Sec. 80.826  Interior communication systems.

    (a) An interior communication system must be provided between the 
bridge of the ship and the radiotelegraph operating room in all cases 
where the radiotelegraph operating room does not adjoin or open onto the 
navigating bridge structure. An interior communication system must also 
be provided between the bridge and the location of the radio direction 
finding apparatus whenever the latter is not located on the bridge or 
within any compartment adjoining or opening onto the navigating bridge 
structure. If the operating position of the reserve radio installation 
is not located in the room normally used for operating the main radio 
installation, an interior communication system must be separately 
provided between the bridge and each of these radio operating positions.
    (b) If a vessel has more than one location from which it is normally 
controlled and steered, the interior communication system between the 
radiotelegraph operating room and bridge must include communication to 
each such location. The existence at a location of all of the following 
factors will require that a point of communication be established there: 
(1) A steering wheel; (2) a compass; (3) an engine order telegraph; (4) 
control of the whistle; and (5) a wheelhouse enclosure.
    (c) Paragraph (b) of this section does not apply to locations 
established solely for emergency use in event of failure of the normal 
steering facilities or locations used solely while docking or 
maneuvering a ship while in port or for brief periods while navigating 
the ship in close quarters on inland waters.