§  80.1123   Watch requirements for ship stations.

   (a) While at sea, all ships must maintain a continuous watch:

   (1) On VHF DSC channel 70, if the ship is fitted with a VHF radio
   installation in accordance with § 80.1085(a)(2);

   (2) On the distress and safety DSC frequency 2187.5 kHz, if the ship is
   fitted with an MF radio installation in accordance with § 80.1089(a)(2)
   or § 80.1091(a)(3);

   (3) On the distress and safety DSC frequencies 2187.5 kHz and 8414.5
   kHz also on at least one of the distress and safety DSC frequencies
   4207.5 kHz, 6312 kHz, 12577 kHz, or 16804.5 kHz appropriate to the time
   of day and the geographical position of the ship, if the ship is fitted
   with an MF/HF radio installation in accordance with § 80.1091(a)(2)(ii)
   or § 80.1093(a) of this part (this watch may be kept by means of a
   scanning receiver limited to six distress and safety DSC frequencies);
   and

   (4) For satellite shore-to-ship distress alert, if the ship is fitted
   with an INMARSAT ship earth station in accordance with § 80.1091(a)(1).

   (b) While at sea, all ships must maintain radio watches for broadcasts
   of maritime safety information on the appropriate frequency or
   frequencies on which such information is broadcast for the area in
   which the ship is navigating.

   (c) Every ship while at sea must maintain, when practicable, a
   continuous listening watch on VHF Channel 16. This watch must be kept
   at the position from which the ship is normally navigated or at a
   position which is continuously manned.

   (d) On receipt of a distress alert transmitted by use of digital
   selective calling techniques, ship stations must set watch on the
   radiotelephone distress and safety traffic frequency associated with
   the distress and safety calling frequency on which the distress alert
   was received.

   (e) Ship stations with narrow-band direct printing equipment must set
   watch on the narrow-band direct-printing frequency associated with the
   distress alert signal if it indicates that narrow-band direct-printing
   is to be used for subsequent distress communications. If practicable,
   they should additionally set watch on the radiotelephone frequency
   associated with the distress alert frequency.

   [ 57 FR 9065 , Mar. 16, 1992, as amended at  68 FR 46981 , Aug. 7, 2003;  73 FR 4492 , Jan. 25, 2008]