47 USC § 381 - Vessels transporting more than six passengers for hire required to be equipped with radiotelephone
---
identifier: "/us/usc/t47/s381"
source: "usc"
legal_status: "official_prima_facie"
title: "47 USC § 381 - Vessels transporting more than six passengers for hire required to be equipped with radiotelephone"
title_number: 47
title_name: "TELECOMMUNICATIONS"
section_number: "381"
section_name: "Vessels transporting more than six passengers for hire required to be equipped with radiotelephone"
chapter_number: 5
chapter_name: "WIRE OR RADIO COMMUNICATION"
subchapter_number: "III"
subchapter_name: "SPECIAL PROVISIONS RELATING TO RADIO"
part_number: "III"
part_name: "Radio Installations on Vessels Carrying Passengers for Hire"
positive_law: false
currency: "119-84"
last_updated: "2025-08-11"
format_version: "1.1.0"
generator: "[email protected]"
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.)"
---
# § 381. Vessels transporting more than six passengers for hire required to be equipped with radiotelephone
section 382 of this title
Except as provided in , it shall be unlawful for any vessel of the United States, transporting more than six passengers for hire, to be navigated in the open sea or any tidewater within the jurisdiction of the United States adjacent or contiguous to the open sea, unless such vessel 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.)
## Editorial Notes
### Amendments
1994— inserted section catchline.
### Statutory Notes
### Effective Date
> “The amendments made herein [enacting this part and amending sections 153 and 504 of this title] shall take effect
>
> .”
Section 4 of act , provided that: