What is a requirement of all marine transmitting apparatus used aboard United States vessels?

Only equipment that has been certified by the FCC for Part 80 operations is authorized.

Code of Federal Regulations Title 47 Chapter I Subchapter D Part 80 Subpart E
§ 80.203 Authorization of transmitters for licensing.

47 CFR 80.203(a) Each transmitter authorized in a station in the maritime services after September 30, 1986, except as indicated in paragraphs (g), (h) and (i) of this section, must be certified by the Commission for part 80 operations.

See FCC presentation on Part 80 - VHF Transceivers VHF Transceivers and Marine Radars and Marine Radars

FYI: The overall maritime responsibility for regs, rules, and certification of vessels is the FMC, Federal Maritime Commission. See Law & Regulation section.

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What transmitting equipment is authorized for use by a station in the maritime services?

Unless specifically excepted, only transmitters certified by the Federal Communications Commission for Part 80 operations.

Code of Federal Regulations Title 47 Chapter I Subchapter D Part 80 Subpart E
§ 80.203 Authorization of transmitters for licensing.

47 CFR 80.203(a) Each transmitter authorized in a station in the maritime services after September 30, 1986, except as indicated in paragraphs (g), (h) and (i) of this section, must be certified by the Commission for part 80 operations.

See FCC presentation on Part 80 - VHF Transceivers VHF Transceivers and Marine Radars and Marine Radars

FYI: The overall maritime responsibility for regs, rules, and certification of vessels is the FMC, Federal Maritime Commission. See Law & Regulation section.

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Small passenger vessels that sail 20 to 150 nautical miles from the nearest land must have what additional equipment?

MF-HF SSB Transceiver.

§ 80.905 Vessel radio equipment. lists the equipment regulations.

47 CFR 80.905(a)(1) Vessels operated solely within 20 nautical miles of land must be equipped with a VHF-DSC radiotelephone installation meeting the requirements of § 80.1101(c)(2).

47 CFR 80.905(a)(2) Vessels operated beyond the 20 nautical mile limitation specified in paragraph (a)(1) of this section, but not more than 100 nautical miles from the nearest land, must be equipped with a MF-DSC frequency transmitter meeting the requirements of § 80.1101(c)(3) and capable of transmitting J3E emission and a receiver capable of reception of J3E emission within the band 1710 to 2850 kHz, in addition to the VHF-DSC radiotelephone installation required by paragraph (a)(1) of this section

47 CFR 80.905(a)(3) Vessels operated more than 100 nautical miles but not more than 200 nautical miles from the nearest land must:

(i) Be equipped with a VHF-DSC radiotelephone installation meeting the requirements of paragraph (a)(1) of this section, except that a VHF radiotelephone installation without DSC capability is permitted until one year after the Coast Guard notifies the Commission that shore-based sea area A1 coverage is established

47 CFR 80.905(a)(4) Vessels operated more than 200 nautical miles from the nearest land must:

(i) Be equipped with two VHF-DSC radiotelephone installations meeting the requirements of paragraph (a)(1) of this section, except that VHF radiotelephone installations without DSC capability are permitted until one year after the Coast Guard notifies the Commission that shore-based sea area A1 coverage is established;

The Code of Federal Regulations Title 47 Chapter I Subchapter D Part 80 Subpart S - Compulsory Radiotelephone Installations for Small Passenger Boats details requirements for small boats.

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What equipment is programmed to initiate transmission of distress alerts and calls to individual stations?

DSC controller.

DSC (Digital Selective Calling) controller

Digital Selective Calling (DSC) service is used to for transmitting digital messages, using the medium-frequency (MF), high-frequency (HF) and very-high-frequency (VHF) maritime radio systems. It is a component of the Global Maritime Distress Safety System (GMDSS).

For info about DSC see Wikipedia article DSC Service

For US Coast Guard info on DSC, see DSC Service

NAVTEX is teletype-style mode of broadcasting marine safety information

GPS is only a satellite receiver

Scanning Watch Receiver is also just a receiver.

So, none of these would work for making a distress call.

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What is the minimum transmitter power level required by the FCC for a medium-frequency transmitter aboard a compulsorily fitted vessel?

At least 60 watts PEP.

Code of Federal Regulations Title 47 Chapter I Subchapter D Part 80 Subpart R
§ 80.855 Radiotelephone transmitter.

47 CFR 80.855(c) The transmitter must be capable of transmitting clearly perceptible signals from ship to ship during daytime under normal conditions over a range of 150 nautical miles.

47 CFR 80.855(d)(2) The output power is not less than 60 watts peak envelope power for H3E and J3E emission on the frequency 2182 kHz and for J3E emission on the frequency 2638 kHz...

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Shipboard transmitters using F3E emission (FM voice) may not exceed what carrier power?

25 watts

F3E is used in the VHF range (30 MHz to 299 MHz).

Thus, according to Code of Federal Regulations, Title 47 Chapter I Subchapter D Part 80 Subpart E
§ 80.215 Transmitter power.

47 CFR 80.215(e) Ship stations frequencies above 27500 kHz. The maximum power must not exceed the values listed below:

47 CFR 80.215(e)(1) Ship stations 156-162 MHz - 25W Reducible to 1 watt or less, except for transmitters limited to public correspondence channels and used in an automated system.

47 CFR 80.215(e)(2) Ship stations 216-220 MHz - 25W

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