§ 80.324   Transmission of distress message by station not itself in
distress.

   (a) A mobile station or a land station which learns that a mobile
   station is in distress must transmit a distress message in any of the
   following cases:

   (1) When the station in distress cannot transmit the distress message.

   (2) When the master or person responsible for the ship, aircraft, or
   other vehicle not in distress, or for the land station, believes that
   further help is necessary.

   (3) When, although not in a position to assist, it has heard a distress
   message which has not been acknowledged. When a mobile station
   transmits such a distress message, it must notify the authorities who
   may be able to assist.

   (b) Transmission must be made on the international distress frequencies
   or on any other available frequency on which attention might be
   attracted.

   (c) Transmission of the distress message must always be preceded by the
   call indicated below, which must itself be preceded whenever possible
   by the radiotelegraph or radiotelephone alarm signal. This call
   consists of:

   (1) When radiotelegraphy is used:

   (i) The signal DDD SOS SOS SOS DDD:

   (ii) The word DE;

   (iii) The call sign of the transmitting station, sent three times.

   (2) When radiotelephony is used:

   (i) The signal MAYDAY RELAY, spoken three times;

   (ii) The words THIS IS;

   (iii) The call sign or other identification of the transmitting
   station, spoken three times.

   (d) When the radiotelegraph alarm signal is used, an interval of two
   minutes must be allowed, whenever this is considered necessary, before
   the transmission of the call mentioned in paragraph (c)(1) of this
   section.

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