US Code

Public Law 119-73 (01/23/2026)

33 U.S.C. § 1203

Radiotelephone requirement

(a)

Vessel coverage; exchange of navigational information

section 1206 of this titleExcept as provided in —
(1)
every power-driven vessel of twenty meters or over in length while navigating;
(2)
section 14502 of title 46 every vessel of one hundred gross tons as measured under , or an alternate tonnage measured under section 14302 of that title as prescribed by the Secretary under section 14104 of that title, and upward carrying one or more passengers for hire while navigating;
(3)
every towing vessel of twenty-six feet or over in length while navigating; and
(4)
every dredge and floating plant engaged in or near a channel or fairway in operations likely to restrict or affect navigation of other vessels—
shall have a radiotelephone capable of operation from its navigational bridge or, in the case of a dredge, from its main control station and capable of transmitting and receiving on the frequency or frequencies within the 156–162 Mega-Hertz band using the classes of emissions designated by the Federal Communications Commission, after consultation with other cognizant agencies, for the exchange of navigational information.
(b)

Vessels upon navigable waters of United States inside high seas lines

The radiotelephone required by subsection (a) shall be carried on board the described vessels, dredges, and floating plants upon the navigable waters of the United States, which includes all waters of the territorial sea of the United States as described in Presidential Proclamation 5928 of .

Pub. L. 92–63, § 485 Stat. 164Pub. L. 102–241, § 16105 Stat. 2213Pub. L. 104–324, title VII, § 704110 Stat. 3933Pub. L. 107–295, title III, § 321116 Stat. 2103(, , ; , , ; , , ; , , .)

Editorial Notes

References in Text

section 1331 of Title 43Presidential Proclamation 5928 of , referred to in subsec. (b), is set out as a note under , Public Lands.

Amendments

Pub. L. 107–295section 151 of this title2002—Subsec. (b). substituted “United States, which includes all waters of the territorial sea of the United States as described in Presidential Proclamation 5928 of ” for “United States inside the lines established pursuant to ”.

Pub. L. 104–324section 14502 of title 461996—Subsec. (a)(2). inserted “as measured under , or an alternate tonnage measured under section 14302 of that title as prescribed by the Secretary under section 14104 of that title,” after “one hundred gross tons”.

Pub. L. 102–2411991—Subsec. (a)(1). amended par. (1) generally, substituting “twenty meters or over in length” for “three hundred gross tons and upward”.

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Effective Date

section 10 of Pub. L. 92–63section 1201 of this titleSection effective , or six months after the promulgation of regulations which would implement its provisions, whichever is later, see , set out as a note under .

Vessel Communication Equipment Regulations

Pub. L. 101–380, title IV, § 4118104 Stat. 523

33 U.S.C. 1203“The Secretary shall, not later than one year after the date of the enactment of this Act [], issue regulations necessary to ensure that vessels subject to the Vessel Bridge-to-Bridge Radiotelephone Act of 1971 () are also equipped as necessary to—
“(1)
receive radio marine navigation safety warnings; and
“(2)
engage in radio communications on designated frequencies with the Coast Guard, and such other vessels and stations as may be specified by the Secretary.”
, , , provided that: