
From the U.S. Code Online via GPO Access
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[Laws in effect as of January 23, 2000]
[Document not affected by Public Laws enacted between
  January 23, 2000 and December 4, 2001]
[CITE: 47USC354a]

 
          TITLE 47--TELEGRAPHS, TELEPHONES, AND RADIOTELEGRAPHS
 
                 CHAPTER 5--WIRE OR RADIO COMMUNICATION
 
          SUBCHAPTER III--SPECIAL PROVISIONS RELATING TO RADIO
 
       Part II--Radio Equipment and Radio Operators On Board Ship
 
Sec. 354a. Technical requirements of equipment on radiotelephone 
        equipped ships
        
    Cargo ships of three hundred gross tons and upward but less than one 
thousand six hundred gross tons may, in lieu of the radiotelegraph 
station prescribed by section 354 of this title, be equipped with a 
radiotelephone station complying with the following requirements:
    (a) The radiotelephone station shall be in the upper part of the 
ship, so located that it is sheltered to the greatest possible extent 
from noise which might impair the correct reception of messages and 
signals, and, unless such station is situated on the bridge, there shall 
be efficient communication with the bridge.
    (b) The radiotelephone installation shall be capable of transmitting 
and receiving on the frequencies, and using the classes of emission, 
designated by the Commission pursuant to law for the purposes of 
distress and safety of navigation.
    (c) The radiotelephone installation shall have a minimum normal 
range of one hundred and fifty nautical miles; that is, it shall be 
capable of transmitting and receiving clearly perceptible signals from 
ship to ship by day and under normal conditions and circumstances over 
this range.
    (d) There shall be available at all times a main source of 
electrical energy sufficient to operate the installation over the normal 
range required by subsection (c) of this section. If batteries are 
provided they shall have sufficient capacity to operate the transmitter 
and receiver for at least six continuous hours under normal working 
conditions. In installations made on or after November 19, 1952, a 
reserve source of electrical energy shall be provided in the upper part 
of the ship unless the main source of energy is so situated.

(June 19, 1934, ch. 652, title III, Sec. 356, as added Aug. 13, 1954, 
ch. 729, Sec. 2(d), 68 Stat. 706; amended Pub. L. 89-121, Sec. 7, Aug. 
13, 1965, 79 Stat. 515.)


                               Amendments

    1965--Pub. L. 89-121 limited the opening provisions to cargo ships 
of 300 gross tons and upwards.
    Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 89-121 required the radiotelephone station to 
be so located that it is sheltered to the greatest possible extent from 
noise which might impair the correct reception of messages and signals.
    Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 89-121 substituted ``on the frequencies, and 
using the classes of emission, designated'' for ``on the frequencies and 
with types of emissions designated''.
    Subsec. (c). Pub. L. 89-121 substituted ``radiotelephone 
installation'' for ``transmitter'' and inserted provisions requiring the 
installation to be capable of receiving clearly perceptible signals over 
the minimum normal range.
    Subsec. (d). Pub. L. 89-121 substituted ``a main source of 
electrical energy'' for ``a source of energy'', ``at least six 
continuous hours'' for ``at least six hours continuously'', and 
``installations made on or after November 19, 1952, a reserve source of 
electrical energy'' for ``in installations an emergency source of 
energy''.

                  Section Referred to in Other Sections

    This section is referred to in title 46 section 14305.
