68 S T A T. ]
a voyage in the open sea, unless such ship is equipped with an efficient radio direction finding apparatus (radio compass) properly adjusted in operating condition as hereinafter provided, which apparatus is approved by the Commission: Provided, That the Commission may defer the application of the provisions of this section with respect to radio direction finding apparatus to a ship or ships between one thousand six hundred and five thousand gross tons for a period not beyond November 19, 1954, if it is found impracticable to obtain or install such direction finding apparatus." (b) Paragraph (3) of section 352(a) of such Act is amended to read as follows: "(3) A foreign ship belonging to a country which is a party to any Safety Convention in force between the United States and that country which ship carries a valid certificate exempting said ship from the radio provisions of that Convention, or which ship conforms to the radio requirements of such Convention or Regulations and has on board a valid certificate to that effect, or which ship is not subject to the radio provisions of any such Convention;". (c) Section 352 of such Act is amended by adding at the end thereof a new subsection as follows: "(c) If, because of unforeseeable failure of equipment, a ship is unable to comply with the equipment requirements of this part without undue delay of the ship, the mileage limitations set forth in paragraphs (1) and (2) of subsection (b) shall not apply: Pr'om^^e*/, That exemption of the ship is found to be reasonable or necessary in accordance with subsectioTi (b) to permit the ship to proceed to a port where the equipment deficiency may be remedied." (d) Section 353 of such Act is amended to read as follows: OPERATORS, WATCHES, AUTO-ALARM—RADIOTELEGRAPH EQUIPPED SHIPS
"SEC. 353. (a) Each cargo ship required by this part to be fitted with a radiotelegraph installation and which is not fitted with an auto-alarm, and each passenger ship required by this part to be fitted with a radiotelegraph installation, shall, for safety purposes, carry at least two qualified operators. " (b) A cargo ship, required by this part to be fitted with a radiotelegraph installation, which is fitted with an auto-alarm in accordance with this title, shall, for safety purposes, carry at least one qualified operator who shall have had at least six months' previous service in the aggregate as a qualified operator in a station on board a ship or ships of the United States. "(c) Each ship of the United States required by this part to be fitted with a radio telegraph installation shall, while being navigated outside a harbor or port, keep a continuous watch by means of qualified operators: Provided, That in lieu thereof, on a cargo ship fitted with an auto-alarm in proper operating condition, a watch of at least eight hours per day, in the aggregate, shall be maintained by means of a qualified operator. " (d) The Commission shall, when it finds it necessary for safety purposes, have authority to prescribe the particular hours of watch on a ship of the United States which is required by this part to be fitted with a radiotelegraph installation. "(e) On all ships of the United States fitted with an auto-alarm, said apparatus shall be in operation at all times while the ship is being navigated outside of a harbor or port when the operator is not on watch."
39777 O—55—pt. 1
705
PUBLIC LAW 584-AUG. 13, 1954
47
Exception.
5 0 Stat. 192. 47 USC 352. ExeoQit vessels.
47 USC 352. Equipment failure.
50 Stat. 193. 47 USC 353.
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