The VHF radiotelephone communication should not be operated while the ship is in the port except the following:
1. For the sake of urgency events, the ship radio station must communicate with coast station or port station, and there is no other means to communicate except by using VHF radiotelephone.
2. For ship inspectors need.
3. Using only the receiver of radiotelephone.

The priority of the operation for the ship radio communication are as following:
1. Distress communication.
2. Urgency communication.
3. Safety communication.
4. Communication for radio navigation and positioning.
5. Communication for the navigational safety relating to the search and rescue operation by aircraft.
6. Communication relating to the navigation and movement of ships, and weather observation messages destined for an official meteorological service.
7. Other communications.

Ship radio station should comply with the related regulations of the telecommunications enterprises of each country, transmitting and receiving the messages for seafarers and the passengers, and collecting reasonable fees.

The transmission for distress call and message, urgency call and message and the message of emergency positioning-indicating radio beacons of the ship radio station should be operated under the instruction of the captain or his designated representative.

Ship, while at sea, shall maintain a continuous watch in accordance with the following:
1. on VHF DSC channel 70, if the ship is fitted with a VHF radio installation and, where practicable, on the radiotelephone distress frequency VHF channel 16, and VHF channel 13 relating to the safety of navigation;
2. on the distress and safety DSC frequency 2187.5 kHz, if the ship is fitted with an MF radio installation;
3. on the distress and safety DSC frequencies 2187.5 kHz and 8414.5 kHz and also on at least one of the distress and safety DSC frequencies 4207.5 kHz, 6312 kHz, 12577 kHz, or 16804.5 kHz, appropriate to the time of day and the geographical position of the ship, if the ship is fitted with an MF/HF radio installation. This watch may be kept by means of a scanning receiver;
4. for satellite shore-to-ship distress alerts, if the ship is fitted with an IMARSAT ship earth station;
5. for broadcasts of maritime safety information on the appropriated frequency or frequencies on which such information is broadcast for the area in which the ship is navigating;
6. on VHF channel 16, if the ship is equipped with the Non-GMDSS station and, where practicable, a maintain watch on the radiotelephone distress frequency 2182 kHz, and VHF channel 13 relating to the safety of navigation.

The radio frequency and operation for distress, urgency, and safety communication should be conducted in accordance with the regulations of the Communication Operation Directions for Ship Radio Stations.
The Communication Operation Directions for Ship Radio Stations shall be enacted and promulgated by the NCC.

Any ship radio station receiving alarm signal should immediately cease any transmission capable of interfering with the following communication of the aforementioned signal, and maintain a watch on the frequency carefully.
If ship radio stations receive the distress call from ship, which is in their vicinity, and there is no response from the coast station, they should acknowledge receipt at appropriate time and transfer the distress message as well as inform the ship in distress of the responding ship's name and the estimate time of arrival to the site. If the responding ship is not able to go to the site of the ship in distress immediately, the responding ship should inform the ship in distress of the reason.

When distress traffic has ceased on a frequency which has been used for distress traffic, or complete silence is no longer necessary for a frequency which is being used for the traffic, the ship radio station for controlling the traffic shall transmit on that frequency a message addressed to all radio stations, indicating that normal working may be resumed .

A ship radio station should not transmit the distress signal without approval, or transmit the signal easily confused with the distress signal.
If there is any aforementioned situation, it should be handled in accordance with the Communication Operation Directions for Ship Radio Stations.

During the voyage of a ship encountering iceberg, flotage, storm and any situation causing serious damage to ships, the ship should inform the nearest coast station and the nearby ships of the aforementioned situation by using the safety communication.

The urgency operation procedure for distress and safety radio communication equipment of ship radio station should be clearly post on the navigating bridge.
The content and format of the aforementioned procedure should be conducted in accordance with related regulations of Communication Operation Directions for Ship Radio Stations.