Document ID: chunk:federal_register_of_legislation:F2023L01656:front:0:p18
Version: federal_register_of_legislation:F2023L01656
Segment Type: other
Provision Reference: 
Character Range: 43780–46614

the urgency signal being the words 'PAN PAN' spoken 3 times.
       (2) A person may only transmit an urgency communication on a distress frequency when giving notice that the calling ship station has an urgent communication to transmit about safety of a vessel, an aircraft, a vehicle or a person.
Penalty: 50 penalty units.
       (3) An urgency communication has priority over all other radio communication except a distress communication.
       (4) A person must not interfere with the transmission of an urgency communication.
Penalty: 50 penalty units.
       (5) When the master of a vessel who sent an urgency communication is satisfied that action called for is no longer necessary, the master must ensure that a further communication is transmitted in accordance with Article 33 of Chapter VII of the Radio Regulations cancelling the urgency communication.
Penalty: 50 penalty units.
       (6) An offence against subsection (2), (4) or (5) is a strict liability offence.
       (7) A person is liable to a civil penalty if the person contravenes subsection (2), (4) or (5).
Civil penalty: 50 penalty units.

36 Transmission of distress communications
       (1) Any distress communication must be transmitted in accordance with Article 32 of Chapter VII of the Radio Regulations.
Note   Article 32 sets out the format and manner of transmission of distress communications including distress alert, call, message and relay and the use of the distress signal being the word 'MAYDAY'.
       (2) A person may only transmit a distress communication if it relates to:
(a) a vessel or person at sea requiring immediate assistance due to the grave and imminent threat to safety; or
(b) an acknowledgment of a distress alert or distress call; or
(c) a distress alert relay or distress call relay.
Penalty: 50 penalty units.
       (3) If a distress communication is accidentally transmitted when there is no danger to the vessel, the master of the vessel must immediately tell the marine rescue coordination centre for the search and rescue area:
(a) about the accidental transmission; and
(b) that there is no danger to the vessel.
Penalty: 50 penalty units.
       (4) An offence against subsection (2) or (3) is a strict liability offence.
       (5) A person is liable to a civil penalty if the person contravenes subsection (2) or (3).
Civil penalty: 50 penalty units.

37 Duties of persons hearing urgency or distress communications
       (1) A person who operates a ship station and hears an urgency communication may only resume normal radio service on the frequency or channel of the communication if any of the following apply:
(a) when no urgency message follows any urgency announcement or call — at least 5 minutes has elapsed after receiving that announcement or call;
(b) an urgency cancellation has been received;