Sec. 80.324  Transmission of distress message by station not itself in 
          distress.

    (a) A mobile station or a land station which learns that a mobile 
station is in distress must transmit a distress message in any of the 
following cases:
    (1) When the station in distress cannot transmit the distress 
message.
    (2) When the master or person responsible for the ship, aircraft, or 
other vehicle not in distress, or for the land station, believes that 
further help is necessary.
    (3) When, although not in a position to assist, it has heard a 
distress message which has not been acknowledged. When a mobile station 
transmits such a distress message, it must notify the authorities who 
may be able to assist.
    (b) Transmission must be made on the international distress 
frequencies or on any other available frequency on which attention might 
be attracted.
    (c) Transmission of the distress message must always be preceded by 
the call indicated below, which must itself be preceded whenever 
possible by the radiotelegraph or radiotelephone alarm signal. This call 
consists of:
    (1) When radiotelegraphy is used:
    (i) The signal DDD SOS SOS SOS DDD:
    (ii) The word DE;
    (iii) The call sign of the transmitting station, sent three times.
    (2) When radiotelephony is used:
    (i) The signal MAYDAY RELAY, spoken three times;
    (ii) The words THIS IS;
    (iii) The call sign or other identification of the transmitting 
station, spoken three times.
    (d) When the radiotelegraph alarm signal is used, an interval of two 
minutes must be allowed, whenever this is considered necessary, before 
the transmission of the call mentioned in paragraph (c)(1) of this 
section.