Electronic Code of Federal Regulations:

(a) Commercial radio operator licenses issued by the Commission are classified in accordance with the Radio Regulations of the International Telecommunication Union.

(b) The following licenses are issued by the Commission. International classification, if different from the license name, is given in parentheses. The licenses and their alphanumeric designator are listed in descending order.

(3) G. General Radiotelephone Operator License (radiotelephone operator's general certificate).

(4) T–3. Third Class Radiotelegraph Operator's Certificate (radiotelegraph operator's special certificate).

(5) MP. Marine Radio Operator Permit (radiotelephone operator's restricted certificate).

(6) RP. Restricted Radiotelephone Operator Permit (radiotelephone operator's restricted certificate).

(8) ROL. Restricted GMDSS Radio Operator License (Restricted Operator's Certificate).

(c) The following license endorsements are affixed by the Commission to provide special authorizations or restrictions. Applicable licenses are given in parentheses.

(1) Ship Radar endorsement (First and Second Class Radiotelegraph Operator's Certificate, General Radiotelephone Operator License).

(2) Six Months Service endorsement (First and Second Class Radiotelegraph Operator's Certificate).

(3) Restrictive endorsements; relating to physical handicaps, English language or literacy waivers, or other matters (all licenses).

Coast Station Operator Requirements

§ 80.153 Coast station operator requirements.

(a) Except as provided in §80.179, operation of a coast station transmitter must be performed by a person who is on duty at the control point of the station. The operator is responsible for the proper operation of the station.

(b) An operational fixed station associated with a coast station may be operated by the operator of the associated coast station.

[51 FR 31213, Sept. 2, 1986, as amended at 54 FR 10008, Mar. 9, 1989; 54 FR 40058, Sept. 29, 1989; 62 FR 40305, July 28, 1997; 67 FR 48564, July 25, 2002]

Ship Station Operator Requirements

§ 80.155 Ship station operator requirements.

Except as provided in §§80.177 and 80.179, operation of transmitters of any ship station must be performed by a person holding a commercial radio operator license or permit of the class required below. The operator is responsible for the proper operation of the station.

§ 80.156 Control by operator.

The operator on board ships required to have a holder of a commercial operator license or permit on board may, if authorized by the station licensee or master, permit an unlicensed person to modulate the transmitting apparatus for all modes of communication except Morse code radiotelegraphy.

§ 80.157 Radio officer defined.

A radio officer means a person holding a first or second class radiotelegraph operator's certificate issued by the Commission who is employed to operate a ship radio station in compliance with Part II of Title III of the Communications Act. Such a person is also required to be licensed as a radio officer by the U.S. Coast Guard when employed to operate a ship radiotelegraph station.

§ 80.159 Operator requirements of Title III of the Communications Act and the Safety Convention.

(a) Each telegraphy passenger ship equipped with a radiotelegraph station in accordance with Part II of Title III of the Communications Act must carry one radio officer holding a first or second class radiotelegraph operator's certificate and a second radio officer holding either a first or second class radiotelegraph operator's certificate. The holder of a second class radiotelegraph operator's certificate may not act as the chief radio officer.

(b) Each cargo ship equipped with a radiotelegraph station in accordance with Part II of Title III of the Communications Act and which has a radiotelegraph auto alarm must carry a radio officer holding a first or second class radiotelegraph operator's certificate who has had at least six months service as a radio officer on board U.S. ships. If the radiotelegraph station does not have an auto alarm, a second radio officer who holds a first or second class radiotelegraph operator's certificate must be carried.

(c) Each cargo ship equipped with a radiotelephone station in accordance with Part II of Title III of the Communications Act must carry a radio operator who meets the following requirements:

(1) Where the station power does not exceed 1500 watts peak envelope power, the operator must hold a marine radio operator permit or higher class license.

(2) Where the station power exceeds 1500 watts peak envelope power, the operator must hold a general radiotelephone radio operator license or higher class license.

(d) Each passenger ship equipped with a GMDSS installation in accordance with subpart W of this part shall carry at least two persons holding an appropriate GMDSS Radio Operator License or, if the passenger ship operates exclusively within twenty nautical miles of shore, at least two persons holding either a GMDSS Radio Operator License or a Restricted GMDSS Radio Operator License, as specified in §13.7 of this chapter.

(e) Each ship transporting more than six passengers for hire equipped with a radiotelephone station in accordance with Part III of Title III of the Communications Act must carry a radio operator who meets the following requirements:

(1) Where the station power does not exceed 250 watts carrier power or 1500 watts peak envelope power, the radio operator must hold a marine radio operator permit or higher class license.

(2) Where the station power exceeds 250 watts carrier power or 1500 watts peak envelope power, the radio operator must hold a general radiotelephone operator license or higher class license.

[51 FR 31213, Sept. 2, 1986, as amended at 54 FR 40058, Sept. 29, 1989; 68 FR 46962, Aug. 7, 2003]

§ 80.161 Operator requirements of the Great Lakes Radio Agreement.

Each ship subject to the Great Lakes Radio Agreement must have on board an officer or member of the crew who holds a marine radio operator permit or higher class license.

§ 80.163 Operator requirements of the Bridge-to-Bridge Act.

Each ship subject to the Bridge-to-Bridge Act must have on board a radio operator who holds a restricted radiotelephone operator permit or higher class license.

§ 80.165 Operator requirements for voluntary stations.

Minimum Operator License
Ship Morse telegraph	T–2.
Ship direct-printing telegraph	MP.
Ship telephone, with or without DSC, more than 250 watts carrier power or 1,000 watts peak envelope power	G.
Ship telephone, with or without DSC, not more than 250 watts carrier power or 1,000 watts peak envelope power	MP.
Ship telephone, with or without DSC, not more than 100 watts carrier power or 400 watts peak envelope power:
Above 30 MHz	None.¹
Below 30 MHz	RP.
Ship earth station	RP.

¹RP required for compulsory ships and international voyages.

General Operator Requirements

§ 80.167 Limitations on operators.

The operator of maritime radio equipment other than T–1, T–2, or G licensees, must not:

(b) Operate any transmitter which requires more than the use of simple external switches or manual frequency selection or transmitters whose frequency stability is not maintained by the transmitter itself.

§ 80.169 Operators required to adjust transmitters or radar.

(a) All adjustments of radio transmitters in any radiotelephone station or coincident with the installation, servicing, or maintenance of such equipment which may affect the proper operation of the station, must be performed by or under the immediate supervision and responsibility of a person holding a first or second class radiotelegraph operator's certificate or a general radiotelephone operator license.

(b) Only persons holding a first or second class radiotelegraph operator certificate must perform such functions at radiotelegraph stations transmitting Morse code.

(c) Only persons holding an operator certificate containing a ship radar endorsement must perform such functions on radar equipment.

§ 80.175 Availability of operator licenses.

All operator licenses required by this subpart must be readily available for inspection.

§ 80.177 When operator license is not required.

(1) A shore radar, a shore radiolocation, maritime support or shore radionavigation station;

(i) The radar frequency is determined by a nontunable, pulse type magnetron or other fixed tuned device, and

(5) A ship station operating in the VHF band on board a ship voluntarily equipped with radio and sailing on a domestic voyage.

(b) No radio operator license is required to install a VHF transmitter in a ship station if the installation is made by, or under the supervision of, the licensee of the ship station and if modifications to the transmitter other than front panel controls are not made.

(d) No radio operator license is required to install a radar station on a voluntarily equipped ship when a manual is included with the equipment that provides step-by-step instructions for the installation, calibration, and operation of the radar. The installation must be made by, or under the supervision of, the licensee of that ship station and no modifications or adjustments other than to the front panel controls are to be made to the equipment.

[51 FR 31213, Sept. 2, 1986, as amended at 53 FR 41434, Oct. 28, 1987; 62 FR 40305, July 28, 1997]

§ 80.179 Unattended operation.

(a) EPIRB operations when emergency conditions preclude attendance of the EPIRB transmitter by a person.

(b) Automatic use of a transmitter during narrow-band direct-printing (NB-DP) operations in accordance with §80.219.

(d) Automatic use of a transmitter when operating as part of the Automated Maritime Telecommunications System (AMTS), an automated multi-station system for which provisions are contained in this part, or an automated public coast station.

(e) Automatic use of a VHF transmitter to send brief digital communications relating to the condition or safety of vessels while moored when all of the following conditions are met:

(1) The equipment must be using DSC in accordance with ITU–R Recommendation M.493–11, “Digital Selective-calling System for Use in the Maritime Mobile Service,” with Annexes 1 and 2, 2004, and ITU–R Recommendation M.541–9, “Operational Procedures for the Use of Digital Selective-Calling Equipment in the Maritime Mobile Service,” with Annexes 1 through 5, 2004, as modified by this section. ITU–R Recommendations M.493–11 with Annexes 1 and 2 and M.541–9 with Annexes 1 through 5 are incorporated by reference. The Director of the Federal Register approves this incorporation by reference in accordance with 5 U.S.C. 552(a) and 1 CFR part 51. Copies of these standards can be inspected at the Federal Communications Commission, 445 12th Street, SW., Washington, DC (Reference Information Center) or at the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA). For information on the availability of this material at NARA, call 202–741–6030, or go to: http://www.archives.gov/federal_register/code_of_federal_regulations/ibr_locations.html . The ITU–R Recommendations can be purchased from the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), Place des Nations, CH–1211 Geneva 20, Switzerland.

(2) Sensors must automatically activate the transmitter only under one or more of the following conditions:

(6) The call must employ a fixed format and must be in conformity with Recommendation 493 as follows:

(7) Such transmissions are permitted only on channel 70 and the transmitter must be inhibited automatically whenever there is another call in progress on Channel 70.

(8) The call sequence for any one alarm must not be repeated until after an interval of at least five seconds. Further repetition is permitted only after intervals of at least fifteen minutes each. Repetitions following fifteen-minute waiting intervals must not exceed three.

[54 FR 10008, Mar. 9, 1989, as amended at 62 FR 40305, July 28, 1997; 68 FR 46962, Aug. 7, 2003; 73 FR 4481, Jan. 25, 2008]

Subpart D—Operator Requirements

§ 80.151 Classification of operator licenses and endorsements.