33 C.F.R. § 161.18 – Reporting requirements.

(a) A Center may: (1) Direct a vessel to provide any of the information set forth in Table 161.18(a) (IMO Standard Ship Reporting System);

Table 161.18(a)—The IMO Standard Ship Reporting System
A	ALPHA	Ship	Name, call sign or ship station identity, and flag.
B	BRAVO	Dates and time of event	A 6 digit group giving day of month (first two digits), hours and minutes (last four digits). If other than UTC state time zone used.
C	CHARLIE	Position	A 4 digit group giving latitude in degrees and minutes suffixed with N (north) or S (south) and a 5 digit group giving longitude in degrees and minutes suffixed with E (east) or W (west); or
D	DELTA	Position	True bearing (first 3 digits) and distance (state distance) in nautical miles from a clearly identified landmark (state landmark).
E	ECHO	True course	A 3 digit group.
F	FOXTROT	Speed in knots and tenths of knots	A 3 digit group.
G	GOLF	Port of Departure	Name of last port of call.
H	HOTEL	Date, time and point of entry system	Entry time expressed as in (B) and into the entry position expressed as in (C) or (D).
I	INDIA	Destination and expected time of arrival	Name of port and date time group expressed as in (B).
J	JULIET	Pilot	State whether a deep sea or local pilot is on board.
K	KILO	Date, time and point of exit from system	Exit time expressed as in (B) and exit position expressed as in (C) or (D).
L	LIMA	Route information	Intended track.
M	MIKE	Radio	State in full names of communications stations/frequencies guarded.
N	NOVEMBER	Time of next report	Date time group expressed as in (B).
O	OSCAR	Maximum present static draught in meters	4 digit group giving meters and centimeters.
P	PAPA	Cargo on board	Cargo and brief details of any dangerous cargoes as well as harmful substances and gases that could endanger persons or the environment.
Q	QUEBEC	Defects, damage, deficiencies or limitations	Brief detail of defects, damage, deficiencies or other limitations.
R	ROMEO	Description of pollution or dangerous goods lost	Brief details of type of pollution (oil, chemicals, etc.) or dangerous goods lost overboard; position expressed as in (C) or (D).
S	SIERRA	Weather conditions	Brief details of weather and sea conditions prevailing.
T	TANGO	Ship's representative and/or owner	Details of name and particulars of ship's representative and/or owner for provision of information.
U	UNIFORM	Ship size and type	Details of length, breadth, tonnage, and type, etc., as required.
V	VICTOR	Medical personnel	Doctor, physician's assistant, nurse, no medic.
W	WHISKEY	Total number of persons on board	State number.
X	XRAY	Miscellaneous	Any other information as appropriate. [i.e., a detailed description of a planned operation, which may include: its duration; effective area; any restrictions to navigation; notification procedures for approaching vessels; in addition, for a towing operation: configuration, length of the tow, available horsepower, etc.; for a dredge or floating plant: configuration of pipeline, mooring configuration, number of assist vessels, etc.].

(2) Establish other means of reporting for those vessels unable to report on the designated frequency; or
(3) Require reports from a vessel in sufficient time to allow advance vessel traffic planning.
(b) All reports required by this part shall be made as soon as is practicable on the frequency designated in Table 161.12(c) (VTS and VMRS Centers, Call Signs/MMSI, Designated Frequencies, and Monitoring Areas).
(c) When not exchanging communications, a VMRS User must maintain a listening watch as described in § 26.04(e) of this chapter on the frequency designated in Table 161.12(c) (VTS and VMRS Centers, Call Signs/MMSI, Designated Frequencies, and Monitoring Areas). In addition, the VMRS User must respond promptly when hailed and communicate in the English language.
(d) A vessel must report:
1. (1) Any significant deviation from its Sailing Plan, as defined in § 161.19, or from previously reported information; or
2. (2) Any intention to deviate from a VTS issued measure or vessel traffic routing system.
(e) When reports required by this part include time information, such information shall be given using the local time zone in effect and the 24-hour military clock system.

Note: As stated in 47 CFR 80.148(b), a VHF watch on Channel 16 (156.800 MHz) is not required on vessels subject to the Vessel Bridge-to-Bridge Radiotelephone Act and participating in a Vessel Traffic Service (VTS) system when the watch is maintained on both the vessel bridge-to-bridge frequency and a designated VTS frequency.

[CGD 90-020, 59 FR 36324, July 15, 1994, as amended by USCG-2003-14757, 68 FR 39366, July 1, 2003; USCG-2015-0433, 80 FR 44282, July 27, 2015]