Sec. 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

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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.