Regulations last checked for updates: Oct 17, 2024

Title 33 - Navigation and Navigable Waters last revised: Oct 15, 2024
§ 401.9 - Radio telephone and navigation equipment.

(a) Self-propelled vessels, other than pleasure craft of less than 20.0 m in overall length, shall be equipped with VHF (very high frequency) radiotelephone equipment.

(1) All communications shall be on the applicable VHF frequency. The use of personal electronic devices for communication between vessels or with traffic control should be limited to necessity.

(2) Please note that communications into the Traffic Control Center may be recorded for quality assurance and training purposes.

(b) The radio transmitters on a vessel shall:

(1) Have sufficient power output to enable the vessel to communicate with Seaway stations from a distance of 48 km; and

(2) Be fitted to operate from the conning position in the wheelhouse and to communicate on channels 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 66a, 75, 76 and 77.

(c) Gyro compass error greater than 2 degrees must be serviced prior to transiting the Seaway, if noted during a Seaway transit, it must be reported to the nearest Seaway station and the gyro compass must be serviced at first opportunity.

(68 Stat. 93-96, 33 U.S.C. 981-990,as. 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 12 and 13 of sec. 2 of Pub. L. 95-474, 92 Stat. 1471) [39 FR 10900, Mar. 22, 1974, as amended at 40 FR 11721, Mar. 13, 1975; 47 FR 51121, Nov. 12, 1982; 48 FR 20690, May 9, 1983; 61 FR 19551, May 2, 1996; 70 FR 12970, Mar. 17, 2005; 79 FR 12659, Mar. 6, 2014; 82 FR 12419, Mar. 3, 2017; 85 FR 15950, Mar. 20, 2020; 88 FR 14267, Mar. 8, 2023; 89 FR 15960, Mar. 6, 2024]
cite as: 33 CFR 401.9