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U.S. VHF Marine Radio Channels
The chart below summarizes channel use
| Type of Message |
Appropriate channels (footnote) |
| Distress Safety and Calling - Use this channel to get the
attention of another station (calling) or in emergencies (distress and safety). |
16 |
| Intership Safety - Use this channel for ship-to-ship
safety messages, search and rescue messages, and ships and aircraft of the Coast Guard. |
6 |
| Coast Guard Liaison - Use this channel to talk to the
Coast Guard (make contact on Channel 16 first). |
22 |
| Noncommercial - Working channels for voluntary boats.
Messages must be about the needs of the ship. Typical uses include fishing reports,
rendezvous,scheduling repairs and berthing information. Use Channels 67 and 72 only for
ship-to-ship messages. |
9(6), 68, 69, 71, 72, 78,
79(4), 80(4) |
| Commercial - Working channels for working ships only.
Messages must be about business or the needs of the ship. Use channels 8, 67, 72 and 88
only for ship-to-ship messages. |
1(5), 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 18, 19, 63(5), 67, 72(7),
79, 80, 88(1) |
| Public Correspondence (Marine Operator) - Use these
channels to call the marine operator at a public coast station. By contacting a public
coast station, you can make and receive calls from telephones on shore. Except for
distress calls, public coast stations usually charge for this service. |
24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 84, 85,
86, 87, 88(2) |
| Port Operations - These channels are used in directing
the movement of ships in or near ports, locks or waterways. Messages must be about the
operational handling movement and safety of ships. In certain major ports, Channels 11,12
and are not available for general port operations messages. Use channel 20 only for
ship-to-coast messages. Channel 77 is limited to intership communications to and from
pilots |
1(5), 5(3), 12, 14, 20,
63(5), 65, 66, 73, 74, 77 |
| Navigational - (Bridge-to-Bridge Channel) - This channel
is available to all ships. Messages must be about ship navigation, for example, passing or
meeting other ships. You must keep your messages short. Your power output must not be more
than one watt. This is also the main working channel at most locks and drawbridges. |
13, 67 |
| Maritime Control - This channel may be used to talk to
ships and coast stations operated by state or local governments. Messages must pertain to
regulation and control, booting activities, or assistance to ships. |
17 |
| Digital Selective Calling - Use this channel for distress
and safety calling and for general purpose calling using only digital selective calling
techniques. |
70 |
| Weather - On these channels you can receive weather
broadcasts of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. These channels are only
for receiving. You cannot transmit on them. |
Wx-1 162.55
Wx-2 162.4
Wx-3 162.475 |
- Not available in the Great Lakes, St. Lawrence Seaway, or the Puget Sound and the Strait
of Juan de Fuca and its approaches.
- Only for use in the Great Lakes, St Lawrence Seaway, and Puget Sound and the Strait of
Juan de fuca and its approaches.
- Available only In the Houston and New Orleans areas.
- Available only in the Great Lakes.
- Available only In the New Orleans area.
- Available for Intership, ship, and coast general purpose calling by noncommercial ships.
- Available only In the Puget Sound and the Strait of Juan de Fuca.
Mayday! Mayday! Mayday!
You may only have seconds to send a distress call. Here's what you
do.
In this order:
- Tune your VHF marine radio to channel 16. Unless you know you are outside VHF range of
shore and ships, call on channel 16 first.
- Distress signal "Mayday", spoken three times.
- The words "This is", spoken once.
- Name of vessel in distress (spoken three times) and call sign or boat registration
number, spoken once.
- Repeat "Mayday" and name of vessel, spoken once.
- Give position of vessel by latitude or longitude or by bearing (true or magnetic, state
which) and distance to a well-know landmark such as a navigational aid or small island, or
in any terms which will assist a responding station in locating the vessel in distress.
Include any information on vessel movement such as course, speed and destination.
- Nature of distress (sinking, fire etc.).
- Kind of assistance desired.
- Number of persons onboard.
- Any other information which might facilitate rescue, such as length or tonnage of
vessel, number of persons needing medical attention, color hull, cabin, etc.
- The word "Over"
Repeat at intervals until an answer is received.
Stay by the radio if possible. Even after the message has been
received, the Coast Guard can find you more quickly if you can transmit a signal a rescue
boat or aircraft can home in on.
Example:
Mayday-Mayday-Mayday
This is Reel Time-Reel Time-Reel Time (reg. number)
Mayday-This is Reel Time
The Galveston Jetty Lighthouse bears 265 degrees magnetic Distance is approximately 2
miles
We have struck a submerged object
We need pumps, medical assistance, and tow
There are 2 adults, 3 children onboard
1 person with possible concussion
We can remain afloat approximately 3 hours
Reel Time is a 38 foot sport fishing boat
White hull with blue trim and flying bridge
Over
Repeat at intervals until an answer is received.
Other Resources
International VHF
Maritime Radio Channels and Frequencies
Narroiwband VHF Maritime
Channels and Frequencies
Radio Information for
Boaters
U.S. Coast Guard VHF
Distress and Safety Coverage Charts
FCC's Marine VHF
Radio Channels
NOAA Weather Radio Homepage
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Texas Gulf Coast
Fishing
