[Code of Federal Regulations] [Title 47, Volume 1] [Revised as of October 1, 2002] From the U.S. Government Printing Office via GPO Access [CITE: 47CFR2.401] [Page 560] TITLE 47--TELECOMMUNICATION CHAPTER I--FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION PART 2--FREQUENCY ALLOCATIONS AND RADIO TREATY MATTERS; GENERAL RULES AND REGULATIONS--Table of Contents Subpart E--Distress, Disaster, and Emergency Communications Sec. 2.401 Distress messages. Each station licensee shall give absolute priority to radio[chyph]communications or signals relating to ships or aircraft in distress; shall cease all sending on frequencies which will interfere with hearing a radiocommunication or signal of distress and except when engaged in answering or aiding the ship or aircraft in distress, shall refrain from sending any radio[chyph]communications or signals until there is assurance that no interference will be caused with the radio[chyph]communications or signals relating thereto; and shall assist the ship or aircraft in distress, so far as possible, by complying with its instructions.