Navigation (Signals of Distress, Urgency Signals and Danger Messages) Regulations (Cth)
NAVIGATION (SIGNALS OF DISTRESS, URGENCY SIGNALS AND DANGER MESSAGES)
REGULATIONS
- Reprinted as at 30 September 1981 (HISTREG CHAP 195 #DATE 30:09:1981)
REGULATIONS
- Reprinted as at 30 September 1981 (HISTREG CHAP 195 #DATE 30:09:1981)
*1* The Navigation (Signals of Distress, Urgency Signals and Danger Messages)
comprise Statutory Rules 1968 No. 40 as amended by the other Statutory Rules
specified in the following table:
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Application, saving Year and Date of notification Date of or transitional
number in Gazette commencement provisions
---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1968 No. 40 20 Mar 1968 20 Mar 1968
1974 No. 240 6 Dec 1974 6 Dec 1974 -
1977 No. 260 21 Dec 1977 1 Jan 1978 -
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
NAVIGATION (SIGNALS OF DISTRESS, URGENCY SIGNALS AND DANGER MESSAGES)
REGULATIONS - TABLE OF PROVISIONSTABLE
TABLE OF PROVISIONS
Regulation
1. Citation
2. Repeal
3. Interpretation
4. Prescribed signals of distress
5. Radiotelegraph alarm signal
6. Radiotelephone alarm signal
7. Use of prescribed signal of distress in radiotelegraphy and
radiotelephony
8. Use of radiotelegraph and radiotelephone alarm signals
9. Distress calls
10. Distress message
11. Duty of operator after transmission of message
12. Radio frequencies to be used
13. Repetition of distress message
14. Acknowledgment of receipt of distress messages
15. Repetition of a distress message by a receiving radio station
16. Authority to use or display prescribed signals of distress
17. Distress traffic
18. Obtaining help, &c., where unable to comply with Regulations
18A. Radio officer's duties on actuation of radiotelegraph auto-alarm in
radiotelegraph ship
19. Prescribed urgency signals
19A. Vital navigational warning messages
20. Authority to use prescribed urgency signal
21. Duties of person hearing prescribed urgency signal
22. Prescribed safety signals
23. Danger messages
24. Further observations and reports after danger messages
25. Duties of person hearing the prescribed safety signal
26. Priority of safety traffic
27. Report to shore
28. Master of ship to make entry in logbook
29. Speed of transmission
30. Improper use of signals or messages
31. Use of rockets weighing less than 60 grams
SCHEDULE 1
REGIONS IN WHICH CERTAIN RADIO FREQUENCIES ARE TO BE USED
SCHEDULE 2
BEAUFORT SCALE OF WIND FORCE
NAVIGATION (SIGNALS OF DISTRESS, URGENCY SIGNALS AND DANGER MESSAGES)
REGULATIONS - SECT. 1.
Citation
1. These Regulations may be cited as the Navigation (Signals of Distress, Urgency Signals and Danger Messages) Regulations.*1*
See notes to first article of this CHAPTER.
NAVIGATION (SIGNALS OF DISTRESS, URGENCY SIGNALS AND DANGER MESSAGES)
REGULATIONS - SECT. 2.
Repeal
2. The Navigation (Signals of Distress, Urgency Signals and Danger Messages) Regulations (comprising Statutory Rules 1959, No. 49 and Statutory Rules 1965, No. 99) are repealed.
NAVIGATION (SIGNALS OF DISTRESS, URGENCY SIGNALS AND DANGER MESSAGES)
REGULATIONS - SECT. 3.
InterpretationSub-reg. (1) amended by 1974 No. 240 r. 1; 1977 No. 260 r. 2
3. (1) In these Regulations, unless the contrary intention appears-
''aircraft radio station'' means a radio installation in an aircraft; ''at sea'', in relation to the maintenance of radio watch on a ship, means the period occupied in a voyage between the berth at one port of call and the berth at the next port of call;
''coast radio station'' means a radio installation established on land for the exchange of radio communications with ships;
''danger message'' means a message referred to in sub-section (1) of section 269A of the Act;
''distress call'' means a call referred to in regulation 9 of these Regulations;
''distress frequency'' means a radio frequency specified in regulation 12 of these Regulations;
''distress message'' means a message referred to in regulation 10 of these Regulations;
''distress traffic'', in relation to radiotelegraphy or radiotelephony, means all transmissions in connexion with the immediate assistance required by a ship or aircraft in distress;
''radio station'' means a ship radio station or a coast radio station;
''radio watch'' means listening on the frequency of five hundred kilohertz;
''radiotelegraph alarm signal'' means the signal referred to in regulation 5 of these Regulations;
''radiotelegraph auto-alarm'' means an apparatus for automatically receiving and registering a radiotelegraph alarm signal, being an apparatus that-
(a) complies with the requirements specified in the Fifth Schedule to the Navigation (Radio) Regulations; and
(b) is of a type approved in accordance with those Regulations;
''radiotelegraph ship'' means a ship that is equipped with a radiotelegraphy installation in pursuance of the Navigation (Radio) Regulations;
''radiotelephone alarm signal'' means the signal referred to in regulation 6 of these Regulations;
''ship radio station'' means a radio installation on board a ship;
''signal station'' means a signal station established on land for the exchange of visual communications with ships;
''silence periods'' means-
(a) in the case of a radiotelegraph ship-periods of three minutes beginning at the expiration of fifteen minutes and forty-five minutes, respectively, after each hour of each day reckoned according to Greenwich Mean Time; and
(b) in the case of a radiotelephone ship-periods of three minutes beginning at each hour, and at the expiration of thirty minutes after each hour, of each day reckoned according to Greenwich Mean Time;
''the Act'' means the Navigation Act 1912;
''the radiotelegraph room'', in relation to a radiotelegraph ship, means a room or adjoining rooms on the ship that is, or are, exclusively appropriated for the operation of the radio installation;
''tropical storm'' means a hurricane, typhoon or other storm of a similar nature;
''vital navigational warning message'' means a message of an urgent nature transmitted by a coast radio station by radiotelephony, being a message that conveys information in relation to a hazardous situation existing in the zone of transmission of that radio station.
Substituted by 1977 No. 260 r. 2
(2) In these Regulations-
(a) a reference to a wave, emission or signal of class A2 shall be read as a reference to an emission that is amplitude modulated in the double sideband mode; and
(b) a reference to a wave, emission or signal of class A2H shall be read as a reference to an emission that is amplitude modulated in the single sideband mode and in which the carrier wave is emitted at a power level of not more than 6 decibels below the peak envelope power.
NAVIGATION (SIGNALS OF DISTRESS, URGENCY SIGNALS AND DANGER MESSAGES)
REGULATIONS - SECT. 4.
Prescribed signals of distressSub-reg. (1) amended by 1977 No. 260 r. 3
4. (1) Subject to the succeeding provisions of this regulation, the signals referred to in Rule 37 in Schedule 1 to the Navigation (Collision) Regulations are the prescribed signals of distress.
(2) In radiotelegraphy, the prescribed signal of distress consists of three dots, three dashes and three dots transmitted as if they represented, in Morse code, a single letter.
(3) In radiotelephony, the prescribed signal of distress is the word ''MAYDAY''.
NAVIGATION (SIGNALS OF DISTRESS, URGENCY SIGNALS AND DANGER MESSAGES)
REGULATIONS - SECT. 5.
Radio-telegraph alarm signal
5. (1) A radiotelegraph alarm signal shall consist of a series of twelve dashes, sent in one minute, the duration of each dash being four seconds, and the duration of the interval between consecutive dashes being one second.
(2) A radiotelegraph alarm signal shall, if possible, be generated by automatic means.
NAVIGATION (SIGNALS OF DISTRESS, URGENCY SIGNALS AND DANGER MESSAGES)
REGULATIONS - SECT. 6.
Radiotelephone alarm signalSub-reg. (1) amended by 1977 No. 260 r. 4
6. (1) A radiotelephone alarm signal shall consist of two sinusoidal audio frequency tones transmitted alternately, one having a frequency of two thousand two hundred hertz and the other having a frequency of one thousand three hundred hertz, the duration of each tone being two hundred and fifty milliseconds.
(2) Where a radiotelephone alarm signal is generated by automatic means, it shall be sent continuously for a period of not less than thirty seconds but not more than one minute.
(3) Where a radiotelephone alarm signal is generated by other than automatic means, it shall be sent as often as practicable over a period of approximately one minute.
NAVIGATION (SIGNALS OF DISTRESS, URGENCY SIGNALS AND DANGER MESSAGES)
REGULATIONS - SECT. 7.
Use of prescribed signal of distress in radio-telegraphy and radio-telephony
7. In radiotelegraphy and radiotelephony, the prescribed signal of distress shall not be used except in connexion with the transmission of-
(a) a radiotelegraph alarm signal;
(b) a radiotelephone alarm signal;
(c) a distress call and a distress message;
(d) the acknowledgment of a distress message; or
(e) other distress traffic,
as prescribed by these Regulations.
NAVIGATION (SIGNALS OF DISTRESS, URGENCY SIGNALS AND DANGER MESSAGES)
REGULATIONS - SECT. 8.
Use of radio-telegraph and radio-telephone alarm signals
8. (1) Subject to this regulation, a radiotelegraph alarm signal or a radiotelephone alarm signal shall not be used except in connexion with the transmission of-
(a) a distress call or distress message;
(b) an urgent warning concerning a tropical storm; or
(c) a message that a person has been lost overboard.
(2) A radiotelegraph alarm signal or a radiotelephone alarm signal used to send a warning concerning a tropical storm shall only be transmitted by a coast radio station.
(3) A radiotelegraph alarm signal or a radiotelephone alarm signal shall not be used to transmit a message that a person has been lost overboard unless-
(a) the assistance of another ship is required but cannot be obtained by the use of an urgency signal only; and
(b) the message is preceded by an urgency signal.
(4) A radiotelegraph alarm signal or a radiotelephone alarm signal used to send a message that a person has been lost overboard shall only be transmitted by the ship from which the person was lost or by another radio station at the request of that ship.
Added by 1977 No. 260 r. 5
(5) Where a coast radio station has transmitted a radiotelephone alarm signal, that station shall, upon the completion of the transmission of that signal, transmit a signal having a single tone for a duration of 10 seconds at a frequency of 1300 hertz.
NAVIGATION (SIGNALS OF DISTRESS, URGENCY SIGNALS AND DANGER MESSAGES)
REGULATIONS - SECT. 9.
Distress calls
9. (1) In radiotelegraphy, the distress call consists of the prescribed signal of distress sent three times, followed by the word ''DE'' in Morse code, sent once, and the call sign of the radio station of the ship or aircraft in distress, sent three times.
(2) Subject to the next succeeding sub-regulation, in radiotelegraphy, the distress call shall be preceded by the radiotelegraph alarm signal and after an interval of two minutes has elapsed since the giving of the distress call, the distress call shall be repeated and shall be followed, in order, by the distress message, by two dashes of ten to fifteen seconds duration each and the call sign of the ship or aircraft in distress.
(3) Where time is vital or where transmission of the radiotelegraph alarm signal is considered unnecessary by the master of the ship or the pilot of the aircraft in distress, it is not necessary to give the radiotelegraph alarm signal, to allow the interval of two minutes to elapse before the distress call is repeated or to repeat the distress call.
(4) In radiotelephony, the distress call consists of the prescribed signal of distress, pronounced three times, followed by the words ''THIS IS'', followed by the call sign of the radio station of the ship or aircraft in distress, sent three times.
(5) In radiotelephony, the distress call shall if possible be preceded by the radiotelephone alarm signal and shall be followed by the distress message.
(6) After the transmission by radiotelephone of a distress message, the radio station of the ship or aircraft in distress may be, from time to time, requested to transmit suitable signals followed by its call sign or other identification to permit direction-finding radio stations to determine its position.
(7) The distress call has absolute priority over other transmissions from radio stations and a person operating a radio station who hears the distress call shall-
(a) immediately cease any transmission capable of interfering with the distress call and subsequent distress traffic; and
(b) listen on the radio frequency used for the transmission of the distress call.
Penalty: One hundred dollars.
(8) A person referred to in the last preceding sub-regulation shall not acknowledge receipt of the distress call before the distress message is sent.
Penalty: One hundred dollars.
(9) The distress call shall not be addressed to a particular radio station.
NAVIGATION (SIGNALS OF DISTRESS, URGENCY SIGNALS AND DANGER MESSAGES)
REGULATIONS - SECT. 10.
Distress message
10. (1) A distress message shall consist of the prescribed signal of distress followed by-
(a) the name of the ship or aircraft in distress;
(b) particulars of its position;
(c) the nature of the distress;
(d) the kind of assistance required; and
(e) any other information which might facilitate rescue.
(2) Subject to the next succeeding sub-regulation, in a distress message the particulars of the position of a ship or aircraft shall be given by stating in figures the degrees and minutes of north or south latitude of the position and the degrees and minutes of east or west longitude (from Greenwich) of the
position, using, in the case of radiotelegraphy, the Morse signal .-.-.- to separate the degrees from the minutes.
(3) When practicable the particulars of the position of a ship or aircraft in a distress message may be given by giving the true bearing and distance in nautical miles from a known geographical point.
NAVIGATION (SIGNALS OF DISTRESS, URGENCY SIGNALS AND DANGER MESSAGES)
REGULATIONS - SECT. 11.
Duty of operator after transmission of message
11. (1) After a person operating a ship radio station has transmitted by radiotelegraphy a distress message, he shall transmit two dashes of approximately ten seconds duration each, followed by the call sign of the ship radio station, to permit direction-finding radio stations to determine its position.
(2) The transmission to permit direction-finding radio stations to determine the position of the ship radio station may be repeated at frequent intervals, where necessary.
Amended by 1977 No. 260 r. 6
(3) Before the total abandonment of a ship, the radio transmitter of the ship shall, if possible, be set to transmit a continuous signal which, if it is practicable, shall be a class A2 emission or a class A2H emission.
NAVIGATION (SIGNALS OF DISTRESS, URGENCY SIGNALS AND DANGER MESSAGES)
REGULATIONS - SECT. 12.
Radio frequencies to be usedSubstituted by 1977 No. 260 r. 7
12. (1) Subject to sub-regulation (5), in radiotelegraphy, the radio frequency to be used for distress traffic is 500 kilohertz, used, if possible, on a class A2 emission or on a class A2H emission.
(2) Subject to sub-regulations (3) and (5), in radiotelephony, the radio frequency to be used for distress traffic is-
(a) in the case of radio stations working in the bands between 1605 and 2850 kilohertz-2182 kilohertz; and
(b) in the case of radio stations working in the bands between 156 and 174 megahertz-156.80 megahertz.
(3) Nothwithstanding anything contained in sub-regulation (2), in radiotelephony-
(a) the radio frequency 4125 kilohertz may be used for distress traffic by radio stations working in those parts of regions 1 and 2 that are south of parallel 15 degrees north latitude and by ship radio stations working in Mexico ; and
(b) the radio frequency 4125 kilohertz or 6215.50 kilohertz may be used for distress traffic by radio stations working in region 3 south of parallel 25 degrees north latitude.
(4) A reference in sub-regulation (3) to a region by number shall be read as a reference to the region so numbered in Schedule 1.
(5) The radio frequency to be used in the case of a ship radio station that is unable to comply with the preceding provisions of this regulation relating to radiotelegraphy or radiotelephony, as the case may be, is the normal calling radio frequency of the ship radio station.
NAVIGATION (SIGNALS OF DISTRESS, URGENCY SIGNALS AND DANGER MESSAGES)
REGULATIONS - SECT. 13.
Repetition of distress message
13. (1) A distress message, preceded by the distress call, shall be repeated during silence periods and at other times, at intervals that are long enough to allow receiving radio stations to answer, until an answer is received.
(2) The radiotelegraph alarm signal or the radiotelephone alarm signal may be repeated before the repetition, under the last preceding sub-regulation, of the distress call and distress message.
(3) Where no answer is received to a distress message sent on a distress frequency, the distress call and distress message may be repeated on any other available radio frequency on which attention might be attracted.
NAVIGATION (SIGNALS OF DISTRESS, URGENCY SIGNALS AND DANGER MESSAGES)
REGULATIONS - SECT. 14.
Acknowledgment of receipt of distress messages
14. (1) A person operating a radio station who received a distress message from a ship radio station or an aircraft radio station which is in his vicinity shall acknowledge receipt of the signal in accordance with the succeeding provisions of this regulation.
Penalty: One hundred dollars.
Amended by 1977 No. 260 r. 8
(2) In radiotelegraphy, the acknowledgment of receipt of a distress message shall take the following form:
(aa) the prescribed signal of distress;
(a) the call sign of the radio station of the ship or aircraft in distress, given three times;
(b) the word ''DE'';
(c) the call sign of the radio station acknowledging receipt, given three times;
(d) the group of letters ''RRR''; and
(e) the prescribed signal of distress.
Amended by 1977 No. 260 r. 8
(3) In radiotelephony, the acknowledgment of receipt of a distress message shall take the following form:
(aa) the prescribed signal of distress;
(a) the call sign of the radio station of the ship or aircraft in distress, given three times;
(b) the words ''THIS IS'';
(c) the call sign of the radio station acknowledging receipt, given three times;
(d) the word ''RECEIVED''; and
(e) the prescribed signal of distress.
(4) An acknowledgment of receipt of a distress message by a person operating a ship radio station shall, if the master of the ship so authorizes, be followed as soon as possible by information in the following form:
(a) the name of the ship;
(b) particulars of its position; and
(c) the speed at which it is proceeding towards the ship or aircraft in distress.
(5) For the purposes of the last preceding sub-regulation, the particulars of the position of the ship shall be given in the same manner as that prescribed by sub-regulations (2) and (3) of regulation 10 of these Regulations.
(6) Before transmitting the information referred to in sub-regulation (4) of this regulation, the person operating the ship radio station shall ensure that the transmission will not interfere with the transmissions of other radio stations, including aircraft radio stations, that are better situated to render immediate assistance to the ship or aircraft in distress.
(7) Subject to the next succeeding sub-regulation, an acknowledgment of the receipt of a distress message by a person operating a radio station shall be given immediately.
(8) Where other radio stations, including aircraft radio stations, are known by the person operating a radio station to be nearer to the ship or aircraft in distress, the acknowledgment of the receipt of a distress message shall not be transmitted until after a short interval of time in order to permit those other radio stations to acknowledge receipt of the distress message without interference.
NAVIGATION (SIGNALS OF DISTRESS, URGENCY SIGNALS AND DANGER MESSAGES)
REGULATIONS - SECT. 15.
Repetition of a distress message by a receiving radio station
15. (1) Where a person operating a radio station hears a distress message, he shall, unless receipt of the distress message is immediately acknowledged in accordance with the last preceding regulation, take all possible steps to attract the attention of a ship radio station or an aircraft radio station that is in a position to render assistance.
(2) In order to attract the attention of a ship radio station or an aircraft radio station that is in a position to render assistance, a person operating a ship radio station if the master of his ship so authorizes, and a person operating a coast radio station if the person in charge of the coast radio station so authorizes, may relay on full power, a distress message or part of such a message.
(3) In radiotelegraphy, the transmission of a distress message or part of a distress message under the last preceding sub-regulation or under paragraph (b) of sub-regulation (2) of the next succeeding regulation shall be preceded by-
(a) one dash, two dots, one dash, two dots, one dash and two dots transmitted as if they represented, in Morse code, a single letter;
(b) the prescribed signal of distress, sent three times;
(c) one dash, two dots, one dash, two dots, one dash and two dots transmitted as if they represented, in Morse code, a single letter;
(d) the word ''DE''; and
(e) the call sign of the transmitting radio station, sent three times.
(4) In radiotelephony, the transmission of a distress message or part of a distress message under sub-regulation (2) of this regulation or under paragraph (b) of sub-regulation (2) of the next succeeding regulation shall be preceded by-
(a) the words ''MAYDAY RELAY'' spoken three times;
(b) the words ''THIS IS''; and
(c) the call sign or other identification of the transmitting radio station, spoken three times.
(5) In radiotelegraphy, the transmission of a distress message or part of a distress message under sub-regulation (2) or (3) of this regulation or under paragraph (b) of sub-regulation (2) of the next succeeding regulation may be preceded by the radiotelegraph alarm signal if an interval of two minutes is left between the transmission of the radiotelegraph alarm signal and the transmission of the distress message or part of the distress message.
(6) In radiotelephony, the transmission of a distress message or part of a distress message under sub-regulation (2) or (4) of this regulation or under paragraph (b) of sub-regulation (2) of the next succeeding regulation may be preceded by the radiotelephone alarm signal.
NAVIGATION (SIGNALS OF DISTRESS, URGENCY SIGNALS AND DANGER MESSAGES)
REGULATIONS - SECT. 16.
Authority to use or display prescribed signals of distress
16. (1) A prescribed signal of distress shall not be used or displayed by a person on board a ship unless the use or display of that signal is authorized by the master of the ship.
(2) The master of a ship shall not authorize the use or display of a prescribed signal of distress unless he is satisfied that-
(a) his ship is in grave and imminent danger and requires immediate assistance; or
(b) where a ship other than his own, or an aircraft, is in distress, the ship or aircraft cannot use or display a prescribed signal of distress or requires immediate assistance in addition to any assistance already available.
(3) Where the master of a ship has authorized the use of a prescribed signal of distress by means of a transmission by a ship radio station, he shall cause a message revoking that signal to be transmitted as soon as he is satisfied that the ship or aircraft to which the signal relates is no longer in need of assistance.
NAVIGATION (SIGNALS OF DISTRESS, URGENCY SIGNALS AND DANGER MESSAGES)
REGULATIONS - SECT. 17.
Distress traffic
17. (1) The control of distress traffic is the responsibility of the person operating the radio station that originates the prescribed signal of distress, but that person may delegate the control to a person operating another radio station and, on any such delegation, the control of the distress traffic is the responsibility of the delegate.
(2) A person responsible for the control of distress traffic, or, if he believes it to be essential, the person operating any other radio station near the ship or aircraft in distress, may impose radio silence either on all radio stations in the area or on a particular radio station which interferes with the distress traffic.
(3) For the purpose of imposing radio silence under the last preceding sub-regulation when distress traffic is being conducted by radiotelegraphy-
(a) a person responsible for the control of distress traffic shall transmit the group of letters ''QRT'' followed by the distress signal addressed to all radio stations or a particular radio station, as the case requires; and
(b) a person operating any other radio station near the ship or aircraft in distress shall transmit the group of letters ''QRT'' followed by the word ''DISTRESS'' and the call sign of his own radio station addressed to all radio stations or a particular radio station, as the case requires.
(4) For the purpose of imposing radio silence under sub-regulation (2) of this regulation when distress traffic is being conducted by radiotelephony-
(a) a person responsible for the control of distress traffic shall transmit the words ''SEELONCE MAYDAY'' addressed to all radio stations or a particular radio station, as the case requires; and
(b) a person operating any other radio station near the ship or aircraft in distress shall transmit the words ''SEELONCE DISTRESS'' and the call sign of his own radio station addressed to all radio stations or a particular radio station, as the case requires.
(5) A person operating a radio station who has knowledge of any distress traffic shall comply with any instructions given by a person under the preceding provisions of this regulation.
Penalty: One hundred dollars.
Substituted by 1977 No. 260 r. 9
(6) A person operating a radio station who has knowledge of any distress traffic but is not taking part in the distress traffic shall not while the distress traffic continues-
(a) transmit on the radio frequency used for the distress traffic; or
(b) resume the normal service of his own radio station unless-
(i) the distress traffic is well established; and
(ii) the resumption will not interfere with the distress traffic.
Penalty: $100.
(7) A person operating a radio station who is taking part in distress traffic shall cause each call and each message transmitted by him in the course of that traffic to be preceded by the prescribed signal of distress.
Penalty: One hundred dollars.
Inserted by 1977 No. 260 r. 9
(7A) When distress traffic has not ceased but radio silence is no longer necessary, the person who has controlled the distress traffic shall transmit on the distress frequency and on any other radio frequency used for the distress traffic a message addressed to all radio stations-
(a) where the distress traffic was conducted by radiotelegraphy, in the following form:
(i) the prescribed signal of distress;
(ii) the group of letters ''CQ'', repeated 3 times;
(iii) the word ''DE'';
(iv) the call sign of his own radio station;
(v) the time of handing in the message for transmission;
(vi) the name and call sign of the radio station of the ship or aircraft in distress; and
(vii) the group of letters ''QUZ''; or
(b) where the distress traffic was conducted by radiotelephony, in the following form:
(i) the prescribed signal of distress;
(ii) the words ''HELLO ALL STATIONS'', spoken 3 times or the group of letters ''CQ'', spoken 3 times;
(iii) the words ''THIS IS'';
(iv) the call sign of his own radio station;
(v) the time of handing in the message for transmission;
(vi) the name and call sign of the radio station of the ship or aircraft in distress; and
(vii) the word ''PRU-DONCE''.
Amended by 1977 No. 260 r. 9
(8) When distress traffic has ceased the person who has controlled the distress traffic shall transmit on the distress frequency and on any other radio frequency used for the distress traffic a message, addressed to all radio stations-
(a) where the distress traffic was conducted by radiotelegraphy, in the following form:
(i) the prescribed signal of distress;
(ii) the group of letters ''CQ'', repeated three times;
(iii) the word ''DE'';
(iv) the call sign of his own radio station;
(v) the time of handing in the message for transmission;
(vi) the name and call sign of the radio station of the ship or aircraft in distress; and
(vii) the group of letters ''QUM''; or
(b) where the distress traffic was conducted by radiotelephony, in the following form:
(i) the prescribed signal of distress;
(ii) the words ''HELLO ALL STATIONS'', spoken 3 times or the group of letters ''CQ'', spoken 3 times;
(iii) the words ''THIS IS'';
(iv) the call sign of his own radio station;
(v) the time of handing in the message for transmission;
(vi) the name and call sign of the radio station of the ship or aircraft in distress; and
(vii) the words ''SEELONCE FEENEE''.
(9) In this regulation, a reference to a radio station includes a reference to an aircraft radio station which is taking part in distress traffic.
NAVIGATION (SIGNALS OF DISTRESS, URGENCY SIGNALS AND DANGER MESSAGES)
REGULATIONS - SECT. 18.
Obtaining help, &c., where unable to comply with Regulations
18. Notwithstanding anything contained in the preceding provisions of these Regulations, a person who is operating the radio station of a ship that is in serious and imminent danger and is unable to comply with those provisions may use any means at his disposal to attract attention, to make known the ship's position and to obtain help.
NAVIGATION (SIGNALS OF DISTRESS, URGENCY SIGNALS AND DANGER MESSAGES)
REGULATIONS - SECT. 18A.
Radio officer's duties on actuation of radiotelegraph auto-alarm in
radiotelegraph shipInserted by 1974 No. 240 r. 2 Sub-reg. (1) amended by 1977 No. 260 r. 10
18A. (1) Where the radiotelegraph auto-alarm with which a radiotelegraph ship is equipped is actuated when the ship is at sea-
(a) the radio officer of the ship; or
(b) if the complement of officers for the ship includes more than one radio officer-
(i) the first radio officer of the ship; or
(ii) if he is unavailable, the next senior radio officer who is available,
shall maintain, by means of headphone reception in the radiotelegraph room of the ship, continuous radio watch until he is authorized by this regulation to discontinue the radio watch.
Penalty: One hundred dollars.
(2) Where an urgency message is received on a ship, or a radio officer on a ship becomes aware that an urgency message has been transmitted, while a radio watch is being maintained on the ship, the radio watch may be discontinued after any action that the ship or any officers of the ship are required by the Act or these Regulations to take in connexion with the message has been taken, but not otherwise.
Amended by 1977 No. 260 r. 10
(3) Where a radio watch is being maintained on a ship in pursuance of sub-regulation (1) and an urgency message is not received, the radio officer who is maintaining the watch shall, after a period of fifteen minutes from the time when the radiotelegraph auto-alarm was actuated, communicate by radio (but not during a silence period) with a coast radio station in the vicinity of the ship and inquire if an urgency message has been transmitted while the radio watch has been maintained.
(4) Subject to sub-regulation (5), where, in a case to which sub-regulation (3) applies, the radio officer who is maintaining the watch-
(a) has made reasonable efforts to communicate by radio (but not during a silence period) with a coast radio station in the vicinity of the ship but has been unable to so communicate; or
(b) has communicated by radio (but not during a silence period) with a coast radio station in the vicinity of the ship and is satisfied, as a result of that communication and any other inquiries made by him that an urgency message has not been transmitted while the radio watch has been maintained on the ship,
and the radio officer maintaining the watch has not received an urgency message, the radio watch may be discontinued-
(c) after the minimum period of radio watch; or
(d) after the radio officer who is maintaining the watch has furnished a report to the officer in charge of the navigation of the ship of the action that he has taken in accordance with paragraph (a) or (b) and the result of that action,
whichever last occurs.
(5) Notwithstanding the provisions of sub-regulation (4), radio watch being maintained on a ship in a case to which sub-regulation (3) applies shall not, unless the radio officer has been unable to communicate with a coast radio station, be discontinued until a period of three minutes has elapsed since the radio officer has communicated with a coast radio station under the provisions of paragraph (b) of sub-regulation (4).
Amended by 1977 No. 260 r. 10
(6) Notwithstanding sub-regulations (4) and (5), where, before a radio watch consequent upon the actuation of the radiotelegraph auto-alarm with which the ship is equipped may be discontinued in accordance with this regulation, the officer keeping the radio watch is satisfied that the radiotelegraph auto-alarm was actuated by-
(a) a cause specified in paragraph (b) or (c) of item 26 in the Fifth Schedule to the Navigation (Radio) Regulations;
(b) an electrical storm; or
(c) malfunctioning of the equipment,
and the officer has informed the officer in charge of the navigation of the ship that he is so satisfied, the radio watch may be discontinued after the officer in charge of the navigation of the ship has been so informed.
Amended by 1977 No. 260 r. 10
(7) In this regulation-
''the minimum period of radio watch'', in relation to the actuation of the radiotelegraph auto-alarm with which a ship is equipped, means-
(a) a period of fifteen minutes; or
(b) a period equal to the period from the commencement of the radio watch to the expiration of the silence period that commences next after the actuation of the radiotelegraph auto-alarm,
whichever is the longer period;
''urgency message'' means-
(a) a distress call or distress message;
(b) an urgent warning concerning a tropical storm; or
(c) a message that a person has been lost overboard.
NAVIGATION (SIGNALS OF DISTRESS, URGENCY SIGNALS AND DANGER MESSAGES)
REGULATIONS - SECT. 19.
Prescribed urgency signalsSub-reg. (1) amended by 1977 No. 260 r. 11
19. (1) The following signals are the prescribed urgency signals:
(a) in radiotelegraphy-three repetitions of the group of letters ''XXX'' in Morse code, sent with the letters of each group, and the successive groups, clearly separated from each other; and
(b) in radiotelephony-three repetitions of the words ''PAN PAN''.
Amended by 1977 No. 260 r. 11
(2) A prescribed urgency signal shall be used for the purpose of giving notice that the calling radio station has a very urgent message to transmit (other than a vital navigational warning message) concerning the safety of a ship, an aircraft, a vehicle or a person.
Amended by 1977 No. 260 r. 11
(3) Subject to sub-regulation (3A), the radio frequency to be used for prescribed urgency signals and the messages that follow them is the same as that to be used for distress messages and other distress traffic.
Inserted by 1977 No. 260 r. 11
(3A) Where the message that follows a prescribed urgency signal is a long message, a medical call or, in an area of heavy radio traffic, a repeated message, the radio frequency used for that message-
(a) shall be a frequency other than that referred to in sub-regulation (3); and
(b) shall be specified at the end of the message.
(4) A prescribed urgency signal has priority over all other radio communications except distress traffic.
(5) A person shall not interfere with the transmission of a message that follows the use of a prescribed urgency signal.
Penalty: One hundred dollars.
(6) A message, other than a message dealing with medical matters, that follows a prescribed urgency signal shall be in plain language.
NAVIGATION (SIGNALS OF DISTRESS, URGENCY SIGNALS AND DANGER MESSAGES)
REGULATIONS - SECT. 19A.
Vital navigational warning messagesInserted by 1977 No. 260 r. 12
19A. (1) A coast radio station shall, before transmitting a vital navigational warning message, transmit for a period of 15 seconds a navigational warning signal consisting of a substantially sinusoidal tone having a frequency of 2200 hertz and a duration of 250 milliseconds alternating with a period of silence of the same duration.
(2) A vital navigational warning message has priority over all other radio communications except distress traffic and prescribed urgency signals.
NAVIGATION (SIGNALS OF DISTRESS, URGENCY SIGNALS AND DANGER MESSAGES)
REGULATIONS - SECT. 20.
Authority to use prescribed urgency signalSub-reg. (1) amended by 1974 No. 240 r. 3
20. (1) A prescribed urgency signal shall not be used-
(a) by a person on board a ship unless the use of that signal is authorized by the master of the ship; or
(b) by a person at a coast radio station unless the use of that signal is authorized by the Minister.
Amended by 1974 No. 240 r. 3
(2) Where the master of a ship or the Minister has authorized the use of a prescribed urgency signal before the transmission of a message addressed to all radio stations, including aircraft radio stations, that calls for action by any of those radio stations receiving the message, he shall cause that message to be cancelled by a further message addressed to all radio stations as soon as he is satisfied that the action is no longer necessary.
NAVIGATION (SIGNALS OF DISTRESS, URGENCY SIGNALS AND DANGER MESSAGES)
REGULATIONS - SECT. 21.
Duties of person hearing prescribed urgency signal
21. (1) A person operating a radio station who hears a prescribed urgency signal shall continue to listen and shall not resume the normal service of the radio station until-
(a) if no message follows the signal-the expiration of a period of at least three minutes; or
(b) if a message follows the signal-he is satisfied that no action or further action by him on the message is necessary.
Penalty: One hundred dollars.
(2) Where a message that follows a prescribed urgency signal is not addressed to all radio stations, radio stations that are in communication on radio frequencies other than those used for the transmission of the prescribed urgency signal and message may continue their normal service without interruption.
NAVIGATION (SIGNALS OF DISTRESS, URGENCY SIGNALS AND DANGER MESSAGES)
REGULATIONS - SECT. 22.
Prescribed safety signals
22. (1) The following signals are the prescribed safety signals:
(a) in radiotelegraphy-three repetitions of the group of letters ''TTT '' in Morse code, sent with the letters of each group and the successive groups, clearly separated from each other; and
(b) in radiotelephony-the word ''SECURITE'' (pronounced ''SAY-CURE-E-TAY'') repeated three times.
Substituted by 1977 No. 260 r. 13
(2) A prescribed safety signal shall be used for the purpose of giving notice that the calling radio station has a danger message to transmit concerning an important navigational or meteorological warning.
NAVIGATION (SIGNALS OF DISTRESS, URGENCY SIGNALS AND DANGER MESSAGES)
REGULATIONS - SECT. 23.
Danger messagesSub-reg. (1) amended by 1974 No. 240 r. 4
23. (1) A danger message shall be sent in the English language or by means of the International Code of Signals.
Amended by 1977 No. 260 r. 14
(2) A danger message shall convey the following information:
(a) in the case of ice, derelicts and other direct dangers to navigation-
(i) the kind of ice, derelict or other danger observed;
(ii) the position of the ice, derelict or other danger when last observed; and
(iii) the Greenwich Mean Time and the date when the danger was last observed;
(b) in the case of a tropical storm-a statement that a tropical storm has been encountered and, as far as is practicable-
(i) the position of the tropical storm as far as it can be ascertained;
(ii) the position, true course and speed of the reporting ship when the observation was made;
(iii) the Greenwich Mean Time and the date when the observation was made;
(iv) the barometric pressure with an indication as to whether that pressure is given in millibars, inches or millimetres and as to whether the reading is corrected or uncorrected;
(v) the change in barometric pressure during the previous three hours;
(vi) the true direction of the wind;
(vii) the wind force according to the Beaufort scale specified in Schedule 2;
(viii) the state of the sea, as being smooth, moderate, rough or high;
(ix) the swell, as being slight, moderate or heavy and the direction from which it comes; and
(x) the period or length of the swell, as being short, average or long;
(c) in the case of winds of force 10 or above on the Beaufort scale specified in Schedule 2, being winds in respect of which the ship has not received a storm warning-the information referred to in sub-paragraphs (ii) to (vii) (inclusive) of the last preceding paragraph; and
(d) in the case of sub-freezing air temperatures associated with gale force winds causing severe ice accretion on superstructures-
(i) the Greenwich Mean Time and the date when the observation was made;
(ii) the air temperature at that time;
(iii) the sea temperature at that time, if it is practicable to take it;
(iv) the wind force according to the Beaufort scale specified in Schedule 2; and
(v) the true direction of the wind.
(3) A danger message shall be sent as soon as the master of the ship has the required information and shall be repeated immediately after the end of the first available silence period.
(4) Where a danger message is repeated in accordance with the last preceding sub-regulation, the prescribed safety signal that precedes the repetition of the danger message shall be transmitted towards the end of the silence period.
(5) A danger message shall end with the name of the master of the ship transmitting the message or information and the call sign of the ship radio station.
Amended by 1977 No. 260 r. 14
(6) The radio frequency to be used for the safety signal and call that precedes a danger message is the same as that to be used for prescribed signals of distress, and the radio frequency to be used for the danger message shall be specified at the end of the safety signal and call.
(7) Nothing in this regulation shall be deemed to prevent a danger message being sent as part of a meteorological service that is transmitted at fixed times.
NAVIGATION (SIGNALS OF DISTRESS, URGENCY SIGNALS AND DANGER MESSAGES)
REGULATIONS - SECT. 24.
Further observations and reports after danger messages
24. The master of a ship from which a danger message referred to in paragraph (b), (c) or (d) of sub-regulation (2) of the last preceding regulation has been sent shall, while the ship remains in a position from which it is possible to make observations referred to in whichever of those paragraphs is applicable, continue to make further observations at hourly intervals and shall, as soon as practicable after he has on each occasion the required information, send messages in accordance with that regulation conveying that information.
NAVIGATION (SIGNALS OF DISTRESS, URGENCY SIGNALS AND DANGER MESSAGES)
REGULATIONS - SECT. 25.
Duties of person hearing the prescribed safety signal
25. (1) A person operating a radio station who hears the prescribed safety signal shall listen on the radio frequency used for the transmission of the signal until he is satisfied that the message is of no concern to him.
(2) A person shall not interfere with the transmission of a message that follows the use of the prescribed safety signal.
Penalty: One hundred dollars.
NAVIGATION (SIGNALS OF DISTRESS, URGENCY SIGNALS AND DANGER MESSAGES)
REGULATIONS - SECT. 26.
Priority of safety trafficAmended by 1977 No. 260 r. 15
26. A message preceded by the safety signal has priority over all communications other than distress traffic, vital navigational warning messages and traffic preceded by the urgency signal.
NAVIGATION (SIGNALS OF DISTRESS, URGENCY SIGNALS AND DANGER MESSAGES)
REGULATIONS - SECT. 27.
Report to shore
27. The master of a ship who has sent out a prescribed safety signal and danger message in accordance with section 269A of the Act shall-
(a) at the first opportunity, make a radio report containing the information contained in the danger message to the person in charge of the nearest available coast radio station, or, if it is not possible to so communicate with a coast radio station, make the report by visual means to the person in charge of the first signal station with which he is able to communicate, and request the person to whom the report is made to transmit the report to the appropriate Authority in the country in which the coast radio station or signal station is located; and
(b) immediately on arrival of the ship at its next port of call, lodge a copy of the report with the proper authority at that port.
NAVIGATION (SIGNALS OF DISTRESS, URGENCY SIGNALS AND DANGER MESSAGES)
REGULATIONS - SECT. 28.
Master of ship to make entry in logbook
28. The master of a ship shall enter in the official logbook of the ship a record of- (a) all new dangers to navigation observed;
(b) all danger messages and information received in regard to new dangers to navigation; and
(c) all danger messages and information sent or transmitted in regard to new dangers to navigation and the exact time and position of the ship when the danger message or information was sent or transmitted.
NAVIGATION (SIGNALS OF DISTRESS, URGENCY SIGNALS AND DANGER MESSAGES)
REGULATIONS - SECT. 29.
Speed of transmission
29. (1) For the purposes of these Regulations, the speed of transmission in radiotelegraphy, other than the transmission of a radio-telegraph alarm signal, is not more than sixteen words per minute.
(2) A message transmitted by radiotelephony shall be sent as slowly and distinctly as practicable, each word being clearly pronounced so as to facilitate transcription.
NAVIGATION (SIGNALS OF DISTRESS, URGENCY SIGNALS AND DANGER MESSAGES)
REGULATIONS - SECT. 30.
Improper use of signals or messages
30. (1) A person shall not-
(a) use or display a prescribed signal of distress;
(b) use a prescribed urgency signal; or
(c) send out a danger message,
unless the use, display or sending out is authorized by these Regulations or another regulation made under the Act.
Penalty: Two hundred dollars.
(2) Subject to the next succeeding sub-regulation, a person shall not use any flare, rocket or shell that could be mistaken for a prescribed signal of distress coming from a ship or from the member of a crew of a ship.
Penalty: Two hundred dollars.
(3) A person may, either at sea or on the coast, use a flare, rocket or shell other than in a case of distress and notwithstanding that it could be mistaken for a prescribed signal of distress used or displayed on board a ship if-
(a) at least three days before its use, he has obtained permission to do so in writing from the Minister or from a person authorized by the Minister by instrument in writing; and
(b) he has caused to be published, in a form approved of by the Minister or by a person authorized by the Minister by instrument in writing, a notice of his intention to use the flare, rocket or shell in a daily newspaper that was, not more than seventy-two or less than forty-eight hours before its use, circulated in the locality in which the flare, rocket or shell is to be used or from which its use would be visible.
NAVIGATION (SIGNALS OF DISTRESS, URGENCY SIGNALS AND DANGER MESSAGES)
REGULATIONS - SECT. 31.
Use of rockets weighing less than 60 gramsSub-reg. (1) amended by 1977 No. 260 r. 16
31. (1) Subject to the next succeeding sub-regulation, the last preceding regulation does not apply to a person who uses, on the coast, a rocket that weighs less than 60 grams.
Amended by 1977 No. 260 r. 16
(2) A person who, on the coast, uses a rocket that weighs less than 60 grams with the intention of misleading any person into the belief that it is a signal of distress is guilty of an offence and, upon conviction, is liable to a penalty not exceeding Two hundred dollars.
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NAVIGATION (SIGNALS OF DISTRESS, URGENCY SIGNALS AND DANGER MESSAGES)
REGULATIONS - SCHEDULE 1Schedule 1 inserted by 1977 No. 260 r. 17
SCH
SCHEDULE 1
Regulation 12
Region 1 consists of-
(a) the area limited on the east by line A and on the west by line B;
(b) those parts of Turkey and the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics lying
outside the area referred to in paragraph (a);
(c) the Mongolian People's Republic; and
(d) the area to the north of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics that
lies between line A and line C,
but does not include that part of Iran that lies between line A and line B.
Region 2 consists of the area limited on the east by line B and on the west by line C.
Region 3 consists of-
(a) the area limited on the east by line C and on the west by line A; and
(b) that part of Iran that lies outside the area between line C and line A,
but does not include-
(c) the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics;
(d) the Mongolian People's Republic;
(e) Turkey; or
(f) the area to the north of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics that
lies between line C and line A.
For the purposes of this Schedule-
(a) a reference to line A is a reference to an imaginary line extending from
the North Pole along meridian 40 degrees east longitude to parallel 40 degrees
north latitude, then following the great circle arc to the intersection of
meridian 60 degrees east longitude and the Tropic of Cancer, then following
meridian 60 degrees east longitude to the South Pole;
(b) a reference to line B is a reference to an imaginary line extending from
the North Pole along meridian 10 degrees west longitude to its intersection with parallel 72 degrees north latitude, then following the great circle arc to the
intersection of meridian 50 degrees west longitude and parallel 40 degrees north latitude, then following the great circle arc to the intersection of meridian 20 degrees west longitude and parallel 10 degrees south latitude, then following
meridian 20 degrees west longitude to the South Pole; and
(c) a reference to line C is a reference to an imaginary line extending from
the North Pole along the great circle arc to the intersection of parallel 65
degrees 30' north latitude with the international boundary in the Behring
Strait, then following the great circle arc to the intersection of meridian 165
degrees east longitude and parallel 50 degrees north latitude, then following
the great circle arc to the intersection of meridian 170 degrees west longitude
and parallel 10 degrees north latitude, then following parallel 10 degrees north latitude to its intersection with meridian 120 degrees west longitude, then
following meridian 120 degrees west longitude to the South Pole.
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NAVIGATION (SIGNALS OF DISTRESS, URGENCY SIGNALS AND DANGER MESSAGES)
REGULATIONS - SCHEDULE 2SCH
Heading substituted by 1977 No. 260 r. 18
SCH
SCHEDULE 2
Regulation 23
BEAUFORT SCALE OF WIND FORCE
------------------------------------------------------------------------------ --
Number Knots Description of Wind
------------------------------------------------------------------------------ -- 0 . . . . . . . . . less than 1 Calm
1 . . . . . . . . . 1 to 3 Light Air
2 . . . . . . . . . 4 to 6 Light Breeze
3 . . . . . . . . . 7 to 10 Gentle Breeze
4 . . . . . . . . . 11 to 15 Moderate Breeze
5 . . . . . . . . . 16 to 20 Fresh Breeze
6 . . . . . . . . . 21 to 26 Strong Breeze
7 . . . . . . . . . 27 to 33 Moderate Gale
8 . . . . . . . . . 34 to 40 Fresh Gale
9 . . . . . . . . . 41 to 47 Strong Gale
10 . . . . . . . . . 48 to 55 Whole Gale
11 . . . . . . . . . 56 to 65 Storm
12 . . . . . . . . . above 65 Hurricane
------------------------------------------------------------------------------ -- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ --
0
0
0