47 C.F.R. Subpart I—Station Documents
Title 47 - Telecommunication
Licensees of radio stations are required to have current station documents as indicated in the following table: Notes: 1. The expired station license must be retained in the station records until the first Commission inspection after the expiration date. 2. Alternatively, a list of coast stations maintained by the licensee with which communications are likely to be conducted, showing watch-keeping hours, frequencies and charges, is authorized. 3. Required only if station provides a service to ocean-going vessels. 4. Certification of a Great Lakes Agreement inspection may be made by either a log entry or issuance of a Great Lakes Agreement certificate. Radiotelephone logs containing entries certifying that a Great Lakes Agreement inspection has been conducted must be retained and be available for inspection by the FCC for 2 years after the date of the inspection. 5. The requirements for having the GMDSS Master Plan, NIMA Publication 117, Admiralty List of Radio Signals or IMO Circ. 7 are satisfied by having any one of those four documents. [68 FR 46970, Aug. 7, 2003] Station documents must be readily available to the licensed operator(s) on duty during the hours of service of the station and to authorized Commission employees upon request. (a) Requirement. Except as provided in §80.13(c), stations must have an authorization granted by the Federal Communications Commission. (b) Application. Application for authorizations in the maritime services must be submitted on the prescribed forms in accordance with subpart B of this part. (c) Posting. (1) The current station authorization for a station other than a public coast station, or a clearly legible copy, must be posted at the principal control point of each station. If a copy is posted, it must indicate the location of the original. When the station license cannot be posted as in the case of a marine utility station operating at temporary unspecified locations or the ship or recreational boat does not have an enclosed wheelhouse, it must be kept where it will be readily available for inspection. The licensee of a station on board a ship subject to Part II or III or Title III of the Communications Act or the Safety Convention must retain the most recently expired ship station license in the station records until the first Commission inspection after the expiration date. (2) Public coast stations authorized under this part must make available either a clearly legible copy of the authorization for each station at the principal control point of the station or an address or location where the current authorization may be found and a telephone number of that authorization's representative. [51 FR 31213, Sept. 2, 1986, as amended at 62 FR 40307, July 28, 1997; 68 FR 46972, Aug. 7, 2003; 69 FR 64676, Nov. 8, 2004] This section contains information and rules pertinent to the application for and posting of radio operator authorizations. Rules applicable to radio operator requirements are contained in subpart D of this part and other rules pertinent to commercial radio operators are contained in part 13 of this chapter. (a) Application. Detailed information about application forms, filing procedures, and places to file applications for radio operator authorizations is contained in the bulletin “Commercial Radio Operator Licenses and Permits.” This bulletin is available from any Commission District Office or from the FCC, Washington, DC 20554. (b) Posting. When a Commission-authorized operator is required, the original authorization of each operator must be posted at the principal control point of the station. In lieu of posting, an operator who holds a restricted radiotelephone operator permit or a higher class operator license may have the operator authorization or a photocopy thereof available for inspection upon request by authorized Commission employees when operating the following: (1) A voluntary station; (2) Any class of ship station when the operator is on board solely to service the radio equipment; or (3) A portable station. (a) General requirements. Logs must be established and properly maintained as follows: (1) The log must be kept in an orderly manner. The required information for the particular class or category of station must be readily available. Key letters or abbreviations may be used if their proper meaning or explanation is contained elsewhere in the same log. (2) Erasures, obliterations or willful destruction within the retention period are prohibited. Corrections may be made only by the person originating the entry by striking out the error, initialing the correction and indicating the date of correction. (3) Ship station logs must identify the vessel name, country of registry, and official number of the vessel. (4) The station licensee and the radio operator in charge of the station are responsible for the maintenance of station logs. (b) Availability and retention. Station logs must be made available to authorized Commission employees upon request and retained as follows: (1) Logs must be retained by the licensee for a period of two years from the date of entry, and, when applicable, for such additional periods as required by the following paragraphs: (i) Logs relating to a distress situation or disaster must be retained for three years from the date of entry. (ii) If the Commission has notified the licensee of an investigation, the related logs must be retained until the licensee is specifically authorized in writing to destroy them. (iii) Logs relating to any claim or complaint of which the station licensee has notice must be retained until the claim or complaint has been satisfied or barred by statute limiting the time for filing suits upon such claims. (2) Logs containing entries required by paragraph (c) of this section must be kept either at the principal control point of the station or electronically filed at the station licensee's primary office or available to the Commission via secured access to the licensee's Internet web site. Logs containing entries required by paragraphs (e) and (f) of this section must be kept at the principal radiotelephone operating location while the vessel is being navigated. All entries in their original form must be retained on board the vessel for at least 30 days from the date of entry. Additionally, logs required by paragraph (f) of this section must be retained on board the vessel for a period of 2 years from the date of the last inspection of the ship radio station. (3) Ship radiotelegraph logs must be kept in the principal radiotelegraph operating room during the voyage. (c) Public coast station logs. Public coast stations must maintain a log, whether by means of written or automatic logging or a combination thereof. The log must contain the following information: (1) “ON DUTY” must be entered by the operator beginning a duty period, followed in the case of a written log by the operator's signature. “OFF DUTY” must be entered by the operator being relieved of or terminating duty, followed in the case of a written log by the operator's signature. (2) The date and time of making an entry must be shown opposite the entry. (3) Failure of equipment to operate as required and incidents tending to unduly delay communication must be entered. (4) All measurements of the transmitter frequency(ies) must be entered with a statement of any corrective action taken. (5) Entries must be made giving details of all work performed which may affect the proper operation of the station. The entry must be made, dated and in the case of a written log signed by the operator who supervised or performed the work and, unless the operator is regularly employed on a full-time basis at the station, must also include the mailing address, class, serial number, and expiration date of the operator license. (6) Entries must be made about the operation of the antenna tower lights when the radio station has an antenna structure requiring illumination by part 17 of this chapter. (7) All distress or safety related calls transmitted or received must be entered, together with the frequency used and the position of any vessel in need of assistance. (d) Ship radiotelegraph logs. Logs of ship stations which are compulsorily equipped for radiotelegraphy and operating in the band 90 to 535 kHz must contain log entries as follows: (1) The date and time of each occurrence or incident required to be entered in the log must be shown opposite the entry and the time must be expressed in Coordinated Universal Time (UTC). (2) “ON WATCH” must be entered by the operator beginning a watch, followed by the operator's signature. “OFF WATCH” must be entered by the operator being relieved or terminating a watch, followed by the operator's signature. All log entries must be completed by the end of each watch. (3) During the watch, all calls and replies to and from the station must be entered to include the time, frequencies, and call letters of the station communicated with or heard. Also, any messages exchanged must be entered to include the time, frequency, and call letters of the station(s) communicated with or heard. (4) All distress calls, automatic-alarm signals, urgency and safety signals made or intercepted, the complete text, if possible, or distress messages and distress communications, and any incidents or occurrences which may appear to be of importance to safety of life or property at sea, must be entered, together with the time of such observation or occurrence and the position of the ship or other mobile unit in need of assistance. (5) The position of the ship at least once per day. (6) A daily entry must be made comparing the radio station clock with standard time, including errors observed and corrections made. For this purpose, authentic radio time signals received from land or fixed stations will be acceptable as standard time. (7) All test transmissions must be entered, including the time of the transmissions and the approximate geographical location of the vessel. (8) Any failure of equipment to operate as required and any incidents tending to unduly delay communications must be entered. (e) Ship radiotelephone logs. Logs of ship stations which are compulsorily equipped for radiotelephony must contain the following applicable log entries and the time of their occurrence: (1) A summary of all distress communications heard, and urgency communications affecting the station's own ship. (2) A summary of safety communications on other than VHF channels affecting the station's own ship. (3) An entry that pre-departure equipment checks were satisfactory and that required publications are on hand. Daily entries of satisfactory tests to ensure the continued proper functioning of GMDSS equipment shall be made. (4) An entry describing any malfunctioning GMDSS equipment and another entry when the equipment is restored to normal operation. (5) A weekly entry that: (i) The proper functioning of digital selective calling (DSC) equipment has been verified by actual communications or a test call; (ii) The batteries or other reserve power sources are functioning properly; (iii) The portable survival craft radio gear and radar transponders have been tested; and (iv) The EPIRBs have been inspected. (6) The time of any inadvertent transmissions of distress, urgency and safety signals including the time and method of cancellation. (7) At the beginning of each watch, the Officer of the Navigational Watch, or GMDSS Operator on watch, if one is provided, shall ensure that the navigation receiver is functioning properly and is interconnected to all GMDSS alerting devices which do not have integral navigation receivers, including: VHF DSC, MF DSC, satellite EPIRB and HF DSC or INMARSAT SES. On a ship without integral or directly connected navigation receiver input to GMDSS equipment, the Officer of the Navigational Watch, or GMDSS Operator on watch, shall update the embedded position in each equipment. An appropriate log entry of these actions shall be made. (8) A GMDSS radio log entry shall be made whenever GMDSS equipment is exchanged or replaced (ensuring that ship MMSI identifiers are properly updated in the replacement equipment), when major repairs to GMDSS equipment are accomplished, and when annual GMDSS inspections are conducted. (9) Results of required equipment tests, including specific gravity of lead-acid storage batteries and voltage reading of other types of batteries provided as a part of the compulsory installation; (10) Results of inspections and tests of compulsorily fitted lifeboat radio equipment; (11) A daily statement about the condition of the required radiotelephone equipment, as determined by either normal communication or test communication; (12) When the master is notified about improperly operating radiotelephone equipment. (f) Applicable radiotelephone log entries. The log entries listed in paragraph (e) of this section are applicable as follows: (1) Radiotelephony stations subject to the Communications Act, the Safety Convention, or the Bridge-to-Bridge Act must record entries indicated by paragraphs (e)(1) through (e)(12) of this section. Additionally, the radiotelephone log must provide an easily identifiable, separate section relating to the required inspection of the ship's radio station. Entries must be made in this section giving at least the following information. (i) For ships that pass the inspection: (A) The date the inspection was conducted. (B) The date by which the next inspection needs to completed. (C) The inspector's printed name, address and class of FCC license (including the serial number). (D) The results of the inspection, including any repairs made. (E) The inspector's signed and dated certification that the vessel meets the requirements of the Communications Act and, if applicable, the Safety Convention and the Bridge-to-Bridge Act contained in subparts Q, R, S, U, or W of this part and has successfully passed the inspection. (F) The vessel owner, operator, or ship's master's certification that the inspection was satisfactory. (ii) For ships that fail the inspection: (A) The date the inspection was conducted. (B) The inspector's printed name, address and class of FCC license (including the serial number). (C) The reason that the ship did not pass the inspection. (D) The date and time that the ship's owner, operator or master was notified that the ship failed the inspection. (2) Radiotelephony stations subject to the Great Lakes Agreement and the Bridge-to-Bridge Act must record entries indicated by paragraphs (e) (1), (5), (6), (7), (8), (9), (11) and (12) of this section. Additionally, the radiotelephone log must provide an easily identifiable, separate section relating to the required inspection of the ship's radio station. Entries must be made in this section giving at least the following information: (i) The date the inspection was conducted; (ii) The date by which the next inspection needs to be completed; (iii) The inspector's printed name, address and class of FCC license (including the serial number); (iv) The results of the inspection, including any repairs made; (v) The inspector's signed and dated certification that the vessel meets the requirements of the Great Lakes Agreement and the Bridge-to-Bridge Act contained in subparts T and U of this part and has successfully passed the inspection; and (vi) The vessel owner, operator, or ship's master's certification that the inspection was satisfactory. (3) Radiotelephony stations subject to the Bridge-to-Bridge Act must record entries indicated by paragraphs (e) (1), (5), (6), (7), (11) and (12) of this section. [51 FR 31213, Sept. 2, 1986, as amended at 52 FR 35245, Sept. 18, 1987; 54 FR 40059, Sept. 29, 1989; 61 FR 25807, May 23, 1996; 63 FR 29659, June 1, 1998; 68 FR 46972, Aug. 7, 2003; 69 FR 64676, Nov. 8, 2004] (a) Application. The application procedures for inspection and certification and for exemptions are contained in §80.59. (b) Posting. Communications Act, Safety Convention and Great Lakes Radio Agreement certificates or exemptions must be posted in a prominent, accessible place in the ship. Ships subject to the Great Lakes Agreement may, in lieu of a posted certificate, certify compliance in the station log required by section 80.409(f). [51 FR 31213, Sept. 2, 1986, as amended at 61 FR 25807, May 23, 1996] (a) The licensee of an on-board station must keep equipment records which show: (1) The ship name and identification of the on-board station; (2) The number and type of repeater and mobile units used on-board the vessel; and (3) The date and type of equipment which is added or removed from the on-board station. (b) [Reserved] (a) The following publications listed in the table contained in §80.401 are published by the International Telecommunications Union (ITU): (1) Manual for Use of the Maritime Mobile and Maritime Mobile-Satellite Services. (2) List IV—List of Coast Stations. (3) List V—List of Ship Stations. (4) List VI—List of Radiodetermination and Special Services Stations. (5) List VII A—Alphabetical List of Call Signs of Stations Used by the Maritime Mobile Service, Ship Station Selective Call Numbers or Signals and Coast Station Identification Numbers or Signals. These publications may be purchased from: International Telecommunication Union, General Secretariat-Sales Section, Place des Nations, CH–1211 Geneva 20, Switzerland (b) The following publications listed in the table contained in §80.401 are available as follows: (1) IMO GMDSS Master Plan may be purchased from International Maritime Organization (IMO), Publications, 4 Albert Embankment, London SE1 7 SR, United Kingdom; telephone 011 44 71 735 7611. (2) U.S. NIMA Publication 117 may be purchased from Superintendent of Documents, P.O. Box 371954, Pittsburgh, PA 15250–7954, telephone 202–512–1800. (3) The Admiralty List of Radio Signals, Volume 5—Global Maritime Distress and Safety System, may be purchased from UK Hydrographic Office, Admiralty Way, Tauton, Somerset TA1 2DN, United Kingdom, telephone +44 (0)1823 337900 x3333. [51 FR 31213, Sept. 2, 1986, as amended at 68 FR 46972, Aug. 7, 2003] The Commission's printed publications are described in subpart C of part 0 of this chapter. These publications may be purchased from the Superintendent of Documents, U.S. Government Printing Office, Washington, DC 20402. The Commission does not furnish copies of these publications but will furnish a price list, Information Services and Publications—Bulletin No. 1, upon request. Requests for copies of this list may be directed to the Consumer Information Bureau, Consumer Information Network Division. Information bulletins and fact sheets containing information about communications issues and the Federal Communications Commission are also available on the Commission's web site at www.fcc.gov or ftp.fcc.gov. [68 FR 46972, Aug. 7, 2003]
Title 47: Telecommunication
PART 80—STATIONS IN THE MARITIME SERVICES
Subpart I—Station Documents
§ 80.401 Station documents requirement.
§ 80.403 Availability of documents.
§ 80.405 Station license.
§ 80.407 Operator authorization.
§ 80.409 Station logs.
§ 80.411 Vessel certification or exemption.
§ 80.413 On-board station equipment records.
§ 80.415 Publications.
§ 80.417 FCC Rules and Regulations.
