Sec.  80.335   Procedures for canceling false distress alerts.

   If a distress alert is inadvertently transmitted, the following steps shall
   be taken to cancel the distress alert.

   (a) VHF Digital Selective Calling.

   (1) Reset the equipment immediately;

   (2) Transmit a DSC distress alert cancellation (i.e., own ship's
   acknowledgment), if that feature is available;

   (3) Set to Channel 16; and

   (4) Transmit a broadcast message to “All stations” giving the ship's name,
   call sign or registration number, and MMSI, and cancel the false distress
   alert.

   (b) MF Digital Selective Calling.

   (1) Reset the equipment immediately;

   (2) Transmit a DSC distress alert cancellation (i.e., own ship's
   acknowledgment), if that feature is available;

   (3) Tune for radiotelephony transmission on 2182 kHz; and

   (4) Transmit a broadcast message to “All stations” giving the ship's name,
   call sign or registration number, and MMSI, and cancel the false distress
   alert.

   (c) HF Digital Selective Calling;

   (1) Reset the equipment immediately;

   (2) Transmit a DSC distress alert cancellation (i.e., own ship's
   acknowledgment), if that feature is available, on each frequency on which
   the distress alert was transmitted;

   (3) Tune for radiotelephony on the distress and safety frequency in each
   band in which a false distress alert was transmitted; and

   (4) Transmit a broadcast message to “All stations” giving the ship's name,
   call sign or registration number, and MMSI, and cancel the false distress
   alert frequency in each band in which a false distress alert was
   transmitted.

   (d) INMARSAT ship earth station. Immediately notify the appropriate rescue
   coordination center that the alert is cancelled by sending a distress
   priority message by way of the same land earth station through which the
   false distress alert was sent. Provide ship name, call sign or registration
   number, and INMARSAT identity with the cancelled alert message.

   (e) EPIRB. If for any reason an EPIRB is activated inadvertently,
   immediately contact the nearest U.S. Coast Guard unit or appropriate rescue
   coordination center by telephone, radio or ship earth station and cancel the
   distress alert.

   (f) General and other distress alerting systems. Notwithstanding paragraphs
   (a) through (e) of this section, ships may use additional appropriate means
   available to them to inform the nearest appropriate U.S. Coast Guard rescue
   coordination center that a false distress alert has been transmitted and
   should be cancelled.

   [ 68 FR 46968 , Aug. 7, 2003]

Subpart H—Frequencies

Radiotelegraphy