The Merchant Shipping (Radio Installations) Regulations 1992

Radio watches

13.—(1) Every ship while at sea shall maintain a continuous watch—

(a) on VHF DSC channel 70, if the ship, in accordance with the requirements of regulation 8(1)(b), is fitted with a VHF radio installation;

(b) on the distress and safety DSC frequency 2,187.5 kHz, if the ship, in accordance with the requirements of regulation 10(1)(b) or paragraph (c) of ALTERNATIVE A in regulation 11, is fitted with an MF radio installation;

(c) on the distress and safety DSC frequencies 2,187.5 kHz and 8,414.5 kHz and also on at least one of the distress and safety DSC frequencies 4,207.5 kHz, 6,312 kHz, 12,577 kHz or 16,804.5 kHz, appropriate to the time of day and the geographical position of the ship, if the ship, in accordance with the requirements of paragraph (b) of ALTERNATIVE B in regulation 11 or 12, 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 the requirements of paragraph (a) of ALTERNATIVE A in regulation 11, is fitted with an INMARSAT ship earth station.

(2) Every ship while at sea shall 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 navigating.

(3) During the period 1st February 1992 to 31st January 1999 inclusive every ship while at sea shall maintain, when practicable, a continuous listening watch on VHF channel 16; such watch shall be kept at the position from which the ship is normally navigated.

(4) During the period 1st February 1992 to 31st January 1999 inclusive every ship required to carry a radiotelephone watch receiver shall maintain while at sea a continuous watch on the radiotelephone distress frequency 2,182 kHz; such watch shall be kept at the position from which the ship is normally navigated.