coast Guard showing that the
   radiobeacon complies with the U.S. Coast Guard environmental and
   operational characteristics associated with the measurement methods
   described in Appendix A of the RTCM Recommended Standards; and

   (iv) Instruction manuals associated with the radiobeacon, description
   of the test characteristics of the readiobeacon 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 RTCM Recommended Standards.

   (d) A certification application for a 406.0-406.1 MHz EPIRB must also
   contain a copy of the U.S. Coast Guard letter that states the
   radiobeacon satisfies all RTCM Recommended Standards, a copy of the
   technical test data, and the instruction manual(s).

   (e) An identification code, recognized by the National Oceanic and
   Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), the United States Program Manager
   for the 406.0-406.1 MHz COSPAS/SARSAT satellite system, must be
   programmed in each EPIRB unit to establish a unique identification for
   each EPIRB station. With each marketable EPIRB unit, the manufacturer
   or grantee must include a postage pre-paid registration card printed
   with the EPIRB identification code addressed to: NOAA/SARSAT Beacon
   Registration, NSOF, E/SPO53, 1315 East West Hwy, Silver Spring, MD
   20910-9684. The registration card must request the owner's name,
   address, telephone number, type of ship, alternate emergency contact
   and other information as required by NOAA. The registration card must
   also contain information regarding the availability to register the
   EPIRB at NOAA's online web-based registration database at:
   http://www.beaconregistration.noaa.gov. In addition, the following
   statement must be included: “WARNING—failure to register this EPIRB
   with NOAA before installation could result in a monetary forfeiture
   being issued to the owner.”

   (f) To enhance protection of life and property it is mandatory that
   each 406.0-406.1 MHz EPIRB be registered with NOAA 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 406.0-406.1 MHz EPIRB must be provided on
   the outside with a clearly discernible permanent plate or label
   containing the following statement: “The owner of this 406.0-406.1 MHz
   EPIRB must register the NOAA identification code contained on this
   label with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)
   whose address is: NOAA/SARSAT Beacon Registration, NSOF, E/SPO53, 1315
   East West Hwy, Silver Spring, MD 20910-9684.” Vessel owners shall
   advise NOAA in writing upon change of vessel or EPIRB ownership,
   transfer of EPIRB to another vessel, or any other change in
   registration information. NOAA will provide registrants with proof of
   registration and change of registration postcards.

   (g) For 406.0-406.1 MHz 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.

   [ 68 FR 46974 , Aug. 7, 2003, as amended at  69 FR 64678 , Nov. 8, 2004;  73 FR 4488 , Jan. 25, 2008;  76 FR 67616 , Nov. 2, 2011;  79 FR 77918 , Dec.
   29, 2014;  81 FR 90748 , Dec. 15, 2016]

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Subpart W—Global Maritime Distress and Safety System (GMDSS)

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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.

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