§ 80.306 - Provisions governing the radiotelegraph watch.

(a) The radio officer must use the main or reserve receiver, and either headphones or a loudspeaker to keep the watch on 500 kHz.

(b) During the watch, the radio officer may temporarily interrupt the required watch on 500 kHz while transmitting or receiving signals or messages to or from a station but only if it is not feasible to simultaneously handle such traffic and listen on 500 kHz by split headphones or a loudspeaker. The watch on 500 kHz must, however, without exception be maintained during the silence periods.

(c) During this watch, on vessels subject to the Communications Act and the Safety Convention on international voyages, the radio officer may discontinue listening when handling traffic on other frequencies or performing other essential radio duties, but only if it is impracticable to listen by split headphones or loudspeaker. The watch must always be maintained by a radio officer using headphones or loudspeaker during the silence periods. The term “essential radio duties” in this rule includes urgent repairs of radiocommunication equipment used for safety or radio navigational equipment by order of the master.

(d) When authorized by the master, the radio officer may perform maintenance repair of communications, navigation or other electronic equipment outside of the radiotelegraph room, provided that the listening watch on 500 kHz can be maintained by headphones, loudspeakers, portable receivers, or other suitable means. The watch on 500 kHz must be maintained in the radiotelegraph room during the silence period.