United States & Hawaii Waters
The most commonly monitored and used marine radio frequencies for recreational boaters, commercial traffic, harbor operations, Coast Guard communication, and NOAA weather broadcasts.
// Marine Radio Overview
Channel 16 (156.800 MHz) is the international distress, safety, and calling frequency. All vessels must monitor it at all times when equipped with a VHF radio.
After establishing contact on a hailing channel, vessels move to a working channel to conduct their communication, keeping hailing channels clear.
A Ship Station License is required for US vessels traveling internationally. Domestic recreational boaters operating in US waters generally do not need a license for their radio.
Marine VHF radio operates on the Very High Frequency band between approximately 156–174 MHz. It provides reliable line-of-sight communication typically ranging from 5 to 20 nautical miles depending on antenna height and conditions.
Channels are divided by function: emergency channels like CH 16 must always be monitored, recreational channels are used for casual boater-to-boater traffic, commercial channels handle working vessel traffic, and NOAA weather channels broadcast continuous forecasts.
In Hawaii, Channel 14 (156.700 MHz) is actively used by Honolulu harbor operations and the Vessel Traffic Service. NOAA weather broadcasts on WX1 (162.550 MHz) are typically the clearest signal in the Oahu region. Always consult the current USCG local notice to mariners for area-specific frequency usage.
// Channel Directory
| Channel | Frequency | Category | Usage | Notes | Copy |
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