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Marine Radio Channels
Marine Radio Channel Reminder
Channel Primary Use Notes
Essential Channels
16 (156.8 MHz) Distress, Safety & Calling Universal emergency channel. Monitored by Coast Guard and all vessels at all times. Required by law for most vessels. Establish contact here, then switch to a working channel.
9 Recreational Boat-to-Boat Calling Alternative calling channel to reduce traffic on CH 16. Radio Checks
Bridge & Navigation Channels
13 Bridge-to-Bridge Navigation Safety Used to contact bridges, commercial vessel traffic, and marine construction crews. Monitored by nearly all marine operations.
14 Vessel Traffic Service (VTS) Primary VTS channel for New York Harbor. Important for NY/NJ waterway transit.
Recreational Working Channels
68 Recreational Boat-to-Boat Non-commercial use only.
69 Recreational Boat-to-Boat Non-commercial use only.
71 Recreational Boat-to-Boat Non-commercial use only.
72 Recreational Boat-to-Boat Non-commercial use only. Commonly used for vessel-to-vessel on open water.
78A Recreational Boat-to-Boat Non-commercial use only.
Other Notable Channels
22A Coast Guard Liaison Used for Coast Guard communications after initial contact on CH 16.
6 Intership Safety Reserved for safety communications between vessels.
66A Marine Contractor Operations Frequently monitored by marine construction and dredging operations.
Key Rule of Thumb
Always initiate contact on CH 16, then agree to switch to a working channel. For Hudson River and NY Harbor transit, monitor CH 16, 13, and 14 simultaneously if your radio supports tri-watch.