---
kind: "section"
citation: "47 U.S.C. § 321"
title: "47"
title_heading: "Telecommunications"
number: "321"
heading: "Distress signals and communications; equipment on vessels; regulations"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/47/321"
units:
  - "Chapter 5 — Wire or Radio Communication"
  - "Subchapter III — Special Provisions Relating to Radio"
  - "Part I — General Provisions"
---

# §321. Distress signals and communications; equipment on vessels; regulations

- (a) The transmitting set in a [radio station](/usc/47/153.md?p=42) on shipboard may be adjusted in such a manner as to produce a maximum of radiation, irrespective of the amount of interference which may thus be caused, when such [station](/usc/47/153.md?p=42) is sending [radio communications](/usc/47/153.md?p=40) or signals of distress and [radio communications](/usc/47/153.md?p=40) relating thereto.
- (b) All [radio stations](/usc/47/153.md?p=42), including Government [stations](/usc/47/153.md?p=42) and [stations](/usc/47/153.md?p=42) on board foreign [vessels](/usc/47/153.md?p=46-A) when within the territorial waters of the [United States](/usc/47/153.md?p=58), shall give absolute priority to [radio communications](/usc/47/153.md?p=40) or signals relating to [ships](/usc/47/153.md?p=46-A) in distress; shall cease all sending on frequencies which will interfere with hearing a [radio communication](/usc/47/153.md?p=40) or signal of distress, and, except when engaged in answering or aiding the [ship](/usc/47/153.md?p=46-A) in distress, shall refrain from sending any [radio communications](/usc/47/153.md?p=40) or signals until there is assurance that no interference will be caused with the [radio communications](/usc/47/153.md?p=40) or signals relating thereto, and shall assist the [vessel](/usc/47/153.md?p=46-A) in distress, so far as possible, by complying with its instructions.

## Source credit

(June 19, 1934, ch. 652, title III, § 321, 48 Stat. 1090; May 20, 1937, ch. 229, § 7, 50 Stat. 191.)

## Notes

### Editorial Notes

### Amendments

1937—Subsec. (a). Act May 20, 1937, struck out provisions which required radio stations on shipboard to be equipped to transmit radio communications or signals of distress on the frequency specified by the Commission, with apparatus capable of transmitting and receiving messages over a distance of at least 100 miles by day or night.