# The Merchant Shipping (Radio Installations) Regulations 1998, Regulation 16: Radio watches

Extent: E+W+S+N.I.

(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 11(1)(b), is fittted with 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 13(1)(b) or paragraph (c) of ALTERNATIVE A in regulation 14, is fitted with an MF radio installation;
(c) on the distress and safety DSC frequencies 2,187.5 kHz and 8,414.5 kHz, 6,312 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 14 or 15, 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) ALTERNATIVE A in regulation 14, is fitted with a recognised mobile satellite service 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) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
(4) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

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Source: https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/1998/2070/regulation/16 (the official version)
Page: https://openlegislation.uk/merchant-shipping-radio-installations-regulations-1998/regulation-16
Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Source: legislation.gov.uk, The National Archives.