Ship to Ship, which VHF channel?

[mithril]

In the UK we can use 06, 08, 72 and 77 but does the small boat person have any rights to use them, are any of them primarily for small boats?

In the US I see 06 is a safety channel and can be used for search and rescue, whilst the other 3 freqs are available as in the UK.

Here in Portugal 06 is safety and so is similar to the US, 08 is for ships manoeuvring, 72 is for fishing and 77 is VTS-Coastal., all ship to ship but use them and be shouted at. I see that 76 is available here but not in the UK or US and not available on all VHF radios.

Now all of these 3 countries are United Nations members and so operate to ITU prescribed frequencies plans so why are we struggling here in Portugal to legally chat between boats.

Small caveat, we are all tied up in a marina. Does that change things? And what if we were in an anchorage, can we then have a morning VHF rendezvous, for safety reasons of course?

 

[damo]

What about bridge to bridge, Ch 13?

 

[mithril]

On my Portugeuse list its Ships Safety. And do I recall its a DSC follow-up channel which nowadays ships often montor instead of 16.

 

[capnsensible]

Don't see why a 'cruiser net' shouldn't be possible. Several of the West Indian harbours have these every day and are hugely successful. Weather, local news, events, trading, all sorts. As I recall, ch 72 was the most common but I will stand corrected by anyone there now.
I guess this may be crtiicised, but it is what happens outside of the UK!!!

 

[fishermantwo]

On the South Coast of NSW Australia the local fishing vessels have their own frequencies, not nominated but they are just used. Locally we use 14, towns north and South of us use 72. Tuna longliners use 10. Normal ship shore call channel is 16. Weather is 63. The Navy uses 69 naturally.

What has always bothered me is after the disastrous Sydney Hobart race in "98 the yachtsmen complained they had no correct weather info. For days beforehand fishermen had been discussing the fresh Southerly current and the crappy weather. Having laid down channels down the coast for people to scan or monitor makes sense. Information is essential in the fishing game and my set is set to continuous scan on certain channels.

 

[mithril]

Thanks guys, it seems there is little concistancy as to which channel to use. What is clear is that cruising sites do operate nets and that they are most successful. Here in Lagos Portugal we have been kicked of 77 as it is now a VTS channel, maybe it always was.

I'm still of the view that a legit small boat channel should exist in all sea areas even if it were to be a low power channel so as to be very local.

We try on Mon Wed and Fri to have an interactive broadcast where safety, weather and any urgent matters can be aired. 15 mins usually sees us finished.

Any other thoughts welcomed.

 

[bumblefish]

Is 69 available to us? OFCOM seems to imply we are OK with it.