International Marine VHF Channels

Theses are the International Marine VHF Channels, as used by UK Coastguard. Note that Canadian and US Coastguards will use different channels. Use Channel 16 for Initial Calling, and for Distress and Safety Calling. Once contact is established, the station called will nominate a Working Channel on which the contact is then continued. Note that after the initial contact, the stations must switch to a Working Channel, except for safety matters. Working Channels are noted below in bold. It is advised to keep the Channels used by UK Coastguard clear, they will probably direct you to one of them for routine traffic. Channel 13 is designated for intership safety of navigation (sometimes known as "bridge to bridge") and may be a possible channel for calling a merchant ship if no contact on channel 16. Are you close enough to use "low-power" (1 watt)? - Doing so saves your battery and also reduces the range your signal achieves - this prevents the channel being cluttered and helps other people access it. Channel 70 is exclusively for DSC calling for safety and emergency and must not be used for other purposes.

International VHF Channels	Transmitting Frequencies (MHz)			Intership	Port Operations and Ship Movement	Public correspondence
	Ship Stations	Coast Stations
0	156.000	156.000	private	Used by UK HM Coastguard
1	156.050	160.650	duplex		x	x
2	156.100	160.700	duplex		x	x
3	156.150	160.750	duplex		x	x
4	156.200	160.800	duplex		x	x
5	156.250	160.850	duplex		x	x
6	156.300	157.300	simplex	intership
7	156.350	160.950	duplex		x	x
8	156.400	157.400	simplex	intership
9	156.450	156.450	simplex	intership	x
10	156.500	156.500	simplex	intership	x
11	156.550	156.550	simplex		x
12	156.600	156.600	simplex		x
13	156.650	156.650	simplex	intership	x
14	156.700	156.700	simplex		x
15	156.750	156.750	simplex	intership	x
16	156.800	156.800	simplex	DISTRESS, SAFETY AND CALLING - used for initial contact - then select a Working Channel.
17	156.850	156.850	simplex	intership	x
18	156.900	161.500	duplex		x
19	156.950	161.550	duplex		x
20	157.000	161.600	duplex		x
21	157.050	161.650	duplex		x
22	157.100	161.700	duplex		x
23	157.150	161.750	duplex			x
24	157.200	161.800	duplex			x
25	157.250	161.850	duplex			x
26	157.300	161.900	duplex			x
27	157.350	161.950	duplex			x
28	157.400	162.000	duplex			x
29 to 36			private
37 (M1)	157.850	157.850	private	Used by UK Marinas and Yacht Clubs
38 to 59			private
60	156.025	160.625	duplex		x	x
61	156.075	160.675	duplex		x	x
62	156.125	160.725	duplex	.	x	x
63	156.175	160.775	duplex		x	x
64	156.225	160.825	duplex		x	x
65	156.275	160.875	duplex		x	x
66	156.325	160.925	duplex		x	x
67	156.375	156.375	simplex	intership	UK Coastguard
68	156.425	156.425	simplex		x
69	156.475	156.475	simplex	intership	x
70	156.525	156.525	simplex	Digital Selective Calling (DSC)  ONLY
71	156.575	156.575	simplex		x
72	156.625	156.625	simplex	intership
73	156.675	156.675	simplex	intership	x
74	156.725	156.725	simplex		x
75	156.775	156.775	simplex		x
76	156.825	156.825	simplex		x
77	156.875	156.875	simplex	intership
78	156.925	161.525	duplex		x	x
79	156.975	161.575	duplex		x
80	157.025	161.625	duplex	UK Marinas
81	157.075	161.675	duplex		x	x
82	157.125	161.725	duplex		x	x
83	157.175	161.775	duplex			x
84	157.225	161.825	duplex		x	x
85	157.275	161.875	duplex			x
86	157.325	161.925	duplex			x
87	157.375	157.375	simplex			x
88	157.425	157.425	simplex			x
M2	161.425	161.425	private	Used by UK Marinas and Yacht Clubs
ASI 1	162.025	162.025	simplex	Automatic Ship Identification (data)
ASI 2	161.975	161.975	simplex	Automatic Ship Identification (data)