Sec.  80.308   Watch required by the Great Lakes Radio Agreement.

   (a) Each ship of the United States that is equipped with a radiotelephone
   station for compliance with the Great Lakes Radio Agreement must when
   underway keep a watch on:

   (1) 156.800 MHz on board a vessel 20 meters (65 feet) and over in length, a
   vessel engaged in towing (See  Sec. 80.951(b)), or a vessel carrying more than 6
   passengers for hire. This watch must be maintained whenever the station is
   not being used for authorized traffic. However, a watch on 156.800 MHz need
   not be maintained by a vessel maintaining a watch on the bridge-to-bridge
   frequency 156.650 MHz and participating in a Vessel Traffic Services (VTS)
   system and maintaining a watch on the specified VTS frequency.

   (2) 156.650 MHz on board a vessel 38 meters (124 feet) and over in length, a
   vessel engaged in towing (See  Sec. 80.951(b)), or a vessel carrying more than
   six passengers for hire. This watch must be maintained continuously and
   effectively. Sequential monitoring is not sufficient. Portable VHF equipment
   may be used to meet this requirement. Vessels are exempted from this
   requirement while transiting the St. Lawrence Seaway and complying with the
   Joint Regulations of the St. Lawrence Seaway Authority and St. Lawrence
   Seaway Development Corporation between the lower exit of St. Lambert Lock at
   Montreal and Crossover Island, New York and in the Welland Canal and
   approaches between Calling in Point No. 15 and No. 16.

   (b) The watch must be maintained by the master, or person designated by the
   master, who may perform other duties provided they do not interfere with the
   effectiveness of the watch.

   [ 53 FR 17052 , May 13, 1988]