Marine VHF radio refers to the radio frequency range between 156.0 and 162.025 MHz, inclusive. In the official language of the International Telecommunication Union the band is called the VHF maritime mobile band.
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 | 156.300 | simplex | intership | ||
7 | 156.350 | 160.950 | duplex | x | x | |
8 | 156.400 | 156.400 | 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. In the case of a Mayday, the station controlling the Mayday (usually the CG) may impose radio silence and handle the call on Ch 16. | ||
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) |