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Merchant Shipping Act, 1951 (Act No. 57 of 1951)

Regulations

Merchant Shipping (Radio Installations) Regulations, 2002

Part 2 : GMDSS Requirements

15. Radio watches

 

(1) Every ship to which this Part applies, while at sea, must maintain a continuous watch—
(a) on VHF DSC channel 70, if the ship, in accordance with regulation 10(1)(b), is fitted with a VHF radio installation;
(b) on the distress and safety DSC frequency 2187.5 kHz, if the ship, in accordance with regulation 12(1)(b) or paragraph (c) of ALTERNATIVE A in regulation 13(1), is fitted with an MF radio installation;
(c) on the distress and safety DSC frequencies 2187.5 kHz and 8414.5 kHz and on at least one of the distress and safety DSC frequencies 4207.5 kHz, 6312 kHz, 12577 kHz or 16804.5 kHz, appropriate to the time of day and the geographical position of the ship, if the ship, in accordance with paragraph (b) of ALTERNATIVE B in regulation 13(1) or in accordance with regulation 14, is fitted with an MF/HF radio installation; this watch may be kept by means of a scanning receiver;
(d) for satellite shore-to-ship distress alerts, if the ship, in accordance with paragraph (a) of ALTERNATIVE A in regulation 13(1), is fitted with an INMARSAT ship earth station.

 

(2) Every ship to which this Part applies, while at sea, must maintain a radio watch for broadcasts of maritime safety information on the appropriate frequency or frequencies on which such information is broadcast for the area in which the ship is being navigated.

 

(3) From the commencement of these regulations until 1 February 2005 every ship to which this Part applies, while at sea, must maintain, when practicable, a continuous watch on VHF channel 16; this watch must be kept at the position from which the ship is normally navigated.