Sec. 80.1073  Radio operator requirements for ship stations.

    (a) Ships must carry at least two persons holding GMDSS Radio 
Operator's Licenses as specified in Sec. 13.2 of this chapter for 
distress and safety radiocommunications purposes. The GMDSS Radio 
Operator's License qualifies personnel as GMDSS radio operator for the 
purposes of operating GMDSS radio installation, including basic 
equipment adjustments as denoted in knowledge requirements specified in 
Sec. 13.21 of this chapter.
    (1) One of the qualified GMDSS radio operators must be designated to 
have primary responsiblility for radiocommunications during distress 
incidents.
    (2) A second qualified GMDSS radio operator must be designated as 
backup for distress and safety radiocommunications.
    (b) A qualified GMDSS radio operator, and a qualified backup, as 
specified in paragraph (a) of this section must be:
    (1) Available to act as the dedicated radio operator in cases of 
distress as described in Sec. 80.1109(a);
    (2) Designated to perform as part of normal routine each of the 
applicable communications described in Sec. 80.1109(b);
    (3) Responsible for selecting HF DSC guard channels and receiving 
scheduled maritime safety information broadcasts;
    (4) Designated to perform communications described in 
Sec. 80.1109(c);
    (5) Responsible for ensuring that the watches required by 
Sec. 80.1123 are properly maintained; and
    (6) Responsible for ensuring that the ship's navigation position is 
entered, either manually or automatically through a navigation receiver, 
into all installed DSC equipment at least every four hours while the 
ship is underway.