Use: Communications pertaining to the needs of the vessel (i.e.,. fishing, rendezvous,
maneuvers, berthing, scheduling of repairs, provisioning, etc.)
Between: Ship-to-ship or ship to limited coast stations
Comments: Channel 72 may not be used for ship to coast communications. Channel 9 is
shared with commercial users.
If you regularly monitor one of these channels with a second receiver, please notify frequently-
called stations of this practice. Help reduce congestion on channel 16.
Commercial
Channels: 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 18, 19, 67, 79, 80, [88]
Vessels: Those used primarily for commercial transport of persons or goods, or engaged in
servicing other vessels
Use: Communications pertaining to the purpose for which the vessel is used
Between: Commercial transport vessels (ship-to-ship) or between commercial transport
vessels and limited coast stations
Channels 8, 67 and 88 may not be used for ship-to-coast communications
Recreational boats are not permitted to use these channels
Channel 88 not available on Great Lakes and St. Lawrence Seaway.
Marine Operator
Channels: 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 84, 85, 86, 87, 88
Vessels: Any
Use: To place a telephone call to any location in the world or to a vessel outside of your
transmitting range
Between: Vessels and public coast stations
Comments: Contact the marine operator on the channel assigned to your navigating area. If
unable to determine this channel, use channel 16.
Be patient. Do not interrupt calls in progress. Avoid excessive calling if the operator does not
answer-give the operator a chance to reply.
State Control
Channel: 17
Vessels: State and local government
Use: Coordination, regulation and control of boating activities and the rendering of assistance
to vessels.
Between: Ship and coast stations associates with state and loca governments.
Environmental
Channel: 15
Vessels: Any (receive only)
Use: Broadcast of information concerning the environmental conditions in which vessels
operate-weather, sea conditions, time signals, notices to mariner, hazards to navigation
Between: One-way broadcast form coast to ship stations
Note: Currently used for Class C EPIRB emergency signals.
Weather
Channels: WX1, WX2, WX3
Vessels: Any
Use: Continuous weather information form NOAA (National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration)
Between: One-way broadcast form NOAA to any interested parties
Comments: Receive only. You are not allowed to transmit on these frequencies.
PHONETIC ALPHABET:
To help make call letters more clearly understood, and to assist in spelling out similar sounding
or unfamiliar words, radiotelephone users usually employ the international phonetic alphabet.
