Sec.  80.1123   Watch requirements for ship stations.

   (a) While at sea, all ships must maintain a continuous watch:

   (1)  On  VHF  DSC  channel  70, if the ship is fitted with a VHF radio
   installation in accordance with  Sec. 80.1085(a)(2);

   (2) On the distress and safety DSC frequency 2187.5 kHz, if the ship is
   fitted with an MF radio installation in accordance with  Sec.  Sec. 80.1089(a)(2) or
   80.1091(a)(3);

   (3) On the distress and safety DSC frequencies 2187.5 kHz and 8414.5 kHz
   also on at least one of the distress and safety DSC frequencies 4207.5 kHz,
   6312 kHz, 12577 kHz, or 16804.5 kHz appropriate to the time of day and the
   geographical position of the ship, if the ship is fitted with an MF/HF radio
   installation in accordance with  Sec.  Sec. 80.1091(a)(2)(ii) or 80.1093(a) of this
   part (this watch may be kept by means of a scanning receiver limited to six
   distress and safety DSC frequencies); and

   (4) For satellite shore-to-ship distress alert, if the ship is fitted with
   an INMARSAT ship earth station in accordance with  Sec. 80.1091(a)(1).

   (b) While at sea, all ships must maintain radio watches for broadcasts of
   maritime safety information on the appropriate frequency or frequencies on
   which  such information is broadcast for the area in which the ship is
   navigating.

   (c) Every ship while at sea must maintain, when practicable, a continuous
   listening watch on VHF Channel 16. This watch must be kept at the position
   from  which  the  ship is normally navigated or at a position which is
   continuously manned.

   (d) On receipt of a distress alert transmitted by use of digital selective
   calling techniques, ship stations must set watch on the radiotelephone
   distress and safety traffic frequency associated with the distress and
   safety calling frequency on which the distress alert was received.

   (e) Ship stations with narrow-band direct printing equipment must set watch
   on the narrow-band direct-printing frequency associated with the distress
   alert signal if it indicates that narrow-band direct-printing is to be used
   for  subsequent  distress  communications. If practicable, they should
   additionally set watch on the radiotelephone frequency associated with the
   distress alert frequency.

   [ 51 FR 31213 , Sept. 2, 1986, as amended at  68 FR 46981 , Aug. 7, 2003;  73 FR 4492 , Jan. 25, 2008]