§352 Exemptions

Summary

Says which ships do not have to follow the radio equipment rules. That list includes warships, most U.S. government-operated ships (with a few agency exceptions), foreign ships that are covered by an international Safety Convention or meet its radio rules, yachts under 600 gross tons if not covered by the Convention, vessels in tow, ships that only travel inside U.S. bays, sounds, rivers, or other protected waters (including trips that only leave or enter a U.S. port to travel on those waters), and ships that operate only on the Great Lakes and the part of the St. Lawrence River described up to the lower exit of the Saint Lambert lock at Montreal. The Federal Communications Commission may also exempt other ships (but not nuclear ships) when radios are unnecessary for the route. That can cover passenger ships that stay within 20 nautical miles of land or never go more than 200 nautical miles between ports, cargo ships that stay within 150 nautical miles of land, passenger vessels under 100 gross tons not covered by the Convention, and sailing ships. If equipment suddenly fails and repairs would cause an unfair delay, those distance limits can be ignored so the ship can reach a port for fixes. The Commission can also waive direction-finding gear for the same classes, except for nuclear ships and ships of 5,000 gross tons or more that are under the Safety Convention.