Title 47, Telegraphs, Telephones, and RadiotelegraphsRelease 119-102
§358 Master’s Control Over Operations
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 › § 358
Summary
On a U.S. ship, the captain has final authority over the radio gear, the operators, their watches, message sending/receiving, and the ship’s radio service, unless laws or international agreements say otherwise.
Full Legal Text
Title 47, §358
Telegraphs, Telephones, and Radiotelegraphs, Source: USLM XML via OLRC
The radio installation, the operators, the regulation of their watches, the transmission and receipt of messages, and the radio service of the ship except as they may be regulated by law or international agreement, or by rules and regulations made in pursuance thereof, shall in the case of a ship of the United States be under the supreme control of the master.
Legislative History
Notes & Related Subsidiaries
Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries
Effective Date
Section effective
May 20, 1937, see section 16 of act
May 20, 1937, set out as a note under section 351 of this title.
Reference
Citations & Metadata
Citation
47 U.S.C. § 358
Title 47, Telegraphs, Telephones, and Radiotelegraphs
Last Updated
Aug 21, 2026
Release point: 119-102