Sec.  80.329   Safety signals and messages.

   (a) The safety signal indicates that the station is about to transmit a
   message  concerning  the  safety  of  navigation  or  giving important
   meteorological warnings.

   (b) In radiotelegraphy, the safety signal consists of three repetitions of
   the group TTT, sent with the individual letters of each group, and the
   successive groups clearly separated from each other. It must be sent before
   the call.

   (c) In radiotelephony, the safety signal consists of the word SECURITE,
   pronounced as in French, spoken three times and transmitted before the call.

   (d) The safety signal and call must be sent on one of the international
   distress frequencies (2182 kHz or 156.8 MHz radiotelephone). Stations which
   cannot  transmit  on  a distress frequency may use any other available
   frequency on which attention might be attracted.

   (e) The safety signal and call must be followed by the safety message. Where
   practicable, the safety message should be sent on a working frequency, and a
   suitable announcement to this effect must be made at the end of the call.

   (f) Messages about meteorological warnings, of cyclones, dangerous ice,
   dangerous wrecks, or any other imminent danger to marine navigation must be
   preceded by the safety signal.

   (g) Stations hearing the safety signal must not make any transmission likely
   to interfere with the message.

   [ 51 FR 31213 , Sept. 2, 1986, as amended at  69 FR 64674 , Nov. 8, 2004;  73 FR 4485 , Jan. 25, 2008]