Communicating on the Water:
A Guide to Marine Radio Etiquette

Misuse of the VHF marine radio is a growing problem on the water today.

The frequencies are very congested with idle chatter between boaters. Operators, by law, must be familiar with and adhere to the provisions of the (FCC) Federal Communications Commission.

The FCC has strict regulations for the use of VHF radios. Unfortunately, these regulations are not sufficient by themselves to keep the airways clear. Boaters must be familiar with the regulations and have the courtesy to observe the intent of the regulations as well.

Marine radio:
A vital communication link for boaters

Misuse of the radio seriously affects the safety of everyone on the water. The FCC has monitoring stations that, along with the U.S. Coast Guard, observe inappropriate language and correct operation of marine stations. Willful or repeat violators may receive a "Notice of Violation" citation and be fined.

At a minimum, here are some basic guidelines you should adhere to when using your marine radio:

Maintain a watch while the radio is turned on, even though you are not communicating. Monitor the call and distress channel 16.

Choose the correct channel when communicating ship-to-ship or ship-to-shore. Channel 16 is a hailing and emergency channel only but it's the most abused channel. This channel is not for chatting or idle conversation. After contacting another station on channel 16, change immediately to a channel that is available for the type of message you want to send. Recreational vessels for general-purpose calling may use channels 68, 69, 71, 72 and 78A. These channels should be used to relieve congestion on channel 16. After communications are completed, you should immediately switch back to channel 16 for monitoring. Channel 9 is an alternate distress channel.

Limit the preliminary call to 30 seconds. If there is no answer, wait 2 minutes before repeating the call. If you don't get a reply after two attempts, make the call later. Don't monopolize the frequency by continuing to call fruitlessly. Additional verbiage, "do you hear me?", "are you out there?" is also not necessary.

Limit ship-to-ship conversations to 3 minutes and the content to ship's business. Be considerate of others, they may want to use the line. Conversations should be brief and to the point.

Never use profane or obscene language or transmit fraudulent messages. Penalties include fines up to $10,000 and/or imprisonment.

The marine radio is not a citizens band (CB) so don't use phrases such as "That's a big 10-4", "come back." You are strongly encouraged to use "procedure" words. These shorten the length of the message and eliminate confusion. Remember to use "over" when you expect a reply. Use "out" when you are finished. Roger means, "yes I understand." Wilco means, "both Roger and I will do that or I will comply." Affirmative is "yes" and Negative is "no."

Avoid radio checks as most are unnecessary. Do not call the US Coast Guard. If a check is really necessary, monitor a working channel and listen for a conversation between two stations. When they end their conversation with "out," immediately call one of them three times in succession, finishing with your boat name and call sign, followed by "out." When they respond, ask them how they read your transmission, thank them, and sign off by again giving your boat name and sign, followed by "out." Radio checks are prohibited on Channel 16.

Listen before transmitting for about 30 seconds to determine if the channel is in use. Speak clearly in a normal tone of voice and hold the microphone about an inch from your mouth.

Use FCC call signals and/or your vessel's name at the beginning and end of all transmissions.

Use minimum radio power (one watt) when possible. This will reduce the distance the signal carries beyond your target.

Children should never be permitted to use the radio as a toy.

Need to send a distress call?
You may only have a few seconds.

Here's the procedure to follow. Transmit in this order:

1. Tune your VHF to channel 16.
   
2. Repeat the word "MAYDAY," three times.
   
3. Say "this is (name the boat)." Repeat the boat name three times.
   
4. Give position by latitude and longitude or by bearing and distance to a well-known landmark or navigational aid, or in any terms that will assist a responding station in locating the vessel in distress. Include any pertinent information, such as vessel course, speed and destination.
   
5. Indicate the nature of distress (sinking, fire, etc.).
   
6. Indicate the kind of assistance desired.
   
7. Describe your boat size, rig type, color and tell the number of persons aboard.
   
8. End with "over."

Attention all boaters:
Being conscientious is key

Be conscientious to retain the emergency integrity of the VHF system. The rules for radio operation are fairly simple, and you and your guests should be familiar with them. You can find many easy-to-read reference books at your local library or you can enroll in a local boating course that covers radio operation. Don't jeopardize the safety of others. Be courteous, respectful and know the rules!

For additional information regarding the FCC rules and regulations, visit the www.fcc.gov Web site.