§ 80.1061   Special requirements for 406.0-406.1 MHz EPIRB stations.

   (a) Notwithstanding the provisions in paragraph (b) of this section,
   406.0-406.1 MHz EPIRBs must meet all the technical and performance
   standards contained in the Radio Technical Commission for Maritime
   Services document entitled RTCM 11000.2 (incorporated by reference, see
   § 80.7), and must also comply with the standards specified in
   § 80.1101(c)(5).

   (b) The 406.0-406.1 EPIRB must contain as an integral part a "homing"
   beacon operating only on 121.500 MHz that meets all the requirements
   described in the RTCM Recommended Standards document described in
   paragraph (a) of this section. The 121.500 MHz "homing" beacon must
   have a continuous duty cycle that may be interrupted during the
   transmission of the 406.0-406.1 MHz signal only. Additionally, at least
   30 percent of the total power emitted during any transmission cycle
   must be contained within plus or minus 30 Hz of the carrier frequency.

   (c) Prior to submitting a certification application for a 406.0-406.1
   MHz radiobeacon, the radiobeacon must be certified by a test facility
   recognized by one of the COSPAS-SARSAT Partners that the equipment
   satisfies the design characteristics associated with the measurement
   methods described in COSPAS-SARSAT Standard C/S T.001 (incorporated by
   reference, see § 80.7), and COSPAS-SARSAT Standard C/S T.007
   (incorporated by reference, see § 80.7). Additionally, the radiobeacon
   must be subjected to the environmental and operational tests associated
   with the test procedures described in Appendix A of RTCM Standard
   11000.2 (incorporated by reference, see § 80.7), by a test facility
   accepted by the U.S. Coast Guard for this purpose. Information
   regarding accepted test facilities may be obtained from Commandant
   (CG-5214), U.S. Coast Guard, 2100 2nd St SW., Mail Stop 7126,
   Washington, DC 20593-7126,
   http://cgmix.uscg.mil/EQLabs/EQLabsSearch.aspx.

   (1) After a 406.0-406.1 MHz EPIRB has been certified by the recognized
   test facilities the following information must be submitted in
   duplicate to the Commandant (G-MSE), U.S. Coast Guard, 2100 2nd Street
   SW, Washington, DC 20593-0001:

   (i) The name of the manufacturer or grantee and model number of the
   EPIRB;

   (ii) Copies of the certificate and test data obtained from the test
   facility recognized by a COSPAS/SARSAT Partner showing that the
   radiobeacon complies with the COSPAS/SARSAT design characteristics
   associated with the measurement methods described in the COSPAS-SARSAT
   Standard C/S T.001 and COSPAS-SARSAT Standard C/S T.007, and RTCM
   11000.2 (all incorporated by reference, see § 80.7);

   (iii) Copies of the test report and test data obtained from the test
   facility recognized by the U.S. Coast Guard showing that the
   radiobeacon complies with the U.S. Coast Guard environmental and
   operational characteristics associated with the measurement methods
   described in Appendix A of the RTCM Recommended Standards; and

   (iv) Instruction manuals associated with the radiobeacon, description
   of the test characteristics of the radiobeacon including assembly
   drawings, electrical schematics, description of parts list,
   specifications of materials and the manufacturer's quality assurance
   program.

   (2) After reviewing the information described in paragraph (c)(1) of
   this section the U.S. Coast Guard will issue a letter stating whether
   the radiobeacon satisfies all RTCM Recommended Standards.

   (d) A certification application for a 406.0-406.1 MHz EPIRB submitted
   to the Commission must also contain a copy of the U.S. Coast Guard
   letter that states the radiobeacon satisfies all RTCM Recommended
   Standards, a copy of the technical test data, and the instruction
   manual(s).

   (e) An identification code, issued by the National Oceanic and
   Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), the United States Program Manager
   for the 406.0-406.1 MHz COSPAS/SARSAT satellite system, must be
   programmed in each EPIRB unit to establish a unique identification for
   each EPIRB station. With each marketable EPIRB unit, the manufacturer
   or grantee must include a postage pre-paid registration card printed
   with the EPIRB identification code addressed to: NOAA/SARSAT Beacon
   Registration, E/SP3, Federal Building 4, Room 3320, 5200 Auth Road,
   Suitland, MD 20746-4304. The registration card must request the owner's
   name, address, telephone number, type of ship, alternate emergency
   contact and other information as required by NOAA. The registration
   card must also contain information regarding the availability to
   register the EPIRB at NOAA's online web-based registration database at:
   http://www/beaconregistration.noaa.gov. In addition, the following
   statement must be included: "WARNING--failure to register this EPIRB
   with NOAA before installation could result in a monetary forfeiture
   being issued to the owner."

   (f) To enhance protection of life and property it is mandatory that
   each 406.0-406.1 MHz EPIRB be registered with NOAA before installation
   and that information be kept up-to-date. Therefore, in addition to the
   identification plate or label requirements contained in § § 2.925 and
   2.926 of this chapter, each 406.0-406.1 MHz EPIRB must be provided on
   the outside with a clearly discernible permanent plate or label
   containing the following statement: "The owner of this 406.0-406.1 MHz
   EPIRB must register the NOAA identification code contained on this
   label with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)
   whose address is: NOAA, NOAA/SARSAT Beacon Registration, E/SP3, Federal
   Building 4, Room 3320, 5200 Auth Road, Suitland, MD 20746-4304." Vessel
   owners shall advise NOAA in writing upon change of vessel or EPIRB
   ownership, transfer of EPIRB to another vessel, or any other change in
   registration information. NOAA will provide registrants with proof of
   registration and change of registration postcards.

   (g) For 406.0-406.1 MHz EPIRBs whose identification code can be changed
   after manufacture, the identification code shown on the plate or label
   must be easily replaceable using commonly available tools.

   [ 68 FR 46974 , Aug. 7, 2003, as amended at  69 FR 64678 , Nov. 8, 2004;  73 FR 4488 , Jan. 25, 2008;  76 FR 67616 , Nov. 2, 2011]

   return arrow Back to Top

Subpart W--Global Maritime Distress and Safety System (GMDSS)

   return arrow Back to Top

General Provisions

   This subpart contains the rules applicable to the Global Maritime
   Distress and Safety System (GMDSS). Every ship of the United States
   subject to part II of title III of the Communications Act or the Safety
   Convention must comply with the provisions of this subpart. The rules
   in this subpart are to be read in conjunction with the applicable
   requirements contained elsewhere in this part; however, in case of
   conflict, the provisions of this subpart shall govern with respect to
   the GMDSS. For the purposes of this subpart, distress and safety
   communications include distress, urgency, and safety calls and
   messages.

   Source:  57 FR 9065 , Mar. 16, 1992, unless otherwise noted.

   Note: No provision of this subpart is intended to eliminate, or in
   anyway modify, other requirements contained in this part with respect
   to part II of title III of the Communications Act.

   return arrow Back to Top