A professional who operates and maintains radiotelegraph and radiotelephone equipment and accessories aboard ship. Responsibilities include:

• Turns on power to activate generator, and throws switches to cut in transmitters and antennas.
• Turns dials to obtain sending frequency and volume.
• Receives and transmits messages following procedure prescribed by federal regulations.
• Maintains log of messages transmitted and received.
• Monitors emergency frequency for ship and distress calls.
• Performs minor repairs and adjustments on ships' radio equipment and lifeboat radios.
• Charges batteries.
• May perform minor repairs to radar, loran, auto-alarm, and gyrocompass systems.
• May copy broadcast schedules, such as Merfox, Mercast, and news.
• Must be licensed by Federal Communications Commission as Radiotelegraph Operator and Radiotelephone Operator, and by U.S.
• Coast Guard as Radio Officer.