Sec.  80.325   Control of distress traffic.

   (a) Distress traffic consists of all messages relating to the immediate
   assistance required by the mobile station in distress. In distress traffic,
   the distress signal must be sent before the call and at the beginning of the
   preamble of any radiotelegram.

   (b) The control of distress traffic is the responsibility of the mobile
   station in distress or of the station which has sent the distress message.
   These stations may delegate the control of the distress traffic to another
   station.

   (c) The station in distress or the station in control of distress traffic
   may impose silence either on all stations of the mobile service in the area
   or on any station which interferes with the distress traffic. It must
   address these instructions “to all stations” or to one station only,
   according to circumstances. In either case, it must use one of the following
   signals which are reserved for use by the mobile station in distress and for
   the station controlling distress traffic:

   (1) In radiotelegraphy, the abbreviation QRT, followed by the distress
   signal SOS.

   (2) In radiotelephony, the signal SEELONCE MAYDAY.

   (d) If essential, any station of the mobile service near the ship, aircraft,
   or other vehicle in distress may also impose silence. It must use for this
   purpose:

   (1) In radiotelegraphy, the abbreviation QRT, followed by the word DISTRESS
   and its own call sign;

   (2) In radiotelephony, the word SEELONCE, followed by the word DISTRESS and
   its own call sign or other identification.