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 of this section 
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 
radiotelephone installation. 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 medium 
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 radiotelephone installation required by 
paragraph (a)(1) of this section. The medium frequency 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 radiotelephone installation;
    (ii) Be equipped with an MF radiotelephone transmitter and receiver 
meeting the requirements of paragraph (a)(2) of this section; and
    (iii) Be equipped with either:
    (A) a single sideband radiotelephone capable of operating on all 
distress and safety frequencies in the medium frequency and high 
frequency bands listed in Secs. 80.369 (a) and (b), on all 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 ship earth station meeting the equipment 
authorization rules of parts 2 and 80 of this chapter;
    (iv) Be equipped with a reserve power supply meeting the 
requirements of Secs. 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;
    (v) Be equipped with a NAVTEX receiver conforming to the following 
performance standards: IMO Resolution A.525(13) and CCIR Recommendation 
540;
    (vi) Be equipped with a Category I, 406 MHz satellite emergency 
position-

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indicating radiobeacon (EPIRB) meeting the requirements of Sec. 80.1061; 
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 
(G-NRS-3/AMR), U.S. Coast Guard, Building 110, Box 26, Governor's 
Island, N.Y. 10004-5034, telephone number (212) 668-7764.
    (4) Vessels operated more than 200 nautical miles from the nearest 
land must:
    (i) Be equipped with two VHF radiotelephone installations;
    (ii) Be equipped with an MF radiotelephone transmitter and receiver 
meeting the requirements of paragraph (a)(2) of this section;
    (iii) Be equipped with either:
    (A) an independent single sideband radiotelephone capable of 
operating on all distress and safety frequencies in the medium frequency 
and high frequency bands listed in Secs.  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 ship earth station meeting the equipment 
authorization rules of parts 2 and 80 of this chapter;
    (iv) Be equipped with a reserve power supply meeting the 
requirements of Secs. 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;
    (v) Be equipped with a NAVTEX receiver conforming to the following 
performance standards: IMO Resolution A.525(13) and CCIR Recommendation 
540;
    (vi) Be equipped with a Category I, 406 MHz satellite emergency 
position-indicating radiobeacon (EPIRB) meeting the requirements of 
Sec. 80.1061;
    (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 
(G-NRS-3/AMR), U.S. Coast Guard, Building 110, Box 26, Governor's 
Island, N.Y. 10004-5034, telephone number (212) 668-7764.
    (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 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 radiotelephone set meets the 
requirements of this paragraph if adequate permanent mounting 
arrangements with suitable power provision and antenna feed are 
installed at

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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]