§ 80.308   Watch required by the Great Lakes Radio Agreement.

   (a) Each ship of the United States that is equipped with a
   radiotelephone station for compliance with the Great Lakes Radio
   Agreement must when underway keep a watch on:

   (1) 156.800 MHz on board a vessel 20 meters (65 feet) and over in
   length, a vessel engaged in towing (See § 80.951(b)), or a vessel
   carrying more than 6 passengers for hire. This watch must be maintained
   whenever the station is not being used for authorized traffic. However,
   a watch on 156.800 MHz need not be maintained by a vessel maintaining a
   watch on the bridge-to-bridge frequency 156.650 MHz and participating
   in a Vessel Traffic Services (VTS) system and maintaining a watch on
   the specified VTS frequency.

   (2) 156.650 MHz on board a vessel 38 meters (124 feet) and over in
   length, a vessel engaged in towing (See § 80.951(b)), or a vessel
   carrying more than six passengers for hire. This watch must be
   maintained continuously and effectively. Sequential monitoring is not
   sufficient. Portable VHF equipment may be used to meet this
   requirement. Vessels are exempted from this requirement while
   transiting the St. Lawrence Seaway and complying with the Joint
   Regulations of the St. Lawrence Seaway Authority and St. Lawrence
   Seaway Development Corporation between the lower exit of St. Lambert
   Lock at Montreal and Crossover Island, New York and in the Welland
   Canal and approaches between Calling in Point No. 15 and No. 16.

   (b) The watch must be maintained by the master, or person designated by
   the master, who may perform other duties provided they do not interfere
   with the effectiveness of the watch.

   [ 53 FR 17052 , May 13, 1988]

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