Marine VHF radio channels form the backbone of ship-to-ship and ship-to-shore communication on the water. Operating on FM frequencies in the 156-174 MHz range, these channels are designated by the International Telecommunication Union as the VHF maritime mobile band. Transmitter power is limited to 25 watts, giving a range of about 100 kilometers (62 miles or 54 nautical miles). Knowing which channel to use for which purpose keeps you safe, legal, and in touch with other boaters and authorities.
The Essential Channels
While dozens of VHF channels exist, a few are critical for safety and everyday boating. The U.S. Coast Guard Navigation Center provides the authoritative channel information for U.S. waters. The table below shows the most important channels every recreational boater should know.
Channel | Frequency | Primary Use |
|---|---|---|
16 | 156.800 MHz | International Distress, Safety and Calling. Ships required to carry radio, the USCG, and most coast stations maintain a listening watch on this channel. |
13 | 156.650 MHz | Intership Navigation Safety (Bridge-to-bridge). Ships over 20 meters in length must maintain a listening watch on this channel in U.S. waters. |
09 | 156.450 MHz | Boater Calling, Commercial and Non-Commercial. Also used for radio checks per USCG guidance. |
06 | 156.300 MHz | Intership Safety communications. |
22A | 157.100 MHz | Coast Guard Liaison and Maritime Safety Information Broadcasts. Broadcasts are announced on channel 16. |
70 | 156.525 MHz | Digital Selective Calling only. Voice communications are not allowed on this channel. |
Recreational boaters often keep a secondary watch on channel 09 for routine hailing and radio checks. Boater-education organizations such as the BoatUS Foundation and equipment retailers like Quality2WayRadios both highlight channels 06, 09, 13, 16, 22, and 70 as the key frequencies for recreational use.
U.S. VHF Channel Information
New Channel Number | Old Channel Number | Ship Transmit MHz | Ship Receive MHz | Use |
|---|---|---|---|---|
1001 | 01A | 156.050 | 156.050 | Port Operations and Commercial, VTS. Available only in New Orleans / Lower Mississippi area. See Note a). |
1005 | 05A | 156.250 | 156.250 | Port Operations or VTS in the Houston, New Orleans and Seattle areas. See Note a). |
06 | 06 | 156.300 | 156.300 | Intership Safety |
1007 | 07A | 156.350 | 156.350 | Commercial. VDSMS |
08 | 08 | 156.400 | 156.400 | Commercial (Intership only). VDSMS |
09 | 09 | 156.450 | 156.450 | Boater Calling. Commercial and Non-Commercial. VDSMS |
10 | 10 | 156.500 | 156.500 | Commercial. VDSMS |
11 | 11 | 156.550 | 156.550 | Commercial. VTS in selected areas. VDSMS |
12 | 12 | 156.600 | 156.600 | Port Operations. VTS in selected areas. |
13 | 13 | 156.650 | 156.650 | Intership Navigation Safety (Bridge-to-bridge). Ships >20m length maintain a listening watch on this channel in US waters. |
14 | 14 | 156.700 | 156.700 | Port Operations. VTS in selected areas. |
15 | 15 | — | 156.750 | Environmental (Receive only). Used by Class C EPIRBs. |
16 | 16 | 156.800 | 156.800 | International Distress, Safety and Calling. Ships required to carry radio, USCG, and most coast stations maintain a listening watch on this channel. See our Watchkeeping Regulations page. |
17 | 17 | 156.850 | 156.850 | State & local govt maritime control |
1018 | 18A | 156.900 | 156.900 | Commercial. VDSMS |
1019 | 19A | 156.950 | 156.950 | Commercial. VDSMS |
20 | 20 | 157.000 | 161.600 | Port Operations (duplex) |
1020 | 20A | 157.000 | 157.000 | Port Operations |
1021 | 21A | 157.050 | 157.050 | U.S. Coast Guard only |
1022 | 22A | 157.100 | 157.100 | Coast Guard Liaison and Maritime Safety Information Broadcasts. Broadcasts announced on channel 16. See Note a). |
1023 | 23A | 157.150 | 157.150 | U.S. Coast Guard only |
24 | 24 | 157.200 | 161.800 | Public Correspondence (Marine Operator). VDSMS. Cannot be used effective 2030. See Note b). |
25 | 25 | 157.250 | 161.850 | Public Correspondence (Marine Operator). VDSMS. Cannot be used effective 2030. See Note b). |
26 | 26 | 157.300 | 161.900 | Public Correspondence (Marine Operator). VDSMS. Cannot be used effective 2030. See Note b). |
27 | 27 | 157.350 | 161.950 | Public Correspondence (Marine Operator). VDSMS. Cannot be used effective 2030. See Note b). |
28 | 28 | 157.400 | 162.000 | Public Correspondence (Marine Operator). VDSMS. Cannot be used effective 2030. See Note b). |
1063 | 63A | 156.175 | 156.175 | Port Operations and Commercial, VTS. Available only in New Orleans / Lower Mississippi area. |
1065 | 65A | 156.275 | 156.275 | Port Operations See Note a). |
1066 | 66A | 156.325 | 156.325 | Port Operations |
67 | 67 | 156.375 | 156.375 | Commercial. Used for Bridge-to-bridge communications in lower Mississippi River. Intership only. |
68 | 68 | 156.425 | 156.425 | Non-Commercial. VDSMS |
69 | 69 | 156.475 | 156.475 | Non-Commercial. VDSMS |
70 | 70 | 156.525 | 156.525 | Digital Selective Calling (voice communications not allowed) |
71 | 71 | 156.575 | 156.575 | Non-Commercial. VDSMS |
72 | 72 | 156.625 | 156.625 | Non-Commercial (Intership only). VDSMS |
73 | 156.675 | 156.675 | Port Operations | |
74 | 74 | 156.725 | 156.725 | Port Operations |
77 | 77 | 156.875 | 156.875 | Port Operations (Intership only) |
1078 | 78A | 156.925 | 156.925 | Non-Commercial. VDSMS |
1079 | 79A | 156.975 | 156.975 | Commercial. Non-Commercial in Great Lakes only. VDSMS |
1080 | 80A | 157.025 | 157.025 | Commercial. Non-Commercial in Great Lakes only. VDSMS |
1081 | 81A | 157.075 | 157.075 | U.S. Government only – Environmental protection operations. |
1082 | 82A | 157.125 | 157.125 | U.S. Government only |
1083 | 83A | 157.175 | 157.175 | U.S. Coast Guard only |
84 | 84 | 157.225 | 161.825 | Public Correspondence (Marine Operator). VDSMS. Cannot be used effective 2030. See Note b). |
85 | 85 | 157.275 | 161.875 | Public Correspondence (Marine Operator). VDSMS. Cannot be used effective 2030. See Note b). |
86 | 86 | 157.325 | 161.925 | Public Correspondence (Marine Operator). VDSMS. Cannot be used effective 2030. See Note b). |
87 | 87 | 157.375 | 157.375 | Public Correspondence (Marine Operator). VDSMS |
88 | 157.425 | 157.425 | Commercial, Intership only. VDSMS | |
AIS 1 | AIS 1 | 161.975 | 161.975 | |
AIS 2 | AIS 2 | 162.025 | 162.025 |
a) All VHF-equipped vessels operating in U.S. waters, including foreign vessels, are required to be able to operate on these U.S. channels. For Channel 1022 required in all US waters, see 33 CFR 26.03(d). For Channels 1001, 1005 and 1065 in certain VTS areas, see 33 CFR 161.12
b) Channels 24, 84, 25, 85, 26 and 86 cannot be used on or after 1 January 2030. See Note w) of the International VHF Marine Radio Channels and Frequencies.
c) ITU-R WRC-19 has eliminated duplex channels 27 and 28, replacing them with simplex Channels 1027 and 1028, operating on 157.350 MHz and 157.400 MHz respectively, not yet recognized by the FCC. Channel 2027 is ASM 1, and 2028 is ASM 2. See the Table, Note z) and Note zz) of the International VHF Marine Radio Channels and Frequencies.
VDSMS (VHF Digital Small Message Services). Transmissions of short digital messages in accordance with RTCM Standard 12301.1 is allowed.
Four-digit channel numbers
Recommendation ITU-R M.1084-5 Annex 5, adding the prefixes “10” and “20” to the existing channel number instead of the suffixes “A” and “B”, respectively.
Four-digit VHF maritime channel numbers were established by the International Telecommunications Union World Radio Conference meeting in Geneva, Switzerland, 2-27 November 2015. Its purpose was to improve spectrum efficiency, making allowances for countries making simplex use of duplex channels, just as the US had done beginning in 1965. US channel 05A is now designated and recognized internationally by the channel 1005, and the US Coast Guard channel 22A is now designated and recognized internationally by the channel “1022”. These new channel number designations are being displayed on new models of VHF marine radios.
See ITU Radio Regulations Appendix 18, summarized here.
Frequencies are in MHz. Modulation is 16KF3E or 16KG3E.
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. All ships of length 20m or greater are required to guard VHF channel 13, in addition to VHF channel 16, when operating within U.S. territorial waters. Users may be fined by the FCC for improper use of these channels. See Radio Watchkeeping regulations for further information.
Non-Commercial and Port Operations Channels
For everyday conversations between pleasure craft, channels 68 (156.425 MHz), 69 (156.475 MHz), 71 (156.575 MHz), and 72 (156.625 MHz) are designated as Non-Commercial channels. These are where you can chat with other boaters about fishing spots, meeting points, or social calls.
Port Operations channels include channel 12 (156.600 MHz) for selected VTS areas and channel 66A (156.325 MHz). The FCC requests that all U.S. marinas use channel 66A for marina communications. In British Columbia, channel 66A is used to call all marinas. Other port operations channels such as channel 14 (156.700 MHz) serve Vessel Traffic Services in specific regions like Puget Sound. Channel 5A (156.250 MHz) is used for Vessel Traffic Systems in the Straits (Admiralty Inlet, Strait of Juan de Fuca, San Juan Islands) and in the Houston, New Orleans, and Seattle areas.
Additionally, channel 15 (156.750 MHz) is a receive-only channel used for Environmental purposes, including Class C EPIRBs. You cannot transmit on channel 15.
Photo by Esra Korkmaz on Pexels
Important Rules and Best Practices
Radio checks should always be conducted on channel 09, never on channel 16. The USCG explicitly moved radio checks to channel 09 to keep the distress calling channel clear for emergencies. When you need to contact the Coast Guard, the proper procedure is to hail on channel 16 and then be directed to channel 22A for the conversation.
Keep in mind that channels 24, 84, 25, 85, 26, and 86 (Public Correspondence channels) cannot be used on or after January 1, 2030. These channels were historically used for radiotelephone calls to shore stations, but cellular and satellite services have made them obsolete.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is channel 16 used for?
Channel 16 (156.800 MHz) is the international distress, safety, and calling frequency. It is monitored by the U.S. Coast Guard, ships required to carry radio, and most coast stations. All boaters should monitor channel 16 while underway and use it only for emergencies or initial hailing before switching to a working channel.
Can I use channel 16 for radio checks or casual talk?
No. The USCG has explicitly moved radio checks to channel 09. Using channel 16 for non-emergency transmissions interferes with distress communications and is a violation of FCC regulations. Always perform radio checks on channel 09.
What channel should I use to call a Marina?
In U.S. waters, the FCC requests that all marinas use channel 66A for port operations, so that is the best channel to try first. In British Columbia, channel 66A is also the standard for calling all marinas. If you get no response, you can check local guidebooks or ask other boaters for the marina’s preferred channel.
What is channel 70 used for?
Channel 70 (156.525 MHz) is reserved exclusively for Digital Selective Calling. Voice communications are not allowed. DSC allows you to send a digital distress alert with your vessel’s MMSI number and position, enabling a targeted rescue response. Most modern VHF radios include a dedicated DSC button.
Will some marine VHF channels be phased out?
Yes. Channels 24, 84, 25, 85, 26, and 86, the Public Correspondence channels, cannot be used on or after January 1, 2030. These channels were used for making radiotelephone calls to shore. After that date, those frequencies will no longer be available for maritime mobile use. Other channels will remain unchanged for the foreseeable future.
