RADIO
WATCHKEEPING REGULATIONS
Regulations Requiring Monitoring and Listening to VHF Marine
Radios
A charter boat whose radio was not tuned to the proper channel
missed a severe storm warning. By the time the captain learned
of the storm, it was too late to return to shore. The ship
sank and a couple of persons died. A yacht in trouble off
the west coast of Mexico and far from help saw a passenger
ship. What should have been a quick rescue could have turned
to disaster when the passenger ship (improperly) had its radio
off. The yacht was able to attract the ship's attention, however,
and was rescued. Misunderstanding of passing intentions by
approaching vessels and near collisions have repeatedly been
averted by working radios tuned to the proper channel.
Who regulates whom?
Three U.S. government agencies, the Federal Communications
Commission, the National Telecommunications and Information
Administration, and the U.S. Coast Guard; and two international
organizations, the International Telecommunications Union
and the International Maritime Organization; have each established
marine radio watch keeping regulations. Regulations on radio
watch keeping exist for all boats and ships --commercial,
recreational, government and military, domestic and foreign--
carrying marine radios.
International
Telecommunications Union (ITU). ITU regulates all
use of radio spectrum by any person or vessel outside U.S.
waters. ITU rules affecting radio, which have treaty status
in the U.S. and most other nations, are published in the ITU
Radio Regulations. The ITU has established three VHF marine
radio channels recognized worldwide for safety purposes:
- Channel 16 (156.800 MHz) - Distress, safety and calling
- Channel 13 (156.650 MHz) - Intership navigation (bridge-to-bridge)
- Channel 70 (156.525 MHz) - Digital
Selective Calling
International
Maritime Organization (IMO). IMO regulates the outfitting
and operation of most vessels engaged on international voyages,
except warships. Most IMO radio regulations affect all passenger
ships and other ships of 300 gross tonnage and upward. IMO
rules affecting radio are promulgated in the Safety of Life
at Sea (SOLAS) Convention which has been ratified in the U.S.
Federal
Communications Commission (FCC) - the FCC regulates
all sales, marketing, and, use of radios in the U.S., including
those onboard any recreational, commercial, state and local
government, and foreign vessel in U.S. territorial waters.
These regulations are contained in Title 47, Code of Federal
Regulations.
National
Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA)
- NTIA regulates all use of radio onboard any federal government
vessel, including military vessels. NTIA rules do not apply
outside the federal government.
U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) - The USCG regulates carriage
of radio on most commercial vessels, foreign vessels in U.S.
waters, survival craft, and vessels subject to the Bridge-to-Bridge
Act (generally all vessels over 20m length) and operating
in a Vessel Traffic Service (VTS) area.
Radio Watchkeeping Regulations
In general, any vessel equipped with a VHF marine radiotelephone
(whether voluntarily or required to) must maintain a watch
on channel 16 (156.800 MHz) whenever the radiotelephone is
not being used to communicate.
Source: FCC 47 CFR §§ 80.148, 80.310, NTIA Manual
8.2.29.6.c(2)(e), ITU RR 31.17, 33.18, AP13 §25.2
In addition, every power-driven vessel of 20 meters or over
in length or of 100 tons and upwards carrying one or more
passengers for hire, or a towing vessel of 26 feet or over
in length, as well, as every dredge and floating plant operating
near a channel or fairway, must also maintain a watch on channel
13 (156.650 MHz) --channel 67 (156.375 MHz) if operating on
the lower Mississippi River-- ; while navigating on U.S. waters
(which include the territorial sea, internal waters that are
subject to tidal influence, and, those not subject to tidal
influence but that are used or are determined to be capable
of being used for substantial interstate or foreign commerce).
Sequential monitoring techniques (scanners) alone cannot be
used to meet this requirement; two radios (including portable
radios, i.e. handhelds) or one radio with two receivers, are
required. These vessels must also maintain a watch on the
designated Vessel Traffic Service (VTS) frequency, in lieu
of maintaining watch on channel 16, while transiting within
a VTS area. See 33 CFR §§ 2.36, 26, and 161; 47
CFR §§ 80.148, 80.308-309; NTIA: NTIA Manual Chapter
8.2.29.7.
Digital Selective Calling
Ships, where so equipped, shall, while at sea, maintain an
automatic digital selective calling watch on the appropriate
distress & safety calling frequencies [e.g. channel 70]
in the frequency bands in which they are operating. If operating
in a GMDSS Sea Area A1 may discontinue their watch on channel
16. However, ships, where so equipped, shall also maintain
watch on the appropriate frequencies for the automatic reception
of transmissions of meteorological and navigational warnings
and other urgent information for ships.
Ship stations complying with these provisions should, where
practicable, maintain a watch on the frequency 156.650 MHz
for communications related to the safety of navigation.
ITU RR 31.17, 33.18, AP13 §25.2
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