VHF Marine Radio Frequencies - Traconed

1 VHF Marine Radio Frequencies Important Note Anyone who intends to listen to Radio transmissions should be aware that licence is not required for a Radio receiver as long as it is not capable of transmission as well. However, although it is not illegal to sell, buy or own a scanning or other receiver in the UK, it must only be used to listen to transmissions meant for GENERAL RECEPTION. The services that you can listen to include Amateur and Citizens Band transmissions, licensed broadcast Radio and weather and navigation broadcasts. It is an offence to listen to any other Radio services unless you are authorized by a designated person to do so. This means that it is illegal to listen toanything other than general reception transmissions unless you are either a licensed user of the Frequencies in question or have been specifically authorised to do so. Also if communication is overheard it is illegal to tell a third party what you have heard or profit from the information.

2 The above is only a summary of the relevant guidance note on the OFCOM website issued some time ago by the now defunct Radio Communication Agency but should still be considered valid. Should anyone have any doubt about the legality of Radio reception they should visit the OFCOM website for further clarification and read the information note in full or contact OFCOM SOLENT AREA VHF Marine Radio FREQUENCY LIST Notes: 1 A simplex channel is where the A and B Frequencies are the same. Both stations use the same frequency. If both stations are in range the conversation will be heard. 2 A duplex channel is where the A and B Frequencies are different. The two stations use different Frequencies . Only one side of the conversation will be heard. 3 With duplex channels, the ship station transmits on the lower (A) frequency and listens on the upper (B) frequency. The shore station transmits on the upper (B) frequency and listens on the lower (A) frequency.

3 4 Many of the duplex channels which were used for public correspondence are now being allocated for other services such as weather forecast broadcasts and AIS due to the increased use of mobile telephones and satellite services. 5 Some Marine traffic may use other Frequencies hire radios for special events and company private channels. 6 All Frequencies in MHz. 7 For completeness USA channels are shown, 109 to 119 are actually duplex channels, but are used as simplex channels in UK. 8 Channels marked xx have no Marine channel designation in UK, and the users may use their in house channel numbers. 9 At times of enhanced Radio propagation usually during the summer months when high pressure systems dominate the weather ranges in excess of the typical expected line of sight are possible. Since most international channels are shared with other ports other ports maybe overheard from the Solent area Le Havre Port on Channel 12.

4 10 The information listed here is a compilation of information already in the public domain. The accuracy of the information cannot therefore be guaranteed or considered verified. 11 The information listed below is for information how the VHF Marine is organised and not a recommendation or incitement to listen to any transmissions that are not for general reception. 12 Generally international channels are Ch01-28 and Ch60-88 it is unlikely that transmissions for general reception will be found outside this range. CH No. A Frequency B Frequency Allocation Usage in Solent Comments00 Ship to shore/ship/air search and rescue simplex Solent Coastguard Portland Coastguard Coastguard Land based Units Coastguard Helicopter RNLI and inshore rescue Police Launch Ch 00 is actually a duplex channel but used as 2 simplex channels 99 Ship to shore/ship/air search and rescue simplex Coastguard/Auxiliary Coastguard non search and rescue Used for training 01 Ship to Shore duplex Wightlink Ferries 01A Simplex USA Channel 02 Ship to Shore duplex 02A Simplex USA Channel 03 Ship to Shore duplex 03A Simplex USA Channel 04 Ship to Shore duplex 04A Simplex USA Channel 05 Ship to Shore duplex 05A Simplex USA Channel 06 Ship to Ship simplex Water Taxi Cowes Primary Intership

5 07 Ship to Shore duplex 07A Ship to Ship simplex USA Channel 08 Ship to Ship simplex Intership 09 Ship to Ship simplex Pilotage communications for both Portsmouth and Southampton 10 Ship to Ship simplex Pollution Control Activity Occasional Tug Use Intership 11 Ship to Shore simplex Portsmouth QHM (Queens Harbour Master) All harbour movements 12 Ship to Shore simplex Southampton VTS (Vessel Traffic Service) Primary port operations channel 13 Ship to Shore simplex Portsmouth QHM (Queens Harbour Master) QHM harbour dockyard admin, Serco Tugs 14 Ship to Shore simplex Southampton VTS Portsmouth Harbour Radio Chichester Harbour Radio Itchenor Ferry Navigational broadcast hourly by VTS in summer. Secondary port operations channel. 15 Ship to Ship simplex low power Yarmouth Water Taxi 16 Calling and Distress simplex Ship to Ship calling and Distress 17 On board simplex Bembridge Yachts Warsash Yachts 18 Port Operations duplex Southampton VTS Reserve Channel 18A Simplex USA Channel 19 Port Operations duplex Esso Marine Terminal BP Hamble FMT Primary 19A Simplex USA Channel 20 Ship to Shore duplex Southampton VTS Primary Duplex channel.

6 20A Simplex USA Channel 21 Ship to Shore duplex 21A Simplex USA Channel 22 Ship to Shore duplex Southampton VTS Reserve Channel 22A Simplex USA Channel 23 Ship to Shore duplex 23 --------- Broadcast Solent Coastguard Weather/Navigational Warnings Portland Coastguard Weather/Navigational Warnings 23A Simplex USA Channel 24 Ship to Shore duplex 24A Simplex USA Channel 25 Ship to Shore duplex 25A Simplex USA Channel 26 Ship to Shore duplex 26A Simplex USA Channel 27 Ship to Shore duplex 27A Simplex USA Channel 28 Ship to Shore duplex 28A Simplex USA Channel 29 Ship to Ship/Ship to Shore simplex Portsmouth Continental Ferry Port Sunsail Yachts Southampton Patrol 30 Ship to Ship/Ship to Shore simplex private 31 Ship to Ship/Ship to Shore simplex private RNLI non Search and Rescue/Training Cowes Coastguard Gosport Ferry 32 Ship to Ship/Ship to Shore simplex private 33 Ship to Ship/Ship to Shore simplex private Dean and Dyball Ocean Village Marina 34 Ship to Ship/Ship to Shore simplex private Itchen Marine Towage 35 Ship to Ship/Ship to Shore simplex private Butchers Towing Channel 1 36 Ship to Ship/Ship to Shore simplex private Hovertravel Ryde Base Southsea Base 37 Ship to Ship/Ship to Shore simplex private Island Sailing club Royal London Yacht club Warsash Control Royal Southampton Yacht club Seastart Various other Yacht Clubs Old yacht

7 Channel M1 38 Ship to Ship/Ship to Shore simplex private 38 Simplex 39 Ship to Ship/Ship to Shore simplex private Calshot Activity Centre 40 Ship to Ship/Ship to Shore simplex private Cowes Harbour Radio HM1/HM2/HM3 41 Ship to Ship/Ship to Shore simplex private Whittakers Tankers 42 Ship to Ship/Ship to Shore simplex private 43 Ship to Ship/Ship to Shore simplex private Solent and Wightline Cruises 44 Ship to Ship/Ship to Shore duplex Shipping Agents 45 Ship to Ship/Ship to Shore simplex Langstone Harbour Radio 46 Ship to Ship/Ship to Shore duplex Shipping Agents 46 Simplex 47 Ship to Ship/Ship to Shore simplex Northwood Dredging 48 Ship to Ship/Ship to Shore simplex Solent Towage 49 Ship to Ship/Ship to Shore simplex Butchers Towing channel 2 50 Ship to Ship/Ship to Shore Ryde Rescue Sandown Rescue Gosport Rescue Inshore Rescue Services 51 Not in Marine Use 52 Not in Marine Use 53 Not in Marine Use 54 Not in Marine Use 55 Not in Marine Use 56 Not in Marine Use 57 Not in Marine Use 58 Not in Marine Use 59 Not in Marine Use 60 Ship to Shore duplex 60A Simplex USA Channel 61 Ship to Shore duplex Shipping Agents 61A Simplex USA Channel 62 Ship to Shore duplex 62A Simplex USA Channel 63 Ship to Shore duplex 63A Simplex USA Channel 64 Ship to Shore duplex Shipping Agents 64A Simplex USA Channel 65 Ship to Shore duplex Shipping Agents 65A Simplex USA Channel 66 Ship to Shore duplex 66A Simplex USA Channel 67

8 Ship to Shore/Ship/Air simplex Solent Coastguard Portland Coastguard Coastguard Land based Units Coastguard Helicopter RNLI and inshore rescue Police Launch Small craft Safety channel 68 Port Operations simplex River Hamble Yarmouth Harbour 69 Port Operations simplex Cowes Harbour Radio /HM1/2/3 Newport Harbour Folly Launch Ratseys Cowes Yacht Haven Mobile 70 Digital Selective Calling (DSC) No voice communication 71 Port Operations simplex Southampton Oil TerminalTugs to Pilot Berthing Master BPJ & FMT 72 Ship to Ship/Shore simplex Ship to Ship 73 Port Operations simplex Solent Coastguard Portland Coastguard 74 Port Operations simplex Southampton Tugs Pilot Berthing Master 75 Guard Channel 76 Guard Channel 77 Ship to Ship simplex Ship to Ship comms Cowes Water Taxi Folly Waterbus Hamble Water Taxi Mostly private leisure craft 78 Ship to Shore duplex 78A Simplex USA Channel 79 Ship to Shore duplex 79A Simplex USA Channel 80 Ship to Shore duplex Cowes Yacht Haven Island Harbour Ryde Harbour Bembridge Harbour Marina Channel 80A Simplex USA Channel 81 Ship to Shore duplex 81A

9 Simplex USA Channel 82 Ship to Shore duplex 82A Simplex USA Channel 83 Ship to Shore duplex 83A Simplex USA Channel 84 Ship to Shore duplex 84A Simplex USA Channel 85 Ship to Shore duplex 85A Simplex USA Channel 86 Ship to Shore duplex 86 --------- Broadcast Solent Coastguard Weather/Navigational Warnings Portland Coastguard Weather/Navigational Warnings 86 Simplex USA Channel 87 Automatic Identification System AIS Channel 1 No voice comms 87A Simplex USA Channel 88 Automatic Identification System AIS Channel 2 No voice comms 88A Simplex USA Channel xx Duplex private USA CH89 xx Duplex private USA CH90 xx Duplex private USA CH91 xx Duplex private USA CH92 xx Duplex private USA CH93 xx Duplex private USA CH94 xx Duplex private USA CH95 xx Duplex private USA CH96 xx Duplex private USA CH97 xx Duplex private USA CH98 xx Duplex private USA CH99

10 Xx Duplex private Solent Towing Centre USA CH100 xx Duplex private USA CH101 xx Portsmouth Continental Ferry Port xx Duplex private USA CH102 xx Duplex private USA CH103 xx Duplex private USA CH104 xx Yacht club xx Duplex private USA CH105 xx Duplex private USA CH106 xx Duplex private USA CH107 xx Duplex private USA CH108 xx Wightlink Ferries xx Simplex private USA CH109 xx Simplex private Marina USA CH110 xx Simplex private USA CH111 xx Simplex private Westminster Dredging USA CH112 xx Simplex private USA CH113 xx Simplex private Yarmouth Harbo