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Photo Credit: National Safe Boating Council
It’s important that boaters use the correct channel when communicating on a VHF (very high frequency) marine band radio.
Here are VHF-FM non-commercial channels recreational boaters may use in specific situations. Federal Communications Commission regulations require boaters having VHF radios to maintain a watch on either channel 9 or channel 16, whenever the radio is turned on and not communicating with another station. All non-emergency traffic should be communicated on another channel (not channels 9 or 16).
| New Channel Number | Old Channel Number | Ship Transmit MHz | Ship Receive MHz | Use |
| 09 | 09 | 156.450 | 156.450 | Boater Calling. Commercial and Non-Commercial. VDSMS |
| 13 | 13 | 156.650 | 156.650 | Intership Navigation Safety (Bridge-to-bridge). Ships >20m length maintain a listening watch on this channel in US waters. |
| 16 | 16 | 156.800 | 156.800 | International Distress, Safety and Calling. Ships required to carry radio, USCG, and most coast stations maintain a listening watch on this channel. |
| 1022 | 22A | 157.100 | 157.100 | Coast Guard Liaison and Maritime Safety Information Broadcasts. Broadcasts announced on channel 16. |
| 68 | 68 | 156.425 | 156.375 | Non-Commercial. VDSMS |
| 69 | 69 | 156.475 | 156.475 | Non-Commercial. VDSMS |
| 70 | 70 | 156.525 | 156.525 | Digital Selective Calling (voice communications not allowed) |
| 71 | 71 | 156.575 | 156.575 | Non-Commercial. VDSMS |
| 72 | 72 | 156.625 | 156.625 | Non-Commercial (Intership only). VDSMS |
