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United States Coast Guard
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Maritime VHF Narrowband Channels - 12.5 KHZ

Assignment of channel numbers to interleaved channels and simplex operation of duplex channels in the VHF maritime band at 12.5 kHz offsets.  Frequencies are in MHz. Limited operation on narrowband channels is permitted in ITU-R Radio Regulations Appendix 18, and is allowed in the US on public correspondence channels under 47 CFR 80.371(c)(iii) (Third R&O PR Docket 92-257 released 9 July 1998). Channels and frequencies colored teal will be available in the U.S. for public correspondence.

A channel plan for simplex use of duplex channels, and 6.25 kHz channels (presently not authorized), is described at the bottom of this page.

This information is adapted from ITU-R Rec. M.1084-5, available from the International Telecommunications Union.

CHANNEL NUMBER

SHIP SHIP & COAST COAST
First 25kHz Channel Interleaved

12.5 kHz Channel

Second 25 kHz Channel MHz MHz MHz
    60 156.0250   160.6250
  260   156.0375   160.6375
01     156.0500   160.6500
  201   156.0625   160.6625
    61 156.0750   160.6750
  261   156.0875   160.6875
02     156.1000   160.7000
  202   156.1125   160.7125
    62 156.1250   160.7250
  262   156.1375   160.7375
03     156.1500   160.7500
  203   156.1625   160.7625
    63 156.1750   160.7750
  263   156.1875   160.7875
04     156.2000   160.8000
  204   156.2125   160.8125
    64 156.2250   160.8250
  264   156.2375   160.8375
05     156.2500   160.8500
  205   156.2625   160.8625
    65 156.2750   160.8750
  265   156.2875   160.8875
06       156.3000  
  206   156.3125   160.9125
    66 156.3250   160.9250
  266   156.3375   160.9375
07     156.3500   160.9500
  207   156.3625   160.9625
    67   156.3750  
  267     156.3875  
08       156.4000  
  208     156.4125  
    68   156.4250  
  268     156.4375  
09       156.4500  
  209     156.4625  
    69   156.4750  
  269     156.4875  
10       156.5000  
  210     156.5125 DSC guardband
    70   156.5250

DSC calling, distress, & safety

  270     156.5375 DSC guardband
11       156.5500  
  211     156.5625  
    71   156.5750  
  271     156.5875  
12       156.6000  
  212     156.6125  
    72   156.6250  
  272     156.6375  
13       156.6500  
  213     156.6625  
    73   156.6750  
  273     156.6875  
14       156.7000  
  214     156.7125  
    74   156.7250  
  274     156.7375  
15       156.7500  
  215     156.7625  
    75   156.7750 AIS Long Range
  275     156.7875 Guardband
16       156.8000 Calling, distress & safety
  216     156.8125 Guardband
    76   156.8250 AIS Long Range
  276     156.8375  
17       156.8500  
  217     156.8625  
    77   156.8750  
  277     156.8875  
18     156.9000   161.5000
  218   156.9125   161.5125
    78 156.9250   161.5250
  278   156.9375   161.5375
19     156.9500   161.5500
  219   156.9625   161.5625
    79 156.9750   161.5750
  279   156.9875   161.5875
20     157.0000   161.6000
  220   157.0125   161.6125
    80 157.0250   161.6250
  280   157.0375   161.6375
21     157.0500   161.6500
  221   157.0625   161.6625
    81 157.0750   161.6750
  281   157.0875   161.6875
22     157.1000   161.7000
  222   157.1125   161.7125
    82 157.1250   161.7250
  282   157.1375   161.7375
23     157.1500   161.7500
  223   157.1625   161.7625
    83 157.1750   161.7750
  283   157.1875   161.7875
24     157.2000   161.8000
  224   157.2125   161.8125
    84 157.2250   161.8250
  284   157.2375   161.8375
25     157.2500   161.8500
  225   157.2625   161.8625
    85 157.2750   161.8750
  285   157.2875   161.8875
26     157.3000   161.9000
  226   157.3125   161.9125
    86 157.3250   161.9250
  286   157.3375   161.9375
27     157.3500   161.9500
  227   157.3625   161.9625
    87 157.3750   161.9750
  287   157.3875   161.9875
28     157.4000   162.0000
  228   157.4125   162.0125
    88 157.4250   162.0250


Simplex Use of Duplex Channels

For channel number assignments to simplex operation of duplex channels. (This channel numbering sequence is provided as an example.):

CHANNEL No. SHIP
(MHz)
SHIP & COAST
(MHz)
COAST
(MHz)
For normal duplex operation:      
60 156.025 160.625
For simplex operation of ship station frequency:      
1 060 (Also channel 60A)(see Note 1) 156.025
For simplex operation of coast station frequency:      
2 060 (Also channel 60B)(see Note 1) 160.625


NOTE 1: This method of numbering a duplex channel used for simplex operation is in accordance with the Digital Selective Calling Recommendation ITU-R M.493, Annex 1, Table A1-5. Simplex use of duplex channels, long required in the United States, are now permitted worldwide in accordance with Appendix 18 of the ITU-R Radio Regulations, as amended by WRC-12 and WRC-15.

6.25 kHz Narrowband Channels

Extension of channel number assignments for migration to 6.25 kHz channel spacing from the current 25 kHz channel spacing with interleaved 12.5 kHz offset frequencies channels. 6.25 kHz is currently not authorized in the maritime service in either ITU-R or U.S. regulations. (This channel numbering sequence is provided as an example.):

CHANNEL No.
(6.25 kHz spacing)
SHIP SHIP & COAST COAST
        60 156.025   160.625
      160   156.03125   160.63125
    260     156.0375   160.6375
  360       156.04375   160.64375
01         156.050   160.650
  101       156.05625   160.65625
    201     156.0625   160.6625
      301   156.06875   160.66875
        61 156.075   160.675

International VHF Maritime Channels and Frequencies

U.S. VHF Maritime Channels and Frequencies