47 CFR § 80.1069 - Maritime sea areas.

---
identifier: "/us/cfr/t47/s80.1069"
source: "ecfr"
legal_status: "authoritative_unofficial"
title: "47 CFR § 80.1069 - Maritime sea areas."
title_number: 47
title_name: "Telecommunication"
section_number: "80.1069"
section_name: "Maritime sea areas."
chapter_name: "FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION"
subchapter_number: "D"
subchapter_name: "SAFETY AND SPECIAL RADIO SERVICES"
part_number: "80"
part_name: "STATIONS IN THE MARITIME SERVICES"
positive_law: false
currency: "2026-04-05"
last_updated: "2026-04-05"
format_version: "1.1.0"
generator: "[email protected]"
authority: "47 U.S.C. 151-155, 301-609; 3 U.S.T. 3450, 3 U.S.T. 4726, 12 U.S.T. 2377."
regulatory_source: "51 FR 31213, Sept. 2, 1986, unless otherwise noted."
cfr_part: "80"
---


# 80.1069 Maritime sea areas.

(a) For the purpose of this subpart, a ship's area of operation is defined as follows:

(1) *Sea area A1.* An area within the radiotelephone coverage of at least one VHF coast station in which continuous DSC alerting is available as defined by the International Maritime Organization.

(2) *Sea area A2.* An area, excluding sea area A1, within the radiotelephone coverage of at least one MF coast station in which continuous DSC alerting is available as defined by the International Maritime Organization.

(3) *Sea area A3.* An area, excluding sea areas A1 and A2, within the coverage of an INMARSAT geostationary satellite in which continuous alerting is available.

(4) *Sea area A4.* An area outside sea areas A1, A2 and A3.

(b) Maritime sea areas are delineated in the International Maritime Organization Publication GMDSS Master Plan of Shore-Based Facilities. The Master Plan can be purchased from the International Maritime Organization, 4 Albert Embankment, London SE1 7SR, United Kingdom.