Title 47, Telegraphs, Telephones, and RadiotelegraphsRelease 119-102
§353a Operators and Watches on Radiotelephone Equipped Ships
Title 47 › CHAPTER 5 — WIRE OR RADIO COMMUNICATION › SUBCHAPTER III — SPECIAL PROVISIONS RELATING TO RADIO › Part II — Radio Equipment and Radio Operators On Board Ship › § 353a
Summary
Cargo ships with a ship radio must have at least one operator aboard — the captain, an officer, or another crew member. U.S. cargo ships must keep the radio on continuous watch when sailing outside a harbor or port unless it is in authorized use.
Full Legal Text
Title 47, §353a
Telegraphs, Telephones, and Radiotelegraphs, Source: USLM XML via OLRC
(a)Each cargo ship which in accordance with this part is equipped with a radiotelephone station shall, for safety purposes, carry at least one operator who may be the master, an officer, or a member of the crew.
(b)Each cargo ship of the United States which in accordance with this part is equipped with a radiotelephone station shall, while being navigated in the open sea outside of a harbor or port, maintain continuous watch whenever the station is not being used for authorized traffic.
Legislative History
Notes & Related Subsidiaries
Editorial Notes
Amendments
1965—Pub. L. 89–121 substituted “radiotelephone station” for “radiotelephone installation” in two places, and “one operator who may be the master, an officer, or a member of the crew” for “one qualified operator who may be a member of the crew holding only a certificate for radio telephony”, inserted “in the open sea” before “outside of a harbor”, and required a continuous watch whenever the station is not being used for authorized traffic.
Reference
Citations & Metadata
Citation
47 U.S.C. § 353a
Title 47, Telegraphs, Telephones, and Radiotelegraphs
Last Updated
Aug 21, 2026
Release point: 119-102