CFR > Title 46 - Shipping > CHAPTER I—COAST GUARD, DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY > SUBCHAPTER A—PROCEDURES APPLICABLE TO THE PUBLIC (parts 1 to 9) > PART 4—MARINE CASUALTIES AND INVESTIGATIONS > SUBPART 4.04—Notice of Potential Vessel Casualty (§4.04-1 to §4.04-5) > 4.04-1—Reports of potential vessel casualty.

4.04-1—Reports of potential vessel casualty.

A vessel owner, charterer, managing operator or agent shall immediately notify either of the following Coast Guard officers if there is reason to believe a vessel is lost or imperiled.
(a) The Coast Guard district rescue coordination center (RCC) cognizant over the area the vessel was last operating in; or
(b) The Coast Guard search and rescue authority nearest to where the vessel was last operating.
Reasons for belief that a vessel is in distress include, but are not limited to, lack of communication with or nonappearance of the vessel.