[Code of Federal Regulations]
[Title 46, Volume 1]
[Revised as of October 1, 2008]
From the U.S. Government Printing Office via GPO Access
[CITE: 46CFR28.245]

[Page 345-346]
 
                           TITLE 46--SHIPPING
 
         CHAPTER I--COAST GUARD, DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY
 
PART 28_REQUIREMENTS FOR COMMERCIAL FISHING INDUSTRY VESSELS--
Table of Contents
 
 Subpart C_Requirements for Documented Vessels That Operate Beyond the 
 Boundary Lines or With More Than 16 Individuals On Board, or for Fish 
              Tender Vessels Engaged in the Aleutian Trade
 
Sec. 28.245  Communication equipment.

    (a) Except as provided in paragraphs (b) through (e) of this 
section, each vessel must be equipped as follows.
    (1) Each vessel must be equipped with a VHF radiotelephone capable 
of transmitting and receiving on the frequency or frequencies within the 
156-162 MHz band necessary to communicate with a public coast station or 
U.S. Coast Guard station serving the area in which the vessel is 
operating.
    (2) Each vessel that operates more than 20 miles from the coastline, 
in addition to the VHF radiotelephone required by paragraph (a)(1) of 
this section, must be equipped with a radiotelephone transceiver capable 
of transmitting and receiving on frequencies in the 2-4 MHz band 
necessary to communicate with a public coast station or U.S. Coast Guard 
station serving the area in which the vessel is operating.
    (3) Each vessel that operates more than 100 miles from the 
coastline, in addition to the communication equipment required by 
paragraph (a)(1) of this section must be equipped with a radiotelephone 
transceiver capable of transmitting and receiving on frequencies in the 
2-27.5 MHz band necessary to communicate with a public coast station or 
U.S. Coast Guard station serving the area in which the vessel is 
operating.
    (4) Each vessel that operates in waters contiguous to Alaska where 
no public coast station or U.S. Coast Guard station is within 
communications range of a VHF radio transceiver operating on the 156-162 
MHz band or the 2-4 MHz band, in addition to the VHF radio communication 
equipment required by paragraph (a)(1) of this section, must be equipped 
with a radiotelephone transceiver capable of transmitting and receiving 
on frequencies in the 2-27.5 MHz band necessary to communicate with a 
public coast station or a U.S. Coast Guard station serving the area in 
which the vessel is operating.
    (b) A single radio transceiver capable of meeting the requirements 
of paragraphs (a) (2) and (3), or paragraphs (a) (2), (3), and (4) of 
this section, is acceptable.
    (c) Satellite communication capability with the system servicing the 
area in which the vessel is operating is acceptable as an alternative to 
the requirements of paragraphs (a)(2), (a)(3), or (a)(4) of this 
section.
    (d) A cellular telephone capable of communicating with a public 
coast station or a U.S. Coast Guard station serving the area in which 
the vessel is operating is acceptable as an alternative to the 
requirements of paragraphs (a)(2), (a)(3), or (a)(4) of this section.
    (e) A radiotelephone transceiver installed on board a vessel before 
September 15, 1991, capable of transmitting and receiving on frequencies 
on the 4-20 MHz band may continue to be used to satisfy the requirements 
of paragraphs (a)(3) and (a)(4) of this section.
    (f) The principle operating position of the communication equipment 
must be at the operating station.
    (g) Communication equipment must be installed to ensure safe 
operation of the equipment and to facilitate repair. It must be 
protected against vibration, moisture, temperature, and excessive 
currents and voltages. It must be located so as to minimize the 
possibility of water intrusion from windows broken by heavy seas.
    (h) Communication equipment must comply with the technical standards 
and operating requirements issued by the Federal Communications 
Commission, as set forth in 47 CFR part 80.


[[Page 346]]


    Note: Each vessel which uses radio equipment to meet the 
communication requirements of this section must have a Ship Radio 
Station License issued by the Federal Communications Commission, as set 
forth in 47 CFR part 80.

    (i) All communication equipment must be provided with an emergency 
source of power that complies with Sec. 28.375.