Sec.  80.905   Vessel radio equipment.

   (a) Vessels subject to part III of title III of the Communications Act that
   operate in the waters described in  Sec. 80.901 must, at a minimum, be equipped
   as follows:

   (1) Vessels operated solely within the communications range of a VHF public
   coast station or U.S. Coast Guard station that maintains a watch on 156.800
   MHz while the vessel is navigated must be equipped with a VHF-DSC
   radiotelephone installation, except that a VHF radiotelephone installation
   without DSC capability is permitted until one year after the Coast Guard
   notifies the Commission that shore-based sea area A1 coverage is
   established. Vessels in this category must not operate more than 20 nautical
   miles from land.

   (2) Vessels operated beyond the 20 nautical mile limitation specified in
   paragraph (a)(1) of this section, but not more than 100 nautical miles from
   the nearest land, must be equipped with a MF–DSC frequency transmitter
   capable of transmitting J3E emission and a receiver capable of reception of
   J3E emission within the band 1710 to 2850 kHz, in addition to the VHF–DSC
   radiotelephone installation required by paragraph (a)(1) of this section,
   except that a MF radiotelephone installation without DSC capability is
   permitted until one year after the Coast Guard notifies the Commission that
   shore-based sea area A2 coverage is established. The MF or MF–DSC
   transmitter and receiver must be capable of operation on 2670 kHz.

   (3) Vessels operated more than 100 nautical miles but not more than 200
   nautical miles from the nearest land must:

   (i) Be equipped with a VHF–DSC radiotelephone installation, except that a
   VHF radiotelephone installation without DSC capability is permitted until
   one year after the Coast Guard notifies the Commission that shore-based sea
   area A1 coverage is established;

   (ii) Be equipped with an MF–DSC radiotelephone transmitter and receiver
   meeting the requirements of paragraph (a)(2) of this section, except that a
   MF radiotelephone installation without DSC capability is permitted until one
   year after the Coast Guard notifies the Commission that shore-based sea area
   A2 coverage is established; and

   (iii) Be equipped with either:

   (A) A DSC-capable single sideband radiotelephone that complies with ITU–R
   Rec. (series) M.493 Class A, B or E, and is capable of operating on all
   distress and safety frequencies in the medium frequency and high frequency
   bands listed in  Sec. 80.369(a) and (b), on all of the ship-to-shore calling
   frequencies in the high frequency bands listed in  Sec. 80.369(d), and on at
   least four of the automated mutual-assistance vessel rescue (AMVER) system
   HF duplex channels (this requirement may be met by the addition of such
   frequencies to the radiotelephone installation required by paragraph (a)(2)
   of this section); or

   (B) If operated in an area within the coverage of an INMARSAT maritime
   mobile geostationary satellite in which continuous alerting is available, an
   INMARSAT B, C, or M ship earth station, or an INMARSAT A ship earth station
   if installed prior to February 12, 2004.

   (iv) Be equipped with a reserve power supply meeting the requirements of
    Sec.  Sec. 80.917(b), 80.919 and 80.921, and capable of powering the single sideband
   radiotelephone or the ship earth station (including associated peripheral
   equipment) required by paragraph (a)(3)(iii) of this section, including the
   navigation receiver referred to in  Sec. 80.905(a)(5);

   (v) Be equipped with a NAVTEX receiver conforming to the following
   performance standards: IMO Resolution A.525(13) and ITU–R Recommendation
   540;

   (vi) Be equipped with a Category I 406–406.1 MHz satellite emergency
   position-indicating radiobeacon (EPIRB) meeting the requirements of  Sec. 80.1061
   or, if the ship is not operating in sea area A4, as defined in
    Sec. 80.1069(a)(4), an automatic float-free INMARSAT–E EPIRB meeting the
   requirements of  Sec. 80.1063; and

   (vii) Participate in the AMVER system while engaged on any voyage where the
   vessel is navigated in the open sea for more than 24 hours. Copies of the
   AMVER Bulletin are available at: AMVER Maritime Relations, USCG Battery Park
   Building, Room 201, New York, NY 10004–1499. Phone 212–668–7764; Fax
   212–668–7684.

   (4) Vessels operated more than 200 nautical miles from the nearest land
   must:

   (i) Be equipped with two VHF–DSC radiotelephone installations, except that
   VHF radiotelephone installations without DSC capability are permitted until
   one year after the Coast Guard notifies the Commission that shore-based sea
   area A1 coverage is established;

   (ii) Be equipped with an MF–DSC radiotelephone transmitter and receiver
   meeting the requirements of paragraph (a)(2) of this section, except that a
   MF radiotelephone installation without DSC capability is permitted until one
   year after the Coast Guard notifies the Commission that shore-based sea area
   A2 coverage is established;

   (iii) Be equipped with either:

   (A) A DSC-capable independent single sideband radiotelephone that complies
   with ITU–R Rec. (series) M.493 Class A, B or E, and is capable of operating
   on all distress and safety frequencies in the medium frequency and high
   frequency bands listed in  Sec. 80.369(a) and (b), on all of the ship-to-shore
   calling frequencies in the high frequency bands listed in  Sec. 80.369(d), and on
   at least four of the automated mutual-assistance vessel rescue (AMVER)
   system HF duplex channels; or

   (B) If operated in an area within the coverage of an INMARSAT maritime
   mobile geostationary satellite in which continuous alerting is available, an
   INMARSAT B, C, or M ship earth station, or an INMARSAT A ship earth station
   if installed prior to February 12, 2004.

   (iv) Be equipped with a reserve power supply meeting the requirements of
    Sec.  Sec. 80.917(b), 80.919 and 80.921, and capable of powering the single sideband
   radiotelephone or the ship earth station (including associated peripheral
   equipment) required by paragraph (a)(4)(iii) of this section, including the
   navigation receiver referred to in  Sec. 80.905(a)(5);

   (v) Be equipped with a NAVTEX receiver conforming to the following
   performance standards: IMO Resolution A.525(13) and ITU–R Recommendation
   540;

   (vi) Be equipped with a Category I 406–406.1 MHz satellite emergency
   position-indicating radiobeacon (EPIRB) meeting the requirements of  Sec. 80.1061
   or, if the ship is not operating in sea area A4, as defined in
    Sec. 80.1069(a)(4), an automatic float-free INMARSAT–E EPIRB meeting the
   requirements of  Sec. 80.1063;

   (vii) Be equipped with a radiotelephone distress frequency watch receiver
   meeting the requirements of  Sec. 80.269;

   (viii) Be equipped with an automatic radiotelephone alarm signal generator
   meeting the requirements of  Sec. 80.221; and

   (ix) Participate in the AMVER system while engaged on any voyage where the
   vessel is navigated in the open sea for more than 24 hours. Copies of the
   AMVER Bulletin are available at: AMVER Maritime Relations, USCG Battery Park
   Building, Room 201, New York, NY 10004–1499. Phone 212–668–7764; Fax
   212–668–7684.

   (5) Vessels must comply with the requirements for a navigation receiver or
   manual updating of position information contained in  Sec. 80.1085(c).

   (b) For a vessel that is navigated within the communication range of a VHF
   public coast station or U.S. Coast Guard station, but beyond the 20-nautical
   mile limitation specified in paragraph (a)(1) of this section, an exemption
   from the band 1605 to 2850 kHz installation requirements may be granted if
   the vessel is equipped with a VHF transmitter and receiver. An application
   for exemption must include a chart showing the route of the voyage or the
   area of operation of the vessel, and the receiving service area of the VHF
   public coast or U.S. Coast Guard station. The coverage area of the U.S.
   Coast Guard station must be based on written information from the District
   Commander, U.S. Coast Guard, a copy of which must be furnished with the
   application. The coverage area of a public coast station must be computed by
   the method specified in subpart P of this part.

   (c) The radiotelephone installation must be installed to insure safe
   operation of the equipment and to facilitate repair. It must be protected
   against the vibration, moisture, temperature, and excessive currents and
   voltages.

   (d) A VHF-DSC radiotelephone installation or a remote unit must be located
   at each steering station except those auxiliary steering stations which are
   used only during brief periods for docking or for close-in maneuvering. A
   single portable VHF-DSC radiotelephone set meets the requirements of this
   paragraph if adequate permanent mounting arrangements with suitable power
   provision and antenna feed are installed at each operator steering station.
   Additionally, for vessels of more than 100 gross tons, the radiotelephone
   installation must be located at the level of the main wheelhouse or at least
   one deck above the vessel's main deck.

   [ 51 FR 31213 , Sept. 2, 1986, as amended at  56 FR 19301 , Apr. 26, 1991;  57 FR 34262 , Aug. 4, 1992;  68 FR 46973 , Aug. 7, 2003;  69 FR 64677 , Nov. 8, 2004]