---
kind: "section"
citation: "47 U.S.C. § 381"
title: "47"
title_heading: "Telecommunications"
number: "381"
heading: "Vessels transporting more than six passengers for hire required to be equipped with radiotelephone"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/47/381"
units:
  - "Chapter 5 — Wire or Radio Communication"
  - "Subchapter III — Special Provisions Relating to Radio"
  - "Part III — Radio Installations on Vessels Carrying Passengers for Hire"
---

# §381. Vessels transporting more than six passengers for hire required to be equipped with radiotelephone


Except as provided in [section 382 of this title](/usc/47/382.md), it shall be unlawful for any [vessel](/usc/47/153.md?p=46-A) of the [United States](/usc/47/153.md?p=58), transporting more than six passengers for hire, to be navigated in the open sea or any tidewater within the jurisdiction of the [United States](/usc/47/153.md?p=58) adjacent or contiguous to the open sea, unless such [vessel](/usc/47/153.md?p=46-A) is equipped with an efficient radiotelephone installation in operating condition.


## Source credit

(June 19, 1934, ch. 652, title III, § 381, as added Aug. 6, 1956, ch. 973, § 1, 70 Stat. 1047; amended Pub. L. 103–414, title III, § 303(a)(20)(A), Oct. 25, 1994, 108 Stat. 4295.)

## Notes

### Editorial Notes

### Amendments

1994—Pub. L. 103–414 inserted section catchline.

### Statutory Notes

### Effective Date

Section 4 of act Aug. 6, 1956, provided that: “The amendments made herein [enacting this part and amending sections 153 and 504 of this title] shall take effect March 1, 1957.”