Navigation Center
United States Coast Guard
U.S. Department of Homeland Security

International VHF Marine Radio Channels and Frequencies

The following table is adapted from the International Telecommunications Union Radio Regulations Appendix 18, including changes adopted by the 2015 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. Frequencies and channels shown in green were auctioned in the U.S. and are only available from the auction winner. 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.

The Table below defines the channel numbering for maritime VHF communications based on 25 kHz channel spacing and use of several duplex channels. The channel numbering and the conversion of two-frequency channels for single-frequency operation shall be in accordance with Recommendation ITU-R M.1084-5 Annex 4, Tables 1 and 3. The Table below also describes the harmonized channels where the digital technologies defined in the most recent version of Recommendation ITU-R M.1842 could be deployed.

Table of Transmitting Frequencies in the VHF Maritime Mobile

Channel Designator

Notes

Transmitting Frequencies (MHz)

Intership

Port Operations and Ship Movement

Public correspondence

Ship Stations

Coast Stations

Single frequency

Two frequency

60

m

156.025

160.625

  x

x

x

01

m

156.050

160.650

  x

x

x

1001   156.050 156.050   x    

61

m

156.075

 160.675

  x

x

x

02

m

156.100

 160.700

  x

x

x

62

m

156.125

 160.725

  x

x

x

03

m

156.150

 160.750

  x

x

x

63

m

156.175

 160.775

  x

x

x

1063   156.175 156.175   x    

04

m

156.200

  160.800

  x

x

x

64

m

156.225

  160.825

  x

x

x

05

m

156.250

  160.850

  x

x

x

1005   156.250 156.25   x    

65

m

156.275

  160.875

  x

x

x

1065   156.275 156.275   x    

06

f

156.300

 

x

     
2006 r   160.900   160.900        

66

m

156.325

  160.925

  x

x

x

1066   156.325 156.325   x    

07

m

156.350

 160.950

  x

x

x

1007   156.350 156.350   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

h,q

156.500

156.500

x

x

   

70

f,j

156.525

156.525

Digital selective calling for distress, safety and calling

11

q

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,i

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,s

156.775

156.775
 

x

   

16

f

156.800

156.800

DISTRESS, SAFETY AND CALLING

76

n,s

156.825

156.825  

x

   

17

g

156.850

156.850

x

x

   

77

 

156.875

 

x

     

18

m

156.900

161.500

 

x

x

x

1018   156.900 156.900   x    

78

m

156.925

161.525

  x

x

x

1078   156.925 156.925   x    
2078 mm 161.525 161.525   x    

19

m

156.950

161.550

  x

x

x

1019   156.950 156.950   x    
2019 mm 161.550 161.550   x    

79

m

156.975

161.575

  x

x

x

1079   156.975 156.975   x    
2079 mm 161.575 161.575   x    

20

m

157.000

161.600

  x

x

x

1020   157.000 157.000   x    
2020 mm 161.600 161.600   x    

80

 

157.025

161.625

  x

x

x

1080   157.025 157.025   x    

21

y,wa

157.050

161.650

  x

x

x

1021   157.050 157.050     x  

81

y,wa

157.075

161.675

  x

x

x

1081   157.075 157.075   x    

22

y,wa

157.100

161.700

  x

x

x

1022   157.100 157.100   x    

82

x,y,wa

157.125

161.725

 

x

x

x

1082   157.125 157.125   x    

23

x,y,wa

157.150

161.750

  x

x

x

1023   157.150 157.150   x    

83

x,y,wa

157.175

161.775

 

x

x

x

1083   157.175 157.175   x    

24

w,wx,x,xx

157.200

161.800

  x

x

x

1024

w,wx,x,xx

157.200

         

2024

w,wx,x,xx

161.800

161.800
x
(digital only)
     

84

w,wx,x,xx

157.225

161.825

 

x

x

x

1084

w,wx,x,xx

157.225

 
x
(digital only)
     

2084

w,wx,x,xx

161.825

161.825

       

25

w,wx,x,xx

157.250

161.850

  x

x

x

1025

w,wx,x,xx

157.250  
x
(digital only)
     

2025

w,wx,x,xx

161.850

161.850

       

85

w,wx,x,xx

157.275

161.875

 

x

x

x

1085

w,wx,x,xx

157.275          

2085

w,wx,x,xx

161.875

161.875

       

26

w,ww,x

157.300

161.900

  x

x

x

1026

w,ww,x

157.300          

2026

w,ww,x

 

161.900

       

86

w,ww,x

157.325

161.925

 

x

x

x

1086

w,ww,x 157.325          
2086 w,ww,x   161.925        

27

z,zx

157.350

161.950

   

x

x

1027 z,zz 157.350 157.350        
ASM 2 (2027) z 161.950 161.950        

87

z,zz

157.375

157.375

 

x

   

28

z,zx

157.400

162.000

   

x

x

1028

z,zz

157.350

157.350

  x    
ASM 2 (2028) z 162.000 162.000        

88

z,zz

157.425

157.425

 

x

   
AIS 1

f, l, p

161.975

161.975

       
AIS 2

f, l, p

162.025

162.025

       


NOTES FROM THE TABLE ABOVE:

General Notes

a. Administrations may designate frequencies in the intership, port operations and ship movement services for use by light aircraft and helicopters to communicate with ships or participating coast station in predominantly maritime support operations under the conditions specified in Nos. 51.69, 51.73, 51.74, 51.75, 51.76, 51.77 and 51.78. However, the use of the channels which are shared with public correspondence shall be subject to prior agreement between interested and affected administrations.

b. The channels of the present Appendix, with the exception of channels 06, 13, 15, 16, 17, 70, 75 and 76, may also be used for highspeed data and facsimile transmissions, subject to special arrangement between interested and affected administrations.

c. The channels of the present Appendix, with exception of channels 06, 13, 15, 16, 17, 70, 75 and 76, may be used for direct-printing telegraphy and data transmission, subject to special arrangement between interested and affected administrations

d. The frequencies in this table may also be used for radiocommunications on inland waterways in accordance with the conditions specified in No. 5.226.

e. Administrations may apply 12.5 kHz channel interleaving on a non-interference basis to 25 kHz channels, in accordance with the most recent version of Recommendation ITU-R M.1084, provided:

  • It shall not affect the 25 kHz channels of the present Appendix maritime mobile distress and safety frequencies, especially the channels 06, 13, 15, 16, 17, 70, AIS 1 and AIS 2, 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 coordination with affected administrations.

Specific notes

f. The frequencies 156.300 MHz (channel 06), 156.525 MHz (channel 70), 156.800 MHz (channel 16), 161.975 MHz (AIS 1) and 162.025 MHz (AIS 2) may also be used by aircraft stations for the purpose of search and rescue operations and other safety-related operations.

g. Channels 15 and 17 may also be used for on-board communications provided the effective radiated power does not exceed 1 W, and subject to the national regulations of the administration concerned when these channels are used in its territorial waters.

h. Within the European Maritime Area and in Canada these frequencies (channels 10, 67, 73) may also be used, if so required, by the individual administrations concerned, for communication between ship stations, aircraft stations and participating land stations engaged in coordinated search and rescue and anti-pollution operations in local areas, under the conditions specified in Nos. 51.69, 51.73, 51.74, 51.75, 51.76, 51.77 and 51.78.

i. The preferred first three frequencies for the purpose indicated in note a) are 156.450 MHz (channel 09), 156.625 MHz (channel 72) and 156.675 MHz (channel 73).

j. Channel (70) is to be used exclusively for digital selective calling for distress, safety and calling.

k. Channel 13 is designated for use on a world-wide basis as a navigation safety communication channel, primarily for intership navigation safety communications. It may also be used for the ship movement and port operations service subject to the national regulations of the administrations concerned.

l. The channels (AIS 1 and AIS 2) are used for an automatic identification system (AIS) capable of providing worldwide operation, unless other frequencies are designated on a regional basis for this purpose.  Such use should be in accordance with the most recent version of Recommendation ITU-R M.1371.

m. These channels  may be operated as a single frequency channels, subject to coordination with affected administrations. The following conditions apply for single frequency usage:
        - The lower frequency portion of these channels may be operated as single frequency channels by ship and coast stations.
        - Transmission using the upper frequency portion of these channels is limited to coast stations.
        - If permitted by administrations and specified by national regulations, the upper frequency portion of these channels may be used by ship stations for transmission. All precautions should be taken to avoid harmful interference to channels AIS 1, AIS 2, 2027 and 2028. From 1 January 2019, channel 2027 will be designated ASM 1 and channel 2028 will be designated ASM 2.

mm. Transmission on these channels is limited to coast stations. If permitted by administrations and specified by national regulations, these channels may be used by ship stations for transmission. All precautions should be taken to avoid harmful interference to channels AIS 1, AIS 2, 2027 and 2028. From 1 January 2019, channel 2027 will be designated ASM 1 and channel 2028 will be designated ASM 2.

n. With the exception of AIS, the use of these channels (75 and 76) should be restricted to navigation-related communications only and all precautions should be taken to avoid harmful interference to channel 16 by limiting the output power to 1 W.

o. (n/a)

p. Additionally, AIS 1 and AIS 2 may be used by the mobile-satellite service (Earth-to-space) for the reception of AIS transmissions from ships.

q. When using these channels (10 and 11), all precautions should be taken to avoid harmful interference to channel 70.

r. In the maritime mobile service, this frequency is reserved for experimental use for future applications or systems (e.g. new AIS applications, man over board systems, etc.). If authorized by administrations for experimental use, the operation shall not cause harmful interference to, or claim protection from, stations operating in the fixed and mobile services.

s. Channels 75 and 76 are also allocated to the mobile-satellite service (Earth-to-space) for the reception of long-range AIS broadcast messages from ships (Message 27; see the most recent version of Recommendation ITU-R M.1371).

t. (n/a)

u. (n/a)

v. (n/a)

w. In Regions 1 and 3:

Until 1, January 2017, the frequency bands 157.025-157.325 MHz and 161.625-161.925 MHz (corresponding to channels: 80, 21, 81, 22, 82, 23, 83, 24, 84, 25, 85, 26, 86) may be used for new technologies, subject to coordination with affected administrations. Stations using these channels or frequency bands for new technologies shall not cause harmful interference to, or claim protection from, other stations operating in accordance with Article 5.

From 1, January 2017, the frequency bands 157.025-157.325 MHz and 161.625-161.925 MHz (corresponding to channels: 80, 21, 81, 22, 82, 23, 83, 24, 84, 25, 85, 26, 86) are identified for the utilization of the digital systems described in the most recent version of Recommendation ITU-R M.1842. These frequency bands could also be used for analogue modulation described in the most recent version of Recommendation ITU-R M.1084 by an administration that wishes to do so, subject to not claiming protection from other stations in the maritime mobile service using digitally modulated emissions and subject to coordination with affected administrations.

ww. In Region 2 (i.e. N. and S. America), the frequency bands 157.200-157.325 and 161.800-161.925 MHz (corresponding to channels: 24, 84, 25, 85, 26 and 86) are designated for digitally modulated emissions in accordance with the most recent version of Recommendation ITU-R M.1842.

wa. In Regions 1 and 3:
        Until 1 January 2017, the frequency bands 157.025-157.175 MHz and 161.625-161.775 MHz (corresponding to channels: 80, 21, 81, 22, 82, 23 and 83) may be used for digitally modulated emissions, subject to coordination with affected administrations. Stations using these channels or frequency bands for digitally modulated emissions shall not cause harmful interference to, or claim protection from, other stations operating in accordance with
Article 5.
        From 1 January 2017, the frequency bands 157.025-157.100 MHz and 161.625-161.700 MHz (corresponding to channels: 80, 21, 81 and 22) are identified for utilization of the digital systems described in the most recent version of Recommendation ITU-R M.1842 using multiple 25 kHz contiguous channels.
        From 1 January 2017, the frequency bands 157.150-157.175 MHz and 161.750-161.775 MHz (corresponding to channels: 23 and 83) are identified for utilization of the digital systems described in the most recent version of Recommendation ITU-R M.1842 using two 25 kHz contiguous channels. From 1 January 2017, the frequencies 157.125 MHz and 161.725 MHz (corresponding to channel: 82) are identified for the utilization of the digital systems described in the most recent version of Recommendation ITU-R M.1842.
        The frequency bands 157.025-157.175 MHz and 161.625-161.775 MHz (corresponding to channels: 80, 21, 81, 22, 82, 23 and 83) can also be used for analogue modulation described in the most recent version of Recommendation ITU-R M.1084 by an administration that wishes to do so, subject to not claiming protection from other stations in the maritime mobile service using digitally modulated emissions and subject to coordination with affected administrations.

ww. In Region 2, the frequency bands 157.200-157.325 and 161.800-161.925 MHz (corresponding to channels: 24, 84, 25, 85, 26 and 86) are designated for digitally modulated emissions in accordance with the most recent version of Recommendation ITU-R M.1842.

In Canada and Barbados, from 1 January 2019 the frequency bands 157.200-157.275 and 161.800-161.875 MHz (corresponding to channels: 24, 84, 25 and 85) may be used for digitally modulated emissions, such as those described in the most recent version of Recommendation ITU-R M.2092, subject to coordination with affected administrations.

x. From 1 January 2017, in Angola, Botswana, Lesotho, Madagascar, Malawi, Mauritius, Mozambique, Namibia, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Seychelles, South Africa, Swaziland, Tanzania, Zambia and Zimbabwe, the frequency bands 157.125-157.325 and 161.725-161.925 MHz (corresponding to channels: 82, 23, 83, 24, 84, 25, 85, 26 and 86) are designated for digitally modulated emissions.
From 1 January 2017, in China, the frequency bands 157.150-157.325 and 161.750-161.925 MHz (corresponding to channels: 23, 83, 24, 84, 25, 85, 26 and 86) are designated for digitally modulated emissions.

xx. From 1 January 2019, the channels 24, 84, 25 and 85 may be merged in order to form a unique duplex channel with a bandwidth of 100 kHz in order to operate the VDES terrestrial component described in the most recent version of Recommendation ITU-R M.2092.

y. These channels may be operated as single or duplex frequency channels, subject to coordination with affected administrations.

z. Until 1 January 2019, these channels may be used for possible testing of future AIS applications without causing harmful interference to, or claiming protection from, existing applications and stations operating in the fixed and mobile services.

From 1 January 2019, these channels are each split into two simplex channels. The channels 2027 and 2028 designated as ASM 1 and ASM 2 are used for application specific messages (ASM) as described in the most recent version of Recommendation ITU-R M.2092.

zx. In the United States, these channels are used for communication between ship stations and coast stations for the purpose of public correspondence.

zz. From 1 January 2019, channels 1027, 1028, 87 and 88 are used as single-frequency analogue channels for port operation and ship movement.

See the U.S. VHF Marine Radio Frequencies and Channels

(Source: Final Acts WRC-14 World Radio Conference, Geneva 2015)