
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: 47USC357]

 
          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. 357. Safety information


(a) Transmission of information concerning safety at sea

    The master of every ship of the United States, equipped with radio 
transmitting apparatus, which meets with dangerous ice, a dangerous 
derelict, a tropical storm, or any other direct danger to navigation, or 
encounters subfreezing air temperatures associated with gale force winds 
causing severe ice accretion on superstructures, or winds of force 10 or 
above on the Beaufort scale for which no storm warning has been 
received, shall cause to be transmitted all pertinent information 
relating thereto to ships in the vicinity and to the appropriate 
authorities on land, in accordance with rules and regulations issued by 
the Commission. When they consider it necessary, such authorities of the 
United States shall promptly bring the information received by them to 
the knowledge of those concerned, including interested foreign 
authorities.

(b) Charges for transmission of safety information

    No charge shall be made by any ship or station in the mobile service 
of the United States for the transmission, receipt, or relay of the 
information designated in subsection (a) of this section originating on 
a ship of the United States or of a foreign country.

(c) Reimbursement by Commission

    The transmission by any ship of the United States, made in 
compliance with subsection (a) of this section, to any station which 
imposes a charge for the reception, relay, or forwarding of the required 
information, shall be free of cost to the ship concerned and any 
communication charges incurred by the ship for transmission, relay, or 
forwarding of the information may be certified to the Commission for 
reimbursement out of moneys appropriated to the Commission for that 
purpose.

(d) Charges for transmission of distress messages

    No charge shall be made by any ship or station in the mobile service 
of the United States for the transmission of distress messages and 
replies thereto in connection with situations involving the safety of 
life and property at sea.

(e) Free services

    Notwithstanding any other provision of law, any station or carrier 
may render free service in connection with situations involving the 
safety of life and property, including hydrographic reports, weather 
reports, reports regarding aids to navigation and medical assistance to 
injured or sick persons on ships and aircraft at sea. All free service 
permitted by this subsection shall be subject to such rules and 
regulations as the Commission may prescribe, which rules may limit such 
free service to the extent which the Commission finds desirable in the 
public interest.

(June 19, 1934, ch. 652, title III, Sec. 359, formerly Sec. 357, as 
added May 20, 1937, ch. 229, Sec. 10(b), 50 Stat. 195; renumbered 
Sec. 359, Aug. 13, 1954, ch. 729, Sec. 2(a)(1), 68 Stat. 706; amended 
Pub. L. 89-121, Sec. 9, Aug. 13, 1965, 79 Stat. 516.)


                               Amendments

    1965--Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 89-121 directed the master of every ship 
of the United States equipped with radio transmitting apparatus which 
encounters subfreezing air temperatures associated with gale force winds 
causing severe ice accretion on superstructures, or winds of force 10 or 
above on the Beaufort scale for which no storm warning has been received 
to transmit the pertinent information relating thereto.


                             Effective Date

    Section effective May 20, 1937, see section 16 of act May 20, 1937, 
set out as a note under section 351 of this title.
