47 CFR § 2.403 - Retransmission of distress message.

---
identifier: "/us/cfr/t47/s2.403"
source: "ecfr"
legal_status: "authoritative_unofficial"
title: "47 CFR § 2.403 - Retransmission of distress message."
title_number: 47
title_name: "Telecommunication"
section_number: "2.403"
section_name: "Retransmission of distress message."
chapter_name: "FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION"
subchapter_number: "A"
subchapter_name: "GENERAL"
part_number: "2"
part_name: "FREQUENCY ALLOCATIONS AND RADIO TREATY MATTERS; GENERAL RULES AND REGULATIONS"
positive_law: false
currency: "2026-03-24"
last_updated: "2026-03-24"
format_version: "1.1.0"
generator: "[email protected]"
authority: "47 U.S.C. 154, 302a, 303, and 336, unless otherwise noted."
regulatory_source: "28 FR 12465, Nov. 22, 1963, unless otherwise noted."
cfr_part: "2"
---


# 2.403 Retransmission of distress message.

Any station which becomes aware that a mobile station is in distress may transmit the distress message in the following cases:

(a) When the station in distress is not itself in a position to transmit the message.

(b) In the case of mobile stations, when the master or the person in charge of the ship, aircraft, or other vehicles carrying the station which intervenes believes that further help is necessary.

(c) In the case of other stations, when directed to do so by the station in control of distress traffic or when it has reason to believe that a distress call which it has intercepted has not been received by any station in a position to render aid.