General provisions

§ 1 This Chapter contains the provisions for the operational use of the global maritime distress and safety system (GMDSS), whose functional requirements, system elements and equipment carriage requirements are set forth in the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS), 1974, as amended. This Chapter also contains provisions for initiating distress, urgency and safety communications by means of radiotelephony on the frequency 156.8 MHz (VHF channel 16). (WRC-07)

§ 2 No provision of these Regulations prevents the use by a mobile station or a mobile earth station in distress of any means at its disposal to attract attention, make known its position, and obtain help (see also No. 4.9).

§ 3 No provision of these Regulations prevents the use by stations on board aircraft, ships engaged in search and rescue operations, land stations, or coast earth stations, in exceptional circumstances, of any means at their disposal to assist a mobile station or a mobile earth station in distress (see also Nos. 4.9 and 4.16).

§ 4 The provisions specified in this Chapter are obligatory in the maritime mobile service and the maritime mobile-satellite service for all stations using the frequencies and techniques prescribed for the functions set out herein (see also No. 30.5). (WRC-07)

§ 5 The International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS), 1974, as amended, prescribes which ships and which of their survival craft shall be provided with radio equipment, and which ships shall carry portable radio equipment for use in survival craft. It also prescribes the requirements which shall be met by such equipment.

§ 6 Ship earth stations located at rescue coordination centres may be authorized by an administration to communicate for distress and safety purposes with any other station using bands allocated to the maritime mobile-satellite service, when special circumstances make it essential, notwithstanding the methods of working provided for in these Regulations.

§ 7 Mobile stations of the maritime mobile service may communicate, for safety purposes, with stations of the aeronautical mobile service. Such communications shall normally be made on the frequencies authorized, and under the conditions specified in Section I of Article 31 (see also No. 4.9).

§ 8 The procedure specified in this Chapter is obligatory for communications between stations on board aircraft and stations of the maritime mobile-satellite service, wherever this service or stations of this service are specifically mentioned.

§ 9 Certain provisions of this Chapter are applicable to the aeronautical mobile service, except in the case of special arrangements between the governments concerned.

§ 10 Mobile stations of the aeronautical mobile service may communicate, for distress and safety purposes, with stations of the maritime mobile service in conformity with the provisions of this Chapter.

§ 11 Any station on board an aircraft required by national or international regulations to communicate for distress, urgency or safety purposes with stations of the maritime mobile service that comply with the provisions of this Chapter, shall be capable of transmitting and receiving class J3E emissions when using the carrier frequency 2 182 kHz, or class J3E emissions when using the carrier frequency 4 125 kHz, or class G3E emissions when using the frequency 156.8 MHz and, optionally, the frequency 156.3 MHz.

§ 11A Aircraft, when conducting search and rescue operations, are also permitted to operate digital selective calling (DSC) equipment on the VHF DSC frequency 156.525 MHz, and automatic identification system (AIS) equipment on the AIS frequencies 161.975 MHz and 162.025 MHz. (WRC-07)

§ 12 Stations of the land mobile service in uninhabited, sparsely populated or remote areas may, for distress and safety purposes, use the frequencies provided for in this Chapter.

§ 13 The procedure specified in this Chapter is obligatory for stations of the land mobile service when using frequencies provided in these Regulations for distress and safety communications.