47-U.S.C.-353
§353 – Radio Equipment and Operators
Pathway
Title 47 > Chapter 5 > Subchapter III > Part II > Section 353
Details
- Reference: Section 353
- Legend: §353 – Radio Equipment and Operators
- USCode Year: 2013
Provision Content
(a) Two radio officers required
Each cargo ship which in accordance with this part is equipped with a radiotelegraph station and which is not equipped with a radiotelegraph auto alarm, and each passenger ship required by this part to be equipped with a radiotelegraph station, shall, for safety purposes, carry at least two radio officers.
(b) One radio officer required
A cargo ship which in accordance with this part is equipped with a radiotelegraph station, which is equipped with a radiotelegraph auto alarm, shall, for safety purposes, carry at least one radio officer who shall have had at least six months’ previous service in the aggregate as a radio officer in a station on board a ship or ships of the United States.
(c) Required watches
Each ship of the United States which in accordance with this part is equipped with a radiotelegraph station shall, while being navigated in the open sea outside of a harbor or port, keep a continuous watch by means of radio officers whenever the station is not being used for authorized traffic: Provided, That, in lieu thereof, on a cargo ship equipped with a radiotelegraph auto alarm in proper operating condition, a watch of at least eight hours per day, in the aggregate, shall be maintained by means of a radio officer.
(d) Hours of watch
The Commission shall, when it finds it necessary for safety purposes, have authority to prescribe the particular hours of watch on a ship of the United States which in accordance with this part is equipped with a radiotelegraph station.
(e) Operational status of auto alarms in open sea
On all ships of the United States equipped with a radiotelegraph auto alarm, said apparatus shall be in operation at all times while the ship is being navigated in the open sea outside of a harbor or port when the radio officer is not on watch.
(June 19, 1934, ch. 652, title III, §353, as added May 20, 1937, ch. 229, §10(b), 50 Stat. 193; amended July 8, 1941, ch. 278, 55 Stat. 579; June 22, 1943, ch. 137, 57 Stat. 161; July 25, 1947, ch. 327, §2(a), 61 Stat. 451; Aug. 13, 1954, ch. 729, §1(d), 68 Stat. 705; Pub. L. 89–121, §4, Aug. 13, 1965, 79 Stat. 513.)
Amendments
1965—Pub. L. 89–121, among other changes, substituted wherever appearing radiotelegraph station for radiotelegraph installation, radiotelegraph auto alarm for auto-alarm, and radio officer and radio officers for qualified operator and qualified operators, required a continuous watch to be kept when the radiotelegraph station is not being used for authorized traffic, and inserted while being navigated in the open sea in two places.
1954—Act Aug. 13, 1954, amended section to make clear that it applies only to ships equipped with a radiotelegraph installation, not those fitted with a radiotelephone installation.
1943—Subsec. (b). Act June 22, 1943, substituted the termination of such emergency or such earlier date as Congress by concurrent resolution may designate for June 30, 1943.
1941—Subsec. (b). Act July 8, 1941, inserted exception respecting national emergency.
Acts July 8, 1941, and June 22, 1943, which amended subsec. (b) of this section by adding the clause authorizing suspension or modification of the service requirement during the emergency, were repealed, effective July 1, 1948, by act July 25, 1947, which provided that such acts should remain in full force and effect until such date.
Effective Date
Section effective May 20, 1937, unless deferred by the Commission, see section 16 of act May 20, 1937, set out as a note under section 351 of this title.
Approval of Operators by Secretary of Navy During War
Act Dec. 17, 1941, ch. 588, 55 Stat. 808, as amended June 28, 1943, ch. 174, 57 Stat. 244; June 13, 1945, ch. 190, 59 Stat. 259; 1946 Reorg. Plan No. 3, §101, eff. July 16, 1946, 11 F.R. 7875, 60 Stat. 1097, prohibiting employment of radio operators who were disapproved by the Secretary of the Navy during World War II, was repealed by act July 25, 1947, ch. 327, §1, 61 Stat. 449.
U.S. Encyclopedia of Law Coverage
47-U.S.C.-330 in the Legal Encyclopedia: Wire or Radio Communication
In this entry about 47-U.S.C.-330, find legal reference material, bibliographies and premiere content related to wire or radio communication in the American Encyclopedia of Law, presenting a comprehensive view of the United States wire or radio communication-specific issues, written by authorities in the field.
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