Ian Waugh - A Mariner\'s Guide to Marine Communications

Marine MF/HF SSB Radio - Key Frequencies

DSC Voice

Distress, Urgency Distress, Urgency

and Safety Alerts and Safety Messages

HF 16804 ·5 kHz 16420 kHz

12577 kHz 12290 kHz

8414·5 kHz 8291 kHz

6312 kHz 6215 kHz (note 1)

4207·5 kHz 4125 kHz (note 1)

MF 2187·5 kHz 2182 kHz

Note 1

Telex Distress,

Urgency and

Safety Messages

16695 kHz

12520 kHz

8376·5 kHz

6268 kHz

4177·5 kHz

2174·5 kHz

4125kHz and 6215kHz may also be used for voice communications

between ships and aircraft during SAR operations. SAR aircraft will also

be able to communicate, by voice, with other SAR units using 3023kHz

and/or 5680kHz. The limitations of normal marine SSB radio means

that though you may be able to listen in to the last two frequencies you

may not be able to transmit on them.

MF /HF SSB Radio - Routine DSC Calling/Answering

In addition to the DSC Distress and Safety watch that may be kept
using the above frequencies (see Appendix X) vessels need to keep a
watch for routine DSC calls on the appropriate frequencies. Frequencies
available for routine DSC calling are:

• MF ship-to-ship and shore-ta-ship routine DSC calls - 2177kHz
  (Simplex).


• On HF the following paired-frequencies are available, internationally,
  for routine DSC calls between ships and coast stations (ship transmit!
  ship receive):
  4208/4219·5kHz; 6312·5/6331kHz; 8415/8436·5kHz; 12577·5/
  12657kHz; 168051l6903kHz; 18898·5/19703·5kHz; 22374·5/
  22444kHz; and 25208·5/26121kHz.
  Your vessel may also be alerted, or can call a coast station of the
  same nationality, using national paired DSC calling frequencies - which
  should be notified to you by your licensing authority.
  International calling frequencies are used between ships/coast
  stations of different nationality/country of registration. National paired-
  frequencies may be used between ships and coast stations of the same
  nationality/country of registration.

MARINE COMMUNICATIONS 237