US Marine VHF Channel Guide
Last updated: September 2026
Monitor channel 16 for distress and hailing, use channel 9 for radio checks, and switch to working channels 68, 69, 71, 72, or 78A for conversations. This reference covers every US marine VHF channel, its frequency, and exactly when to use it.
Which channel must you monitor?
If you have a VHF radio on your boat, the channel you must monitor is channel 16 (156.800 MHz). It is the international distress, safety and calling channel, and every vessel with a VHF radio is required to keep a listening watch on it while underway.
Use channel 16 only to hail another station or to call for help. Once you have made contact, switch to a working channel — 68, 69, 71 or 72 for recreational boats — so channel 16 stays clear for emergencies. Radio checks belong on channel 9, not 16.
Quick Reference — The Channels Every Boater Must Know
- • Channel 16 (156.800 MHz) — distress and calling. Monitor at all times underway.
- • Channel 9 (156.450 MHz) — recreational hailing and radio checks.
- • Channels 68, 69, 71, 72, 78A — recreational working channels for conversations.
- • Channel 13 (156.650 MHz) — bridge-to-bridge navigation, 1 watt.
- • Channel 22A (157.100 MHz) — US Coast Guard liaison and safety broadcasts.
- • Channel 70 (156.525 MHz) — DSC digital distress only. Never voice.
Complete US VHF Marine Channel Table
| Channel | Frequency | Primary Use | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 16 | 156.800 MHz | Distress & SafetyDistress, safety, and calling | International hailing and distress channel. All vessels must monitor while underway. Make contact, then switch to a working channel. |
| 9 | 156.450 MHz | CallingBoater calling (recreational) | Secondary hailing channel for recreational vessels. Preferred channel for radio checks — keep channel 16 clear. |
| 6 | 156.300 MHz | Distress & SafetyIntership safety | Ship-to-ship safety communications and search-and-rescue coordination with the Coast Guard. |
| 13 | 156.650 MHz | NavigationBridge-to-bridge navigation | Passing arrangements between vessels, drawbridge openings. Limited to 1 watt. Monitor near commercial traffic. |
| 22A (1022) | 157.100 MHz | Coast GuardUS Coast Guard liaison | Coast Guard working channel and Marine Safety Information broadcasts announced on channel 16. US mode (not international 22). |
| 70 | 156.525 MHz | DSC & AISDSC — Digital Selective Calling only | Digital distress alerts and calling only. Voice transmissions are prohibited on this channel. |
| 68 | 156.425 MHz | Recreational WorkingNon-commercial working channel | Popular recreational working channel for ship-to-ship and ship-to-marina conversations. |
| 69 | 156.475 MHz | Recreational WorkingNon-commercial working channel | Recreational working channel. |
| 71 | 156.575 MHz | Recreational WorkingNon-commercial working channel | Recreational working channel. |
| 72 | 156.625 MHz | Recreational WorkingNon-commercial working channel (ship-to-ship) | Ship-to-ship only — no coast stations. |
| 78A (1078) | 156.925 MHz | Recreational WorkingNon-commercial working channel | Recreational working channel, US mode. |
| 17 | 156.850 MHz | Port & VTSState and local government control | Limited to 1 watt. |
| 11 | 156.550 MHz | Port & VTSVessel Traffic Service (VTS) | Port operations and VTS in designated areas. |
| 12 | 156.600 MHz | Port & VTSPort operations / VTS | Traffic advisories in major ports. |
| 14 | 156.700 MHz | Port & VTSPort operations / VTS | Port operations and traffic control. |
| 67 | 156.375 MHz | CommercialCommercial bridge-to-bridge | Lower Mississippi River bridge-to-bridge. Commercial working channel elsewhere. |
| 79A (1079) | 156.975 MHz | CommercialCommercial working channel | Non-commercial use permitted on the Great Lakes. |
| 80A (1080) | 157.025 MHz | CommercialCommercial working channel | Non-commercial use permitted on the Great Lakes. |
| 24–28, 84–86 | 157.200–157.425 MHz | CommercialMarine operator (public correspondence) | Ship-to-shore telephone calls through marine operators — largely legacy usage today. |
| 87B (AIS 1) | 161.975 MHz | DSC & AISAIS — Automatic Identification System | Digital vessel position reporting. Requires a dedicated AIS antenna or splitter, such as the Scout KM-30A. |
| 88B (AIS 2) | 162.025 MHz | DSC & AISAIS — Automatic Identification System | Second AIS frequency. |
| 1A (1001) | 156.050 MHz | Port & VTSPort operations / commercial (VTS in some areas) | US mode. Vessel Traffic Service in the lower Mississippi and Puget Sound areas. |
| 5A (1005) | 156.250 MHz | Port & VTSPort operations / VTS | US mode. VTS in Houston, New Orleans and Seattle areas. |
| 7A (1007) | 156.350 MHz | CommercialCommercial working channel | US mode. Commercial vessels only. |
| 8 | 156.400 MHz | CommercialCommercial intership | Ship-to-ship only, commercial vessels. |
| 10 | 156.500 MHz | CommercialCommercial working channel | Commercial vessels; also used for oil-spill cleanup coordination. |
| 18A (1018) | 156.900 MHz | CommercialCommercial working channel | US mode. Commercial vessels only. |
| 19A (1019) | 156.950 MHz | CommercialCommercial working channel | US mode. Commercial vessels only. |
| 20A (1020) | 157.000 MHz | Port & VTSPort operations | US mode. Ship-to-coast port operations, 1 watt. |
| 21A (1021) | 157.050 MHz | Coast GuardUS Coast Guard only | Coast Guard working channel. Not for recreational use. |
| 23A (1023) | 157.150 MHz | Coast GuardUS Coast Guard only | Coast Guard working channel. Not for recreational use. |
| 63A (1063) | 156.175 MHz | Port & VTSPort operations / commercial (VTS in some areas) | US mode. VTS in the lower Mississippi River area. |
| 65A (1065) | 156.275 MHz | Port & VTSPort operations | US mode. Port operations and some VTS areas. |
| 66A (1066) | 156.325 MHz | Port & VTSPort operations | US mode. Port operations. |
| 73 | 156.675 MHz | Port & VTSPort operations | Port operations. |
| 74 | 156.725 MHz | Port & VTSPort operations | Port operations. |
| 77 | 156.875 MHz | Port & VTSPort operations (intership) | Ship-to-ship port operations. Limited to 1 watt. |
| 81A (1081) | 157.075 MHz | Coast GuardUS Government / Coast Guard environmental | US mode. Government use, including environmental-protection operations. |
| 83A (1083) | 157.175 MHz | Coast GuardUS Coast Guard only | US mode. Coast Guard working channel. |
| 88A (1088) | 157.425 MHz | CommercialCommercial intership | US mode. Ship-to-ship, commercial vessels. |
| WX1 | 162.550 MHz | WeatherNOAA Weather Radio | Continuous marine weather broadcasts. Receive only. |
| WX2 | 162.400 MHz | WeatherNOAA Weather Radio | Continuous marine weather broadcasts. Receive only. |
| WX3 | 162.475 MHz | WeatherNOAA Weather Radio | Continuous marine weather broadcasts. Receive only. |
| WX4 | 162.425 MHz | WeatherNOAA Weather Radio | Continuous marine weather broadcasts. Receive only. |
| WX5 | 162.450 MHz | WeatherNOAA Weather Radio | Continuous marine weather broadcasts. Receive only. |
| WX6 | 162.500 MHz | WeatherNOAA Weather Radio | Continuous marine weather broadcasts. Receive only. |
| WX7 | 162.525 MHz | WeatherNOAA Weather Radio | Continuous marine weather broadcasts. Receive only. |
US marine VHF channel frequency table
Every US marine VHF channel and its frequency in MHz, in channel order. Channels marked “A” (or four-digit 10xx numbers on newer radios) are US-mode simplex channels that differ from the international duplex versions — set your radio to USA mode. Link to a row directly, for example #channel-13 or #channel-68.
| Channel | Frequency | Use | Category |
|---|---|---|---|
| Channel 1A (1001) | 156.050 MHz | Port operations / commercial (VTS in some areas) | Port & VTS |
| Channel 5A (1005) | 156.250 MHz | Port operations / VTS | Port & VTS |
| Channel 6 | 156.300 MHz | Intership safety | Distress & Safety |
| Channel 7A (1007) | 156.350 MHz | Commercial working channel | Commercial |
| Channel 8 | 156.400 MHz | Commercial intership | Commercial |
| Channel 9 | 156.450 MHz | Boater calling (recreational) | Calling |
| Channel 10 | 156.500 MHz | Commercial working channel | Commercial |
| Channel 11 | 156.550 MHz | Vessel Traffic Service (VTS) | Port & VTS |
| Channel 12 | 156.600 MHz | Port operations / VTS | Port & VTS |
| Channel 13 | 156.650 MHz | Bridge-to-bridge navigation | Navigation |
| Channel 14 | 156.700 MHz | Port operations / VTS | Port & VTS |
| Channel 16 | 156.800 MHz | Distress, safety, and calling | Distress & Safety |
| Channel 17 | 156.850 MHz | State and local government control | Port & VTS |
| Channel 18A (1018) | 156.900 MHz | Commercial working channel | Commercial |
| Channel 19A (1019) | 156.950 MHz | Commercial working channel | Commercial |
| Channel 20A (1020) | 157.000 MHz | Port operations | Port & VTS |
| Channel 21A (1021) | 157.050 MHz | US Coast Guard only | Coast Guard |
| Channel 22A (1022) | 157.100 MHz | US Coast Guard liaison | Coast Guard |
| Channel 23A (1023) | 157.150 MHz | US Coast Guard only | Coast Guard |
| Channel 24–28, 84–86 | 157.200–157.425 MHz | Marine operator (public correspondence) | Commercial |
| Channel 63A (1063) | 156.175 MHz | Port operations / commercial (VTS in some areas) | Port & VTS |
| Channel 65A (1065) | 156.275 MHz | Port operations | Port & VTS |
| Channel 66A (1066) | 156.325 MHz | Port operations | Port & VTS |
| Channel 67 | 156.375 MHz | Commercial bridge-to-bridge | Commercial |
| Channel 68 | 156.425 MHz | Non-commercial working channel | Recreational Working |
| Channel 69 | 156.475 MHz | Non-commercial working channel | Recreational Working |
| Channel 70 | 156.525 MHz | DSC — Digital Selective Calling only | DSC & AIS |
| Channel 71 | 156.575 MHz | Non-commercial working channel | Recreational Working |
| Channel 72 | 156.625 MHz | Non-commercial working channel (ship-to-ship) | Recreational Working |
| Channel 73 | 156.675 MHz | Port operations | Port & VTS |
| Channel 74 | 156.725 MHz | Port operations | Port & VTS |
| Channel 77 | 156.875 MHz | Port operations (intership) | Port & VTS |
| Channel 78A (1078) | 156.925 MHz | Non-commercial working channel | Recreational Working |
| Channel 79A (1079) | 156.975 MHz | Commercial working channel | Commercial |
| Channel 80A (1080) | 157.025 MHz | Commercial working channel | Commercial |
| Channel 81A (1081) | 157.075 MHz | US Government / Coast Guard environmental | Coast Guard |
| Channel 83A (1083) | 157.175 MHz | US Coast Guard only | Coast Guard |
| Channel 87B (AIS 1) | 161.975 MHz | AIS — Automatic Identification System | DSC & AIS |
| Channel 88B (AIS 2) | 162.025 MHz | AIS — Automatic Identification System | DSC & AIS |
| Channel 88A (1088) | 157.425 MHz | Commercial intership | Commercial |
| Channel WX1 | 162.550 MHz | NOAA Weather Radio | Weather |
| Channel WX2 | 162.400 MHz | NOAA Weather Radio | Weather |
| Channel WX3 | 162.475 MHz | NOAA Weather Radio | Weather |
| Channel WX4 | 162.425 MHz | NOAA Weather Radio | Weather |
| Channel WX5 | 162.450 MHz | NOAA Weather Radio | Weather |
| Channel WX6 | 162.500 MHz | NOAA Weather Radio | Weather |
| Channel WX7 | 162.525 MHz | NOAA Weather Radio | Weather |
Source: US Coast Guard Navigation Center VHF marine radio channel plan (FCC Part 80). Frequencies shown are the ship-transmit frequency for US-mode channels.
How to Make a MAYDAY Distress Call
- Switch to channel 16 and high power (25W).
- Say: “MAYDAY, MAYDAY, MAYDAY”
- Say your vessel name and call sign three times.
- Give your position — GPS lat/long, or bearing and distance from a known landmark.
- State the nature of the emergency and the assistance needed.
- State the number of people aboard and describe your vessel (length, type, color).
- Say “OVER”, release the mic, and listen. Repeat if no answer.
MAYDAY vs PAN-PAN vs SÉCURITÉ
| Call | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|
| MAYDAY | Grave and imminent danger to life or vessel | Sinking, fire, person overboard in danger |
| PAN-PAN | Urgent situation, not immediately life-threatening | Engine failure adrift, medical issue, taking on manageable water |
| SÉCURITÉ | Safety message — navigation or weather hazard | Debris in channel, tow operations, gale warnings |
Your Radio Is Only as Good as Your Antenna
Every channel in this guide depends on your signal actually reaching the other station. VHF is line-of-sight: antenna height and quality determine whether your MAYDAY is heard 5 miles away or 25 miles away. A 25W radio transmitting through a corroded, water-logged antenna performs worse than a handheld.
Antennas that make channel 16 reach further
Being heard on 16 is a range problem before it is a radio problem. These three cover most powerboats.
Marine VHF Channel FAQ
What VHF channel should recreational boaters use?
Monitor channel 16 (156.800 MHz) while underway — it is the international distress, safety, and calling channel. To talk with another boat or a marina, hail on 16 (or 9), then switch to a recreational working channel: 68, 69, 71, 72, or 78A. Channel 72 is ship-to-ship only.
What channel do I use for a VHF radio check?
Use channel 9 or an open working channel (68, 69, 71, 72) for radio checks — not channel 16. Many US ports also have automated radio check services on channels 24–28. Call "radio check" with your boat name and location; a responding station confirms your signal strength and clarity.
What is VHF channel 16 used for?
Channel 16 (156.800 MHz) is reserved for distress (MAYDAY), urgency (PAN-PAN), safety (SÉCURITÉ) calls, and initial hailing. The US Coast Guard maintains a continuous watch on channel 16. After making contact, immediately switch to a working channel to keep 16 clear.
Do I need a license to use a marine VHF radio in the US?
No. Recreational vessels operating domestically in US waters do not need an FCC ship station license or operator permit for marine VHF, EPIRB, or radar. A license is required if you travel to foreign ports or carry more than six passengers for hire.
What is DSC and channel 70?
DSC (Digital Selective Calling) sends automated digital distress alerts with your vessel identity (MMSI) and GPS position on channel 70. Pressing the red DISTRESS button broadcasts your exact location to the Coast Guard and nearby DSC-equipped vessels. Channel 70 is digital only — never use it for voice.
How do I make a MAYDAY call on VHF?
On channel 16 at high power (25W): say "MAYDAY, MAYDAY, MAYDAY", then your vessel name and call sign three times, your position (lat/long or bearing from a landmark), the nature of the emergency, number of people aboard, and vessel description. Release the mic and listen. If no response, repeat. Reserve MAYDAY for grave and imminent danger to life or vessel.
If you have a VHF radio on your boat, what channel must you monitor?
Channel 16 (156.800 MHz). Every vessel with a VHF radio must keep a listening watch on channel 16 while underway. Use it only to hail another station or to call for help, then switch to a working channel such as 68, 69, 71 or 72 for the conversation.
What frequency is marine channel 13?
Marine VHF channel 13 is 156.650 MHz. It is the bridge-to-bridge navigation channel used for passing arrangements between vessels and for drawbridge openings, and is limited to 1 watt.
What frequency is channel 68?
Marine VHF channel 68 is 156.425 MHz. It is the most-used non-commercial working channel for recreational ship-to-ship and ship-to-marina conversations after making contact on channel 16 or 9.
What is a nautical channel?
A nautical (marine) channel is one of the numbered VHF frequencies between 156 and 162 MHz reserved for ship communication. Each channel number maps to a fixed frequency — channel 16 is 156.800 MHz, channel 9 is 156.450 MHz, channel 68 is 156.425 MHz — and to a specific use: distress and calling, working, navigation, port operations, Coast Guard, DSC, AIS or weather.
Why does my VHF radio have poor range?
VHF is line-of-sight, so range is set primarily by antenna height, then antenna gain and installation quality. A quality 8ft 6dB antenna like the Scout KS-42 mounted high delivers 25+ mile ship-to-shore range; corroded connectors, cheap coax, or a damaged antenna are the most common causes of weak transmission.