The Toolbox — Frequencies
Marine
VHF marine channels, Coast Guard frequencies, port operations, commercial fishing, NOAA weather, MF/HF distress, NAVTEX, and DSC channels.
VHF Marine Channels
US channel plan, grouped by use. Highlighted channels are the ones to know first.
Distress, safety and calling
The channels every operator must know.
- 16156.800International distress, safety, and calling — monitor alwaysDistressCallingMonitor
- 70156.525DSC only — voice prohibitedDSC onlyNo voice
- 13156.650Bridge-to-bridge navigation (1W limit)Bridge-to-bridge1 W
- 06156.300Intership safetyIntership safety
- 09156.450Boater calling (commercial and non-commercial)Boater calling
Recreational (non-commercial)
Working channels for pleasure boats.
- 68156.425Non-commercial
- 69156.475Non-commercial
- 71156.575Non-commercial
- 72156.625Non-commercial intership onlyShip-to-ship only
- 78A156.925Non-commercial
Coast Guard and government
- 21A157.050US Coast Guard
- 22A157.100US Coast Guard liaisonCoast Guard
- 23A157.150US Coast Guard
- 83A157.175US Coast Guard
- 81A157.075US Government
- 82A157.125US Government
- 17156.850State control
Port operations and VTS
Assignments vary by port. Check local notices.
- 01A156.050Port operations / VTS
- 11156.550VTS / port operations
- 12156.600Port operations
- 14156.700Port operations / VTS
- 20A157.000Port operations
- 63A156.175Port operations / VTS
- 65A156.275Port operations
- 66A156.325Port operations
- 73156.675Port operations
- 74156.725Port operations
- 77156.875Port operations / intership
Commercial
- 07A156.350Commercial
- 08156.400Commercial intership
- 10156.500Commercial
- 18A156.900Commercial
- 19A156.950Commercial
- 67156.375Commercial intership; bridge-to-bridge on the lower Mississippi River
- 79A156.975Commercial
- 80A157.025Commercial
- 88A157.425Commercial intership
Public correspondence (marine operator)
Duplex channels. Most US marine operator services have closed.
- 24157.200Public correspondence
- 25157.250Public correspondence
- 26157.300Public correspondence
- 27157.350Public correspondence
- 28157.400Public correspondence
- 84157.225Public correspondence
- 85157.275Public correspondence
- 86157.325Public correspondence
- 87157.375Public correspondence
NOAA weather
Receive only.
- WX1162.550NOAA Weather Radio
- WX2162.400NOAA Weather Radio
- WX3162.475NOAA Weather Radio
- WX4162.425NOAA Weather Radio
- WX5162.450NOAA Weather Radio
- WX6162.500NOAA Weather Radio
- WX7162.525NOAA Weather Radio
US Coast Guard Channels
Channel 22A is the primary liaison channel for vessel communications with the US Coast Guard. Always establish contact on Channel 16 first, then switch to 22A when instructed.
| Channel | Frequency | Use |
|---|---|---|
| 16 | 156.800 MHz | Primary watch channel — distress, safety, and calling |
| 21A | 157.050 MHz | USCG primary working channel |
| 22A | 157.100 MHz | USCG liaison — primary channel for vessel communications with USCG |
| 23A | 157.150 MHz | USCG working channel |
| 83A | 157.175 MHz | USCG working channel |
| 67 | 156.375 MHz | Bridge-to-bridge on the lower Mississippi River (not a USCG channel) |
| 70 | 156.525 MHz | DSC distress and safety — USCG monitors continuously |
| MF | 2.182 MHz | International MF distress. The USCG ended its 2182 kHz watch in 2013, so use DSC (2187.5 kHz) or VHF Ch 16 |
| MF | 2.670 MHz | Former USCG MF working/broadcast frequency (largely discontinued) |
Port Operations Channels
Specific port operations channels vary by port. Check local notices to mariners or the USCG district for the correct VTS frequency at your port.
| Channel | Frequency (MHz) | Region | Use |
|---|---|---|---|
| 01A | 156.050 | New Orleans / Lower Mississippi | Port operations / Vessel Traffic Service |
| 11 | 156.550 | Most US ports | VTS — major ports |
| 12 | 156.600 | Most US ports | Port operations |
| 14 | 156.700 | Most US ports | Port operations / VTS |
| 20A | 157.000 | Most US ports | Port operations |
| 63A | 156.175 | Selected ports | VTS |
| 73 | 156.675 | Most US ports | Port operations |
| 74 | 156.725 | Most US ports | Port operations |
| 13 | 156.650 | All navigable waters | Bridge-to-bridge — 1 watt maximum power |
Commercial Fishing Channels
Commercial fishing vessels primarily use intership commercial channels. Channel 08 is the most widely used for commercial intership communications in the US fishing industry.
| Channel | Frequency (MHz) | Use |
|---|---|---|
| 07A | 156.350 | Commercial fishing — intership |
| 08 | 156.400 | Commercial intership — fishing industry primary |
| 10 | 156.500 | Commercial — fishing industry |
| 18A | 156.900 | Commercial — fishing industry |
| 19A | 156.950 | Commercial — fishing industry |
| 67 | 156.375 | Commercial — fishing and Coast Guard |
| 79A | 156.975 | Commercial — fishing industry |
| 80A | 157.025 | Commercial — fishing industry |
| 88A | 157.425 | Commercial intership — fishing |
NOAA Weather Radio Frequencies
NOAA Weather Radio broadcasts continuous weather information 24/7. Each transmitter uses one of the seven WX channels, assigned so neighboring stations don't interfere, so the right channel depends on where you are. All modern marine VHF radios receive WX channels.
| Channel | Frequency | Coverage |
|---|---|---|
| WX1 | 162.550 MHz | Assigned by area |
| WX2 | 162.400 MHz | Assigned by area |
| WX3 | 162.475 MHz | Assigned by area |
| WX4 | 162.425 MHz | Assigned by area |
| WX5 | 162.450 MHz | Assigned by area |
| WX6 | 162.500 MHz | Assigned by area |
| WX7 | 162.525 MHz | Assigned by area |
MF/HF Distress & Working Frequencies
| Frequency | Use |
|---|---|
| 2.182 MHz | International MF radiotelephone distress and calling |
| 2187.5 kHz | MF DSC distress and calling (Channel 70 equivalent) |
| 2.670 MHz | US Coast Guard MF working frequency (largely discontinued) |
| 4.125 MHz | Maritime mobile distress and calling (HF) |
| 4207.5 kHz | HF DSC distress |
| 6.215 MHz | Maritime mobile distress and calling |
| 6312 kHz | HF DSC distress |
| 8.291 MHz | Maritime mobile distress and calling |
| 8414.5 kHz | HF DSC distress |
| 12.290 MHz | Maritime mobile distress and calling |
| 12577 kHz | HF DSC distress |
| 16.420 MHz | Maritime mobile distress and calling |
| 16804.5 kHz | HF DSC distress |
| 22 MHz band | Maritime mobile HF working channels |
| 26 MHz band | Maritime mobile HF working channels |
NAVTEX
| Frequency | Use |
|---|---|
| 518 kHz | NAVTEX international broadcasts — English language |
| 490 kHz | NAVTEX national language broadcasts |
| 4209.5 kHz | HF NAVTEX (some regions) |
| 12579 kHz | HF maritime safety information (NBDP), not NAVTEX |