Sec. 80.1095  Survival craft equipment.

    (a) At least three two-way VHF radiotelephone apparatus must be 
provided on every passenger ship and on every cargo ship of 500 tons 
gross tonnage and upwards. At least two two-way VHF radiotelephone 
apparatus must be provided on every cargo ship of between 300-500 tons 
gross tonnage. Portable two-way VHF radiotelephones must be stowed in 
such locations that they can be rapidly placed in any survival craft 
other than liferafts required by Regulation III/26.1.4 of the SOLAS 
Convention. Alternatively, survival craft may be fitted with a fixed 
two-way VHF radiotelephone installation. Two-way VHF radiotelephone 
apparatus, portable or fixed, must conform to performance standards as 
specified in Sec. 80.1101. Two-way VHF radiotelephone apparatus provided 
on board ships prior to February 1, 1992, and not complying fully with 
the performance standards specified in Sec. 80.1101, may be used until 
February 1, 1999, provided it is compatible with approved two-way VHF 
radiotelephone apparatus.
    (b) At least one radar transponder must be carried on each side of 
every passenger ship and every cargo ship of 500 tons gross tonnage and 
upwards. At least one radar transponder must be carried on every cargo 
ship of 300 tons gross tonnage and upwards but less than 500 tons gross 
tonnage. Such radar transponders must conform to performance standards 
as specified in Sec. 80.1101. The radar transponders must be stowed in 
such locations that they can be rapidly placed in any survival craft 
other than liferafts required on cargo ships in forward and aft areas 
(see Regulation III/26.1.4 of the SOLAS Convention). Alternatively, one 
radar transponder must be stowed in each survival craft other than those 
required by Regulation III/26.1.4 of the SOLAS Convention. One of these 
radar transponders may be radar transponder required by 
Sec. 80.1085(a)(3).
    (c) Survival craft equipment must be tested at intervals not to 
exceed twelve months. For batteries used for survival craft equipment, 
the month and year of its manufacture must be permanently marked on the 
battery. Also, the month and year upon which 50 percent of its useful 
life will expire must be permanently marked on both the battery and the 
outside of the transmitter. Batteries must be replaced if 50 percent of 
their useful life has expired

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or if the transmitter has been used in an emergency situation.