Sec. 80.369  Distress, urgency, safety, call and reply frequencies.

    This section describes the general uses and frequencies assignable 
to maritime stations for distress, urgency, safety, call and reply 
radiotelephony communications.
    (a) In the 1605-3500 kHz band, the frequency 2182 is an 
international radiotelephony distress, urgency and safety frequency for 
ship stations, public and private coast stations, and survival craft 
stations. It is also used for call and reply by ship stations on a 
primary basis and by public coast stations on a secondary basis. The 
carrier frequency 2191 kHz may be used as a supplementary calling 
frequency in areas of heavy usage of 2182 kHz. All stations must use J3E 
emission when operating on 2182 and 2191 kHz, except that:
    (1) H3E emission may be used on 2182 kHz for communications with 
foreign coast and ship stations; or,
    (2) A3E emission may be used on 2182 kHz by portable survival craft 
stations, or transmitters authorized for use prior to January 1, 1972. 
See Sec. 80.203(c).
    (b) The frequencies 4125.0 kHz, 6215 kHz, 8291 kHz, 12290 kHz, and 
16420 kHz may be used by coast and ship stations on a simplex basis for 
distress and safety communications. The frequency 4125.0 kHz may also be 
used for distress and safety communications between aircraft and 
maritime mobile stations.
    (c) The frequency 5167.5 kHz is available to any station for 
emergency communications in the State of Alaska. Peak envelope power of 
stations operating on this frequency must not exceed 150 watts. This 
frequency may also be used by Alaska private fixed stations for calling 
and listening, but only for establishing communication.
    (d) In the 4000-27500 kHz band, the following coast frequencies are 
available for assignment to public coast stations for call and reply 
communications. The paired ship frequencies are available for use by 
authorized ship stations.

          Call and Reply Frequency Pairs in the 4000-27500 kHz          
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                        Carrier Frequencies (kHz)                       
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                    Ship        Coast   
                  Channel No.                     transmit     transmit 
------------------------------------------------------------------------
421...........................................   1,2,3 4125     \1\ 4417
606...........................................     2,3 6215     \1\ 6516
821...........................................         8255         8779
1221..........................................    \3\ 12290        13137
1621..........................................    \3\ 16420        17302
1806..........................................        18795        19770
2221..........................................        22060        22756
2510..........................................        25097       26172 
------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ The frequencies 4125 kHz, 4417 kHz, and 6516 kHz are also available 
  on a simplex basis for private communications, see Sec.  80.373(c) of 
  this part.                                                            
\2\ The frequencies of 4125 kHz and 6215 kHz are also available on a    
  simplex basis to ship and coast stations for call and reply, provided 
  that the peak envelope power does not exceed 1 kW.                    
\3\ The frequencies 4125 kHz, 6215 kHz, 8291 kHz, 12290 kHz, and 16420  
  kHz are also available on a simplex basis for distress and safety     
  traffic, see paragraph (b) of this section.                           

    (e) In the 120-156 MHz band the following frequencies are used as 
indicated:
    (1) The frequencies 121.500 MHz and 123.100 MHz using A3E emission 
are available for scene of action search and rescue operations to ship, 
coast and aircraft stations. Communications in support of search and 
rescue operations must employ the frequency 121.500 MHz only when 
communications on 123.100 MHz or other VHF frequencies is not 
practicable. Ship, coast and aircraft

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stations engaged in such communications on 121.500 MHz must shift to 
123.100 MHz as soon as possible.
    (2) The frequency 156.525 MHz is available for intership, ship and 
coast general purpose, distress and safety DSC calls.
    (3) The frequency 156.800 MHz is the international radiotelephone 
distress, urgency, safety, call and reply frequency for ship, public and 
private coast stations. Stations operating on 156.800 MHz must be able 
to transmit and receive using G3E emission.
    (4) The frequency 156.450 MHz (channel 9) is available for 
intership, ship and coast station general purpose calling by 
noncommercial vessels, such as recreational boats. Distress, urgency and 
safety calls should initially be made on 156.800 MHz (channel 16) or, if 
equipped with DSC, on 156.525 MHz (channel ).
[51 70 FR 31213 , Sept. 2, 1986, as amended at  52 FR 35245 , Sept. 18, 1987; 
 54 FR 49995 , Dec. 4, 1989;  56 FR 9893 , Mar. 8, 1991;  57 FR 19552 , May 7, 
1992]