Can someone provide me with the important channels on VHF (East Coast N.E.) i.e. Coast Guard, rescue, SOS or whatever, thanks.
- Status
Local practice
In your area (and mine) 16 is monitored always, but only used for emergencies. Channel 9 is used for hailing. Do not do radio checks on 16, do them on 9 only. 13 is "bridge to bridge," a low power only channel for ship to ship communicaitons. I monitor 9, 16 and 13. Harbormasters usually monitor 9, but some use other channels. Check a cruising guide.
In your area (and mine) 16 is monitored always, but only used for emergencies. Channel 9 is used for hailing. Do not do radio checks on 16, do them on 9 only. 13 is "bridge to bridge," a low power only channel for ship to ship communicaitons. I monitor 9, 16 and 13. Harbormasters usually monitor 9, but some use other channels. Check a cruising guide.
Coast Guard link
Here is another table to use for vhf channels. This one published by the US Coast Guard.
Here is another table to use for vhf channels. This one published by the US Coast Guard.
Ch. 9 also general for LI Sound
Windcheck magazine carried an article from the Coast Guard commandant last year indicating that ch.9 was also the general non-emergency communication channel for Long Island Sound. Unfortunately, Long Island powerboaters seem not to have any source of information on this stuff (Windcheck is a sailor's magazine) and continue chatting up a storm on ch.16 all weekend long...
Windcheck magazine carried an article from the Coast Guard commandant last year indicating that ch.9 was also the general non-emergency communication channel for Long Island Sound. Unfortunately, Long Island powerboaters seem not to have any source of information on this stuff (Windcheck is a sailor's magazine) and continue chatting up a storm on ch.16 all weekend long...
Channel 9
A few years ago, the USCG tried to get boaters on the Chesapeake to switch from Channel 16 to Channel 9 as the non-emergency hailing and communications Channel. All the local Bay rags tried to support this effort, which was aimed at getting the pressure (and crap-talk) off of Channel 16. However, no one paid any attention to it. Most of the stuff you hear on Channel 16 on the Bay is inappropriate and, as a result, many boaters (like me) have stopped routinely monitoring Channel 16 when we sail. I keep a portable VHF with me in the cockpit most of the time and never turn it on unless I need to make an appropriate call....
A few years ago, the USCG tried to get boaters on the Chesapeake to switch from Channel 16 to Channel 9 as the non-emergency hailing and communications Channel. All the local Bay rags tried to support this effort, which was aimed at getting the pressure (and crap-talk) off of Channel 16. However, no one paid any attention to it. Most of the stuff you hear on Channel 16 on the Bay is inappropriate and, as a result, many boaters (like me) have stopped routinely monitoring Channel 16 when we sail. I keep a portable VHF with me in the cockpit most of the time and never turn it on unless I need to make an appropriate call....
Disagree with JVISS
He states... "In your area (and mine) 16 is monitored always, but only used for emergencies". Channel 16 is also a hailing channel. You call (hail) another boat on channel 16, when he replies, you arrange passing signal if required or any safety items, then you shift to another channel for general chit-chat conversation. Depending on where you live, channel 13 is also used for inland channel and bayou traffic. Also in some areas bridges will only answer on channel 13 for openings. Bridge to Bridge traffic is handled on, i think, channel 69 on the Mississippi River. Some locations Channel 10 or 11 is used for locks. You must read the U.S.Coast Pilot for radio frequency channels in specific areas.
He states... "In your area (and mine) 16 is monitored always, but only used for emergencies". Channel 16 is also a hailing channel. You call (hail) another boat on channel 16, when he replies, you arrange passing signal if required or any safety items, then you shift to another channel for general chit-chat conversation. Depending on where you live, channel 13 is also used for inland channel and bayou traffic. Also in some areas bridges will only answer on channel 13 for openings. Bridge to Bridge traffic is handled on, i think, channel 69 on the Mississippi River. Some locations Channel 10 or 11 is used for locks. You must read the U.S.Coast Pilot for radio frequency channels in specific areas.
JVISS...Sorry
Sorry, i misread your post. Didnt realize it was meant to be specific to a particular location in the north east. I guess my point is that the FCC Marine Radio links are not as accurate as they could be.
Sorry, i misread your post. Didnt realize it was meant to be specific to a particular location in the north east. I guess my point is that the FCC Marine Radio links are not as accurate as they could be.
Local practice
Hey Sailortonyb, no problem. It really does vary quite a bit from place to place. However, I think 13 for bridge to bridge, meaning ship's bridge to ship's bridge, for close-in maneuvering, etc., is fairly universal. Folks will use 16 for hailing, but 9 is the norm here.
Hey Sailortonyb, no problem. It really does vary quite a bit from place to place. However, I think 13 for bridge to bridge, meaning ship's bridge to ship's bridge, for close-in maneuvering, etc., is fairly universal. Folks will use 16 for hailing, but 9 is the norm here.
Well, I am proud of the people in my area.....
rarely do I hear crap talk on 16. I monitor it all the time and 99% of the time it is used appropriately in the Ventura/Santa Barbara area. Too bad that they don't triangulate the calls from dumb guys and fine them. abe
rarely do I hear crap talk on 16. I monitor it all the time and 99% of the time it is used appropriately in the Ventura/Santa Barbara area. Too bad that they don't triangulate the calls from dumb guys and fine them. abe
Channel 13 for bridge openings.
Channel 13 is used for river and channle traffic "bridge to bridge" on boats/ships. But it is also used to open bridges in La. Down here if you travel a lot, you better know which channel to use when, LOL. The bridges are supposed to monitor 16 AND 13, but most just monitior 13. I have only used Channel 9 down here one time and that was recently on a trip we went through a Deep Water Oil Port where the super tankers off load in the gulf rather than come into ports. We only monitored, didnt actually speak to anyone on 9 but we were also required to monitor 16, and monitor 10, 13 and 67 if possible. All at once. We had to speak to the Louisianna Offshore Oil Port (LOOP) on 16. They tracked us on radar and kept us safe.
Channel 13 is used for river and channle traffic "bridge to bridge" on boats/ships. But it is also used to open bridges in La. Down here if you travel a lot, you better know which channel to use when, LOL. The bridges are supposed to monitor 16 AND 13, but most just monitior 13. I have only used Channel 9 down here one time and that was recently on a trip we went through a Deep Water Oil Port where the super tankers off load in the gulf rather than come into ports. We only monitored, didnt actually speak to anyone on 9 but we were also required to monitor 16, and monitor 10, 13 and 67 if possible. All at once. We had to speak to the Louisianna Offshore Oil Port (LOOP) on 16. They tracked us on radar and kept us safe.
- Status