International VHF Marine Radio Channels and Frequencies
The following table is adapted from the International Telecommunications Union Radio Regulations Appendix S18, including changes adopted by the 1997 World Radio Conference.Transmission on frequencies or channels shown in blue are not allowed within U.S. territorial waters, but are allowed on the high seas and in most other countries.
Note that a marine radio operating in the international mode on a channel in which the ship station frequency is shown in black and the shore station frequency shown in blue would not be able to communicate with a U.S. shore station. The large number of "blue" channels and frequencies indicates the shortage of VHF maritime spectrum in the U.S. compared to most other maritime countries. Finally, note also that changes made by WRC97 shown in green have not yet come into force.
Channel Designator |
Notes |
Transmitting Frequencies (MHz) |
Intership |
Port Operations and Ship Movement |
Public correspondence |
||
Ship Stations |
Coast Stations |
Single frequency |
Two frequency |
||||
60 |
156.025 |
160.625 |
x |
x |
|||
01 | 156.050 |
160.650 |
x |
x |
|||
61 |
156.075 |
160.675 |
x |
x |
|||
02 | 156.100 |
160.700 |
x |
x |
|||
62 |
156.125 |
160.125 |
x |
x |
|||
03 | 156.150 |
160.750 |
x |
x |
|||
63 |
156.175 |
160.775 |
x |
x |
|||
04 | 156.200 |
160.800 |
x |
x |
|||
64 |
156.225 |
160.825 |
x |
x |
|||
05 | 156.250 |
160.850 | x |
x |
|||
65 |
156.275 |
160.875 | x |
x |
|||
06 | f |
156.300 |
x |
||||
66 |
156.325 |
160.925 | x |
x |
|||
07 | 156.350 |
160.950 | x |
x |
|||
67 |
h |
156.375 |
156.375 |
x |
x |
||
08 | 156.400 |
x |
|||||
68 |
156.425 |
156.425 |
x |
||||
09 | I |
156.450 |
156.450 |
x |
x |
||
69 |
156.475 |
156.475 |
x |
x |
|||
10 | f |
156.500 |
156.500 |
x |
x |
||
70 |
j |
156.525 |
156.525 |
Digital selective calling for distress, safety and calling |
|||
11 | 156.550 |
156.550 |
x |
||||
71 |
156.575 |
156.575 |
x |
||||
12 | 156.600 |
156.600 |
x |
||||
72 |
i |
156.625 |
|
x |
|||
13 | k |
156.650 |
156.650 |
x |
x |
||
73 |
h |
156.675 |
156.675 |
x |
x |
||
14 | 156.700 |
156.700 |
x |
||||
74 |
156.725 |
156.725 |
x |
||||
15 | g |
156.750 | 156.750 |
x |
x |
||
75 |
n |
156.775 |
x |
||||
16 | 156.800 |
156.800 |
DISTRESS, SAFETY AND CALLING |
||||
76 |
n |
156.825 |
x |
||||
17 | g |
156.850 |
156.850 |
x |
x |
||
77 |
156.875 |
x |
|||||
18 | m |
156.900 |
161.500 | x |
x |
x |
|
78 |
156.925 |
161.525 | x |
x |
|||
19 | 156.950 |
161.550 | x |
x |
|||
79 |
156.975 |
161.575 | x |
x |
|||
20 | 157.000 |
161.600 |
x |
x |
|||
80 |
157.025 |
161.625 | x |
x |
|||
21 | 157.050 |
161.650 | x |
x |
|||
81 |
157.075 |
161.675 | x |
x |
|||
22 | 157.100 |
161.700 | x |
x |
|||
82 |
m |
157.125 |
161.725 | x |
x |
x |
|
23 | 157.150 |
161.750 | x |
x |
|||
83 |
m |
157.175 |
161.775 | x |
x |
x |
|
24 | 157.200 |
161.800 | x |
x |
|||
84 |
m |
157.225 |
161.825 |
x |
x |
x |
|
25 | 157.250 |
161.850 |
x |
x |
|||
85 |
m |
157.275 |
161.875 |
x |
x |
x |
|
26 | 157.300 |
161.900 |
x |
x |
|||
86 |
m |
157.325 |
161.925 |
x |
x |
x |
|
27 | 157.350 |
161.950 |
x |
x |
|||
87 |
157.375 |
x |
|||||
28 | 157.400 |
162.000 |
x |
x |
|||
88 |
157.425 |
x |
|||||
AIS 1 | l |
161.975 |
161.975 |
||||
AIS 2 | l |
162.025 |
162.025 |
NOTES REFERRING TO THE TABLE
General notes
- Recommendation ITU-R M.1084-2 shall be taken into account when changing to 12.5 kHz channels;
- It shall not affect the 25 kHz channels of the Appendix S18 maritime mobile distress and safety frequencies, especially the channels 6, 13, 15, 16, 17, and 70, nor the technical characteristics mentioned in Recommendation ITU-R M.489-2 for these channels;
- Implementation of 12.5 kHz channel interleaving and consequential national requirements shall be subject to prior agreement between the implementing administrations and administrations whose ship station or services may be affected.
Specific notes
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