46 C.F.R. § 4.04-1

Reports of potential vessel casualty

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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.