Regulation 6 - Radio equipment - general

  (1) Except as provided in regulation 9(4) every vessel shall be provided with:

• (a) a VHF radio installation capable of transmitting and receiving:

  • (i) DSC on the frequency 156.525 MHz (channel 70). It shall be possible to initiate the transmission of distress alerts on channel 70 from the position from which the vessel is normally navigated; and

  • (ii) radiotelephony on the frequencies 156.300 MHz (channel 6), 150.650 MHz (channel 13) and 156.800 MHz (channel 16);

• (b) a radio installation capable of maintaining a continuous DSC watch on VHF channel 70 which may be separate from, or combined with, that required by subparagraph (a)(i);

• (c) a radar transponder capable of operating in the 9 GHz band, which:

  • (i) shall be so stowed that it can be easily utilized; and

  • (ii) may be one of those required by regulation VII/14 for a survival craft;

• (d) a receiver capable of receiving international NAVTEX service broadcasts if the vessel is engaged on voyages in any area in which an international NAVTEX service is provided;

• (e) a radio facility for reception of maritime safety information by the Inmarsat enhanced group calling system^footnote if the vessel is engaged on voyages in any area of Inmarsat coverage but in which an international NAVTEX service is not provided. However, vessels engaged exclusively on voyages in areas where all HF direct-printing telegraphy maritime safety information service is provided and fitted with equipment capable of receiving such service, may be exempted from this requirement;^footnote

• (f) subject to the provisions of regulation 7(3), a satellite EPIRB^footnote which shall be:

  • (i) capable of transmitting a distress alert either through the polar orbiting satellite service operating in the 406 MHz band or, if the vessel is engaged only on voyages within Inmarsat coverage, through the Inmarsat geostationary satellite service operating in the 1.6 GHz band;^footnote

  • (ii) installed in an easily accessible position;

  • (iii) ready to be manually released and capable of being carried by one person into a survival craft;

  • (iv) capable of floating free if the vessel sinks and of being automatically activated when afloat; and

  • (v) capable of being activated manually.

  (2) Until 1 February 1999 or until such other date as may be determined by the Maritime Safety Committee of the Organization, every vessel shall, in addition, be fitted with a radio receiver capable of maintaining a radiotelephone distress frequency watch on 2,182 kHz.

  (3) Until 1 February 1999 if the Protocol enters into force earlier than that date, every vessel shall, unless the vessel is engaged on voyages in sea area Al only, be fitted with a device for generating the radiotelephone alarm signal on the frequency 2,182 kHz.^footnote

  (4) The Administration may exempt vessels constructed on or after l February 1997 from the requirements prescribed by paragraphs (2) and (3).