VHF Radio Channels have changed. Since I first published The Marine Electrical and Electronics Bible, so much has changed with VHF Radio Channels. In the First and subsequent editions I updated the VHF channel listings. Since the last Fourth Edition GMDSS and digital technology has overtaken the list and the list below is the latest I can assemble. Be sure to check your local area for VHF broadcast schedules. Check official websites for the latest channel data.
These are the nominated US VHF Channel Designations as at the end of 2021. Know them and use them correctly. Where VDSMS (VHF Digital Small Message Services). Where a 4 digit channel number is shown starting with "10" this indicates simplex use of the ship station transmit side of what was previously an international duplex channel. Improper use of VHF channels can lead to fine by the FCC. You have been warned! These new channel numbers should eventually begin to be displayed on new models of VHF marine radios. Boaters should normally use channels listed as Non-Commercial. Channel 16 is used for calling other stations or for distress alerting. Channel 13 should be used to contact a ship when there is danger of collision.
1001 (Old 01A) - Port Operations, VTS, New Orleans/Lower Mississippi Area
02 - Harbor – Ship to Ship
03 - Harbor – Ship to Ship
04 - Harbor – Ship to Ship
1005 (Old 05A) - Port Operations or VTS, Houston, New Orleans and Seattle Areas
06 – SAFETY – SAR Communications – Intership Safety
1007 – (Old 07A) – Commercial. VDSMS
08 - Commercial (Intership Only). VDSMS
09 – US CALLING CHANNEL (Ship to
Ship). VDSMS
10 - Commercial. VDSMS
11 – Commercial. (VTS in some areas). VDSMS
12 – Port Operations (VTS in some areas)
13 – Bridge to Bridge (1 watt only). Intership Navigation Safety. Intracostal waterway (ICW). Commercial Vessels. Do not use call signs. Use abbreviated operating procedures only. Maintain dual watch on Channels 13 and 16. (Note used for ship movements San Francisco Bay approaches)
14 – Port Operations (VTS is some areas)(Ship Movements in Sam Francisco Bay)
15 – Environmental Receive Only. Used by Class C EPIRB’s
16 – INTERNATIONAL DISTRESS, SAFETY and CALLING
17 – State and Local Government
Maritime Control
1018 (Old 18A) – Commercial. VDSMS
1019 (Old 19A) - Commercial. VDSMS
20 – Port Operations (Duplex)
1020 (Old 20A) - Port Operations
1021 (Old 21A) – US Coast Guard Only
1022 (Old 22A) – USCG and Marine Safety Information Broadcasts
1023 (Old 23A) – US Coast Guard Only
24 – Public Correspondence – (Marine Operator). VDSMS.
25 – Public Correspondence – (Marine Operator). VDSMS.
26 – Public Correspondence – (Marine Operator). VDSMS.
27 – Public Correspondence – (Marine Operator). VDSMS.
28 – Public Correspondence – (Marine Operator). VDSMS.
1063 (Old 63A) – Port Operations and Commercial VTS. Available only New Orleans/Lower Mississippi Area.
1065 (Old 65A) – Port Operations
1066 (Old 66A) – Port Operations
67 – Commercial, Bridge to Bridge Communications Lower Mississippi River Only
68 – Non Commercial. VDSMS
69 – Non Commercial. VDSMS
70 – Digital Selective Calling (DSC) Only (NO VOICE ALLOWED)
71 – Non Commercial. VDSMS
72 – Non Commercial Intership Only. VDSMS
73 – Port Operations
74 – Port Operations
77 – Port Operations Intership Only
1078 - (Old 78A) – Non Commercial. VDSMS
1079 - (Old 79A) – Commercial. Non Commercial in Great Lakes Only. VDSMS
1080 - (Old 80A) – Commercial. Non Commercial in Great Lakes Only. VDSMS
1081 - (Old 81A) – US Government Only. Environmental Protection Operations
1082 - (Old 82A) – US Government Only
1083 - (Old 83A) – US Government Only
84 – Public Correspondence (Marine Operator). VDSMS
85 – Public Correspondence (Marine Operator). VDSMS
86 – Public Correspondence (Marine Operator). VDSMS
87 – Public Correspondence (Marine Operator). VDSMS
88 – Commercial Intership Only. VDSMS
WX 1-10 – NOAA Weather Broadcasts Receive Only
01 – Public Correspondence, Port operations, Ship Movement
02 – Public Correspondence, Port operations, Ship Movement
03 – Public Correspondence, Port operations, Ship Movement
04 – Public Correspondence, Port operations, Ship Movement
05 – Public Correspondence, Port operations, Ship Movement
06 - Intership (Simplex)
07 – Public Correspondence, Port operations, Ship Movement
08 - Intership (Simplex)
09 – Intership, Port operations, Ship Movement (Simplex)
10 - Intership, Port operations, Ship Movement (Simplex)
11 – Port operations, Ship Movement
12 – Port operations, Ship Movement
13 – Intership (Simplex)
14 – Port operations, Ship Movement
15 – Port operations, Intership, Ship Movement
16 – INTERNATIONAL DISTRESS, SAFETY and CALLING
17 – Port operations,
Intership, Ship Movement
18 – Public Correspondence, Port operations, Ship Movement
1078 - Port operations, Ship Movement (Simplex)
19 – Public Correspondence, Port operations, Ship Movement
1019 - Port operations, Ship Movement (Simplex)
20 – Public Correspondence, Port operations, Ship Movement
1020 - Port operations, Ship Movement (Simplex)
21 – Public Correspondence, Port operations, Ship Movement
22 – Public Correspondence, Port operations, Ship Movement
23 – Public Correspondence, Port operations, Ship Movement
24 – Public Correspondence, Port operations, Ship Movement
1024 – For use under the VHF Data Exchange System (VDES)
1084 – For use under the VHF Data Exchange System (VDES)
25 – Public Correspondence, Port operations, Ship Movement
1025 - For use under the VHF Data Exchange System (VDES)
1085 - For use under the VHF Data Exchange System (VDES)
26 - Public Correspondence, Port operations, Ship Movement
1026 - For use under the VHF Data Exchange System (VDES)
1086 - For use under the VHF Data Exchange System (VDES)
27 – Public Correspondence, Port operations, Ship Movement
1027 - Port operations, Ship Movement
28 – Public Correspondence, Port operations, Ship Movement
1028 - Port operations, Ship Movement
60 – Public Correspondence, Port operations, Ship Movement
61 – Public Correspondence, Port operations, Ship Movement
62 – Public Correspondence, Port operations, Ship Movement
63 – Public Correspondence, Port operations, Ship Movement
64 – Public Correspondence, Port operations, Ship Movement
65 – Public Correspondence, Port operations, Ship Movement
2006 - Reserved
66 – Public Correspondence, Port operations, Ship Movement
67 - Port operations, Intership, Ship Movement
68 - Port operations, Ship Movement
69 - Port operations, Intership, Ship Movement
70 – Digital Selective Calling (DSC) Only (NO VOICE ALLOWED)
71 – Public Correspondence, Port operations, Ship Movement
72 - Intership (Simplex)
73 - Port operations, Intership, Ship Movement
74 - Port operations, Ship Movement
75 - Port operations, Ship Movement
76 - Port operations, Ship Movement
77 - Intership (Simplex)
78 - Public Correspondence, Port operations, Ship Movement
2078 - Port operations, Ship Movement (Simplex)
2019 - Port operations, Ship Movement
79 - Public Correspondence, Port operations, Ship Movement
2079 - Port operations, Ship Movement
2020 - Port operations, Ship Movement
80 - Public Correspondence, Port operations, Ship Movement
81 - Public Correspondence, Port operations, Ship Movement
82 - Public Correspondence, Port operations, Ship Movement
83 - Public Correspondence, Port operations, Ship Movement
2024 - Intership (Digital Only)
84 - Public Correspondence, Port operations, Ship Movement
2084 - Intership (Digital Only)
2025 - Intership (Digital Only)
85 - Public Correspondence, Port operations, Ship Movement
2085 - Intership (Digital Only)
2026 - Reserved
86 - Public Correspondence, Port operations, Ship Movement
2086 - For use under the VHF Data Exchange System (VDES)
2027 – ASM 1 (Application Specific Messages)
87 - Port operations, Ship Movement
2028 – ASM 2 (Application Specific Messages)
88 - Port operations, Ship Movement
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