Sec. 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.