Top 5 tips for operating a marine radio

Operating a marine radio is a crucial skill for boaters and mariners. It is an essential tool for communication on the water and plays a vital role in ensuring safety and navigation

1. Listen before transmitting:  

The first thing to understand about marine radios is they operate primarily in ‘simplex’ mode. This simply means that a single channel is used for transmitting and receiving communications between ‘stations’ (vessels and land bases). This mode means that only one person can talk at a time. That’s where words such as ‘over’ (when you inviting to the other party to reply or respond to your message, or ‘out’ (when the communications between the parties has finished.) With this in mind when using a marine radio we should listen first to make sure their is no traffic on the channel. If you hear traffic then wait until the communication has finished. If you do not hear anything then you can call the vessel or station you wish to contact using the correct calling format.

2. Familiarise yourself with the correct Frequencies and Channels: 

Familiarise yourself with the frequencies and channels used for marine communication. The VHF marine band is commonly used for short-range (or sometimes called ‘line of sight’) communication. In the image below you can see that VHF channel 16 is higlighted in the middle. Channel 16 is known as the ‘calling and distress channel’.

All voice communications generally start on Channel 16. Channel 67 is a back up or supplementary channel and Channel 70 is used for Digital Selective Calling (DSC)). DSC is essentially text communication between stations. It is used only for initial contact and is followed by voice communication on a ‘working channel’.

Once communication is established between stations then the communications should be moved to a ‘working channel’. Around the outside of the image below you will see a number of working channels that can be used for passing the contents of your communication. See this link for information on the ‘Repeater Channels’.

In summarising this section you should:

1. Understanding Radio Channels:

   • Familiarise yourself with the designated marine radio channels particularly ‘working’ channels that can be used to pass the contents of communications.

2. Emergency Channel 16:

   • Channel 16 is the international hailing and distress frequency. It is reserved for emergency calls and initial contact. Only use this channel for distress, urgency, and safety calls.

3. Monitoring Channel 16:

   • Always monitor Channel 16, especially when underway. This ensures you can receive distress, safety calls and urgent information from other vessels or authorities.

3. Understand correct marine terminology, phases and the Phonetic Alphabet: 

Understand proper radio etiquette, including:

using clear and concise language,
using standard phrases,such as over, out, received, romeo (do not use the term ‘copy’ or ‘copy that’)
avoid unnecessary transmissions. This helps maintain effective communication.
Know the phonetic alphabet – Practice spelling your boat name using the phonetic alphabet as shown below

4. Know how to transmit a Distress message (Mayday) in the correct format:

A marine distress message, particularly when transmitted over a VHF radio, should follow a standardised format to ensure clarity and quick response. The internationally recognised format for a marine distress message is known as the “Mayday” format. When transmitting a distress message, use the following format:

1. Call Sign:

   • Start with the word “Mayday,” repeated three times to ensure the urgency is understood.
   • Followed by the name of your vessel or call sign, repeated three times.
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   "Mayday, Mayday, Mayday. This is [Your Vessel Name/Call Sign], [Your Vessel Name/Call Sign], [Your Vessel Name/Call Sign]."


2. Position:

   • Clearly state your vessel’s current position, including latitude and longitude or any other relevant information.
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   "Position [Latitude and Longitude or other position information]."


3. Nature of Distress:

   • Briefly describe the nature of your distress. Be concise and specific.
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   "I am [Nature of Distress, e.g., sinking, on fire, aground, etc.]."


4. Assistance Required:

   • Specify the type of assistance you need.
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   "Require immediate assistance with [Specify Assistance Needed]."


5. Additional Information:

   • Provide any additional information that might be relevant to the situation, such as the number of people on board, the availability of life rafts, or the type of assistance needed.
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   "We have [Number of People On Board], [Life Rafts Available/Not Available], [Any Other Relevant Information]."


6. Contact Information:

   • End the distress message by repeating your vessel’s name or call sign and listening on the appropriate emergency frequency for a response.
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   "This is [Your Vessel Name/Call Sign], [Your Vessel Name/Call Sign], [Your

Remember to remain calm and speak clearly when transmitting a distress message. It is crucial to follow this standardised format to ensure that your distress call is easily understood by other vessels and maritime authorities, facilitating a prompt and effective response. In addition to semi-automated DSC communications, always remember to only use Channel 16 for distress voice communication on VHF radios, as it is the internationally recognised distress frequency.

Below is an example of a Distress Message Format courtesy of the Marine Radio Licence handbook.

5. Know the difference between Urgent (Pan Pan) and Navigation Safety (Securite) messages:

In marine communication, particularly on VHF radios, different types of messages are categorized based on their urgency and the nature of the information conveyed. Two important categories are “Urgency Messages” and “Navigational Safety Messages.” Here’s the difference between the two:

1. Urgency Message:

   • Nature: Urgency messages are used to communicate information about situations that require urgent attention but do not involve a grave and immediate danger to life or property.
   • Purpose: These messages may include information about vessels in need of assistance, a medical emergency, or any other urgent matter that doesn’t qualify as an immediate distress.
   • Transmitting Channel: The primary channel for transmitting urgency messages is Channel 16, the international calling and distress frequency. After making an urgency call on Channel 16, the communication may be shifted to a working frequency.

   Example of an Urgency Message:

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   "Pan-Pan, Pan-Pan, Pan-Pan. This is [Your Vessel Name/Call Sign], [Your Vessel Name/Call Sign], [Your Vessel Name/Call Sign]. Urgent message follows. Over."

2. Navigational Safety Message:

   • Nature: Navigational safety messages are transmitted to share important navigational information, warnings such as weather or navigational hazards, or advice related to safety at sea.
   • Purpose: These messages may include notifications about floating hazards, changes in navigational aids, or other information crucial for the safe passage of vessels.
   • Transmitting Channel: The primary channel for transmitting navigational safety messages is also Channel 16. However, once the initial contact is established, the communication may be moved to a working frequency to avoid congestion on the distress channel.

4. Below is an example of an Urgent Message format courtesy of the Marine Radio Licence handbook:

2.  

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   "Securité, Securité, Securité. This is [Your Vessel Name/Call Sign], [Your Vessel Name/Call Sign], [Your Vessel Name/Call Sign]. Navigational safety message for all vessels in [specific area or navigational region]. Over."

4. Below is an example of a Navigational Safety Message format courtesy of the Marine Radio Licence handbook:

In summary, urgency messages are used for situations that require urgent attention but are not immediate distress, while navigational safety messages convey information related to safe navigation, hazards, or changes in navigational conditions. Both types of messages are crucial for maintaining maritime safety, and using the correct terminology and channels helps ensure effective communication within the maritime community.