Maritime VHF
The Marine VHF service is a crucial short-range radio communication system specifically designed for use on boats and ships, operating on frequencies in the Very High Frequency (VHF) band. It provides essential capabilities for vessel-to-vessel and vessel-to-shore communication, enabling routine contact, bridge-to-bridge exchanges, and most importantly, distress calls on dedicated channels like Channel 16. Used by recreational boaters, commercial vessels, harbor patrols, and coast guards worldwide, Marine VHF ensures safety at sea by facilitating communication for navigation, weather updates, emergency coordination, and general operational needs within line-of-sight range.
Channels
Channel 1001
Port operations and commercial, VTS, available only in New Orleans / Lower Mississippi area
156.05 MHz
Channel 1005
Port operations or VTS in the Houston, New Orleans and Seattle areas
156.25 MHz
Channel 06
Intership safety
156.3 MHz
Channel 1007
Commercial, VDSMS
156.35 MHz
Channel 08
Commercial (intership only), VDSMS
156.4 MHz
Channel 09
Boater calling, commercial, non-commercial, VDSMS
156.45 MHz
Channel 10
Commercial, VDSMS
156.5 MHz
Channel 11
Commercial, VTS in selected areas, VDSMS
156.55 MHz
Channel 12
Port operations, VTS in selected areas
156.6 MHz
Channel 13
Intership navigation safety (Bridge-to-bridge), ships >20m length maintain a listening watch on this channel in US waters
156.65 MHz
Channel 14
Port operations, VTS in selected areas
156.7 MHz
Channel 15
Environmental (receive only), used by class C EPIRBs
156.75 MHz
Channel 16
International distress, safety and calling, ships required to carry radio, USCG, and most coast stations maintain a listening watch on this channel
156.8 MHz
Channel 17
State and local govt maritime control
156.85 MHz
Channel 1018
Commercial, VDSMS
156.9 MHz
Channel 1019
Commercial, VDSMS
156.95 MHz
Channel 20
Port operations
Tx 157 / Rx 161.6 MHz
Channel 1020
Port operations
157 MHz
Channel 1021
U.S. Coast Guard only
157.05 MHz
Channel 1022
Coast Guard liaison and maritime safety information broadcasts, broadcasts announced on channel 16
157.1 MHz
Channel 1023
U.S. Coast Guard only
157.15 MHz
Channel 24
Public correspondence (marine operator), VDSMS
Tx 157.2 / Rx 161.8 MHz
Channel 25
Public correspondence (marine operator), VDSMS
Tx 157.25 / Rx 161.85 MHz
Channel 26
Public correspondence (marine operator), VDSMS
Tx 157.3 / Rx 161.9 MHz
Channel 27
Public correspondence (marine operator), VDSMS
Tx 157.35 / Rx 161.95 MHz
Channel 28
Public correspondence (marine operator), VDSMS
Tx 157.4 / Rx 162 MHz
Channel 1063
Port operations and commercial, VTS, available only in New Orleans / Lower Mississippi area
156.175 MHz
Channel 1065
Port operations
156.275 MHz
Channel 1066
Port operations
156.325 MHz
Channel 67
Commercial, used for bridge-to-bridge communications in lower Mississippi River, intership only
156.375 MHz
Channel 68
Non-Commercial, VDSMS
156.425 MHz
Channel 69
Non-Commercial, VDSMS
156.475 MHz
Channel 70
Digital selective calling (voice communications not allowed)
156.525 MHz
Channel 71
Non-commercial, VDSMS
156.575 MHz
Channel 72
Non-commercial (intership only), VDSMS
156.625 MHz
Channel 73
Port operations
156.675 MHz
Channel 74
Port operations
156.725 MHz
Channel 77
Port operations (Intership only)
156.875 MHz
Channel 1078
Non-commercial, VDSMS
156.925 MHz
Channel 1079
Commercial, non-commercial in Great Lakes only, VDSMS
156.975 MHz
Channel 1080
Commercial, non-commercial in Great Lakes only, VDSMS
157.025 MHz
Channel 1081
U.S. government only - Environmental protection operations
157.075 MHz
Channel 1082
U.S. government only
157.125 MHz
Channel 1083
U.S. Coast Guard only
157.175 MHz
Channel 84
Public correspondence (marine operator), VDSMS
Tx 161.825 / Rx 157.225 MHz
Channel 85
Public correspondence (marine operator), VDSMS
Tx 161.875 / Rx 157.275 MHz
Channel 86
Public correspondence (marine operator), VDSMS
Tx 161.925 / Rx 157.325 MHz
Channel 87
Public correspondence (marine operator), VDSMS
157.375 MHz
Channel 88
Commercial, intership only, VDSMS
157.425 MHz
Channel AIS 1
Automatic Identification System
161.975 MHz
Channel AIS 2
Automatic Identification System
162.025 MHz