11. Failure to Equip with Radio Telegraph.—
By Act of Congress approved June 24, 1910, 36 St. at L. 629, it is provided that it shall be unlawful for any oceangoing steamer, whether American or foreign, carrying passengers and carrying fifty or more persons, including passengers and crew, to leave any port of the United States unless equipped with efficient apparatus for radio communication in good working order, capable of communicating over a distance of at least one hundred miles, night or day, and in charge of a competent operator. To be efficient the apparatus must be capable of exchanging messages with stations using other systems of radio communication. A fine of not more than $5,000 is assessed against the master or other person in charge for violation of the act and as has been said (§ 5 supra) the fine is a lien upon the ship. Regulations for the enforcement of the act are made by the Secretary of Commerce. The act does not apply to steamers plying between ports less than 200 miles apart.