VHF channels, ship-to-ship (bridge-to-bridge

[TwoHooter]

According to the notes I made on my short range course the following frequencies are appropriate for legitimate ship-to-ship communications (after establishing contact on ch.16):
06, 08, 09, 13 (safety messages only), 15, 68, 69, 71, 72, 77
Is that still correct?
The only ones I have ever heard used are 08 and 72.
What do you use?

 

[CAPTAIN FANTASTIC]

Channel 77 is popular with Yacht Clubs.

 

[LadyInBed]

Something like this pinned up by the VHF might be useful

 

[prv]

Something like this pinned up by the VHF might be useful

A UK rather than Australian version, perhaps. More of that wheel is wrong than right, here.

In response to the OP, most of the commercial ship-to-ship I hear seem to pick 06.

09 is used by Southampton pilots. Not sure if that’s under the umbrella of “intership” or “port ops”.

Pete

 

[nigel1]

Comprehensive list here
RNLI

 

[Mark-1]

Comprehensive

Really good, thanks. M1, M2 seem to be missing I wonder why.

 

[johnalison]

For leisure sailors I have always thought that it is safer to stick to 72 and 77 even though other channels are marked as ship to ship. DSC is available for calling, so why not use it?

 

[PilotWolf]

For leisure sailors I have always thought that it is safer to stick to 72 and 77 even though other channels are marked as ship to ship. DSC is available for calling, so why not use it?

I would generally agree but if you need to talk to a ship for any reason 13 is your better option especially if you get no reply on 16.

W

 

[prv]

I would generally agree but if you need to talk to a ship for any reason 13 is your better option especially if you get no reply on 16.

I’d agree with that. I don’t make a habit of calling passing ships, but the one time it seemed sensible to do so, I got a thorough ignoring on 16 but a grudging reply when I switched to 13.

Pete

 

[TwoHooter]

Thanks all.
I think I'll stick to 72.

 

[LadyInBed]

A UK rather than Australian version, perhaps. More of that wheel is wrong than right, here.

I did say "something like". The clock face representation struck me as a good idea.

 

[TwoHooter]

I did say "something like". The clock face representation struck me as a good idea.

Yes, I like the idea.
The RNLI list omits the use of Ch.65 by the voluntary Coastwatch people, The National Coastwatch Institution | National Coastwatch Institution. I have found them helpful on a couple of occasions. Also much better to do radio checks with them (when in range) than on Ch16. I have recently heard HMCG telling people to use 65 when they receive radio check requests on Ch.16.

 

[Skylark]

I would generally agree but if you need to talk to a ship for any reason 13 is your better option especially if you get no reply on 16.

W

I’d agree with that. I don’t make a habit of calling passing ships………..

Pete

+1
I don’t think I’ve ever call one. A good feature of some AIS equipment is the ability to call a vessel directly using DSC.

 

[prv]

I did say "something like". The clock face representation struck me as a good idea.

Yes - I just wouldn't want less experienced people to take it at face value and think - for example - that 73 is a "recreational vessel" chat channel when it's actually a Coastguard working one. Or that they might be able to call their mates on 67 as "supplementary to 16". Or use "talk through repeaters" that don't exist on any channel.

Personally I find the way that layout has several copies of 72 and 77 confusing, and including - in fact emphasising - 70 is completely pointless.

Pete

 

[AntarcticPilot]

A UK rather than Australian version, perhaps. More of that wheel is wrong than right, here.

In response to the OP, most of the commercial ship-to-ship I hear seem to pick 06.

09 is used by Southampton pilots. Not sure if that’s under the umbrella of “intership” or “port ops”.

Pete

The Coastguard nearly always direct you to channel 6.

 

[AntarcticPilot]

I did say "something like". The clock face representation struck me as a good idea.

Tastes vary - I found it thoroughly confusing, with its repetition of numbers in different parts of the clock face.! The table on the RNLI site is much clearer to me; that (with irrelevant channels removed) would be much more useful as an aide-memoire for me.

 

[prv]

The Coastguard nearly always direct you to channel 6.

To talk with them, or when telling chatters on 16 to move to a working channel?

On the south coast of the UK, I don't think I've ever heard the Coastguard ask to talk to people on 06. Here in the Solent it's usually 67, sometimes 73.

Pete

 

[AntarcticPilot]

To talk with them, or when telling chatters on 16 to move to a working channel?

On the south coast of the UK, I don't think I've ever heard the Coastguard ask to talk to people on 06. Here in the Solent it's usually 67, sometimes 73.

Pete

Whenever I've contacted them (rarely!), their first response has always been "Capricious, Coastguard. Go to channel 6". Of course, for things such as radio checks or reporting safe arrival, your initial call does everything so there's no need, but if there's a need for an exchange, my experience is that they do (as dictated by radio procedure) move you to a working channel. 6 happens to be the one I've always been moved to (and I note that it is the primary ship-to-ship channel), but of course, in principle, they could ask you to go to any other ship-to-ship channel if 6 is busy.

 

[ctva]

Here's an interesting list, Microsoft Word - vhfmarinebases.docx (icomuk.co.uk)

Also, the RNLI list is way out of date (2015). For example the Coastguard safety channels are 62, 63 and 64 now.

 

[prv]

in principle, they could ask you to go to any other ship-to-ship channel if 6 is busy.

But they aren’t a ship. That’s why it surprises me that your local CG station (where is it?) sends you there.

Pete