---
kind: "section"
citation: "47 U.S.C. § 357"
title: "47"
title_heading: "Telecommunications"
number: "357"
heading: "Safety information"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/47/357"
units:
  - "Chapter 5 — Wire or Radio Communication"
  - "Subchapter III — Special Provisions Relating to Radio"
  - "Part II — Radio Equipment and Radio Operators On Board Ship"
---

# §357. Safety information

- (a) **Transmission of information concerning safety at sea—** The master of every [ship](/usc/47/153.md?p=46-A) of the [United States](/usc/47/153.md?p=58), equipped with radio transmitting apparatus, which meets with dangerous ice, a dangerous derelict, a tropical storm, or any other direct danger to navigation, or encounters subfreezing air temperatures associated with gale force winds causing severe ice accretion on superstructures, or winds of force 10 or above on the Beaufort scale for which no storm warning has been received, shall cause to be transmitted all pertinent information relating thereto to [ships](/usc/47/153.md?p=46-A) in the vicinity and to the appropriate authorities on land, in accordance with rules and regulations issued by the Commission. When they consider it necessary, such authorities of the [United States](/usc/47/153.md?p=58) shall promptly bring the information received by them to the knowledge of those concerned, including interested foreign authorities.
- (b) **Charges for transmission of safety information—** No charge shall be made by any [ship](/usc/47/153.md?p=46-A) or [station](/usc/47/153.md?p=42) in the [mobile service](/usc/47/153.md?p=33) of the [United States](/usc/47/153.md?p=58) for the transmission, receipt, or relay of the information designated in [subsection (a)](#a) originating on a [ship](/usc/47/153.md?p=46-A) of the [United States](/usc/47/153.md?p=58) or of a foreign country.
- (c) **Reimbursement by Commission—** The transmission by any [ship](/usc/47/153.md?p=46-A) of the [United States](/usc/47/153.md?p=58), made in compliance with [subsection (a)](#a), to any [station](/usc/47/153.md?p=42) which imposes a charge for the reception, relay, or forwarding of the required information, shall be free of cost to the [ship](/usc/47/153.md?p=46-A) concerned and any communication charges incurred by the [ship](/usc/47/153.md?p=46-A) for transmission, relay, or forwarding of the information may be certified to the Commission for reimbursement out of moneys appropriated to the Commission for that purpose.
- (d) **Charges for transmission of distress messages—** No charge shall be made by any [ship](/usc/47/153.md?p=46-A) or [station](/usc/47/153.md?p=42) in the [mobile service](/usc/47/153.md?p=33) of the [United States](/usc/47/153.md?p=58) for the transmission of distress messages and replies thereto in connection with situations involving the safety of life and property at sea.
- (e) **Free services—** Notwithstanding any other provision of law, any [station](/usc/47/153.md?p=42) or [carrier](/usc/47/153.md?p=11) may render free service in connection with situations involving the safety of life and property, including hydrographic reports, weather reports, reports regarding aids to navigation and medical assistance to injured or sick [persons](/usc/47/153.md?p=39) on [ships](/usc/47/153.md?p=46-A) and aircraft at sea. All free service permitted by this subsection shall be subject to such rules and regulations as the Commission may prescribe, which rules may limit such free service to the extent which the Commission finds desirable in the public interest.

## Source credit

(June 19, 1934, ch. 652, title III, § 359, formerly § 357, as added May 20, 1937, ch. 229, § 10(b), 50 Stat. 195; renumbered § 359, Aug. 13, 1954, ch. 729, § 2(a)(1), 68 Stat. 706; amended Pub. L. 89–121, § 9, Aug. 13, 1965, 79 Stat. 516.)

## Notes

### Editorial Notes

### Amendments

1965—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 89–121 directed the master of every ship of the United States equipped with radio transmitting apparatus which encounters subfreezing air temperatures associated with gale force winds causing severe ice accretion on superstructures, or winds of force 10 or above on the Beaufort scale for which no storm warning has been received to transmit the pertinent information relating thereto.

### Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

### Effective Date

Section effective May 20, 1937, see section 16 of act May 20, 1937, set out as a note under section 351 of this title.