HF marine
From HFUnderground
HF-SSB marine bands - these are standardized maritime mobile MF and HF communications bands - note that many maritime mobile users operate outside of these bands and there are dozens of country- or region-specific additional bands/frequencies. These bands are used for USB voice transmissions, various data modes including FAX used for Maritime Fax Transmissions, FSK, modes for various purposes as well as USB voice and RTTY weather and emergency broadcasts to ships at sea.
Fisheries, fishing boats, and other commercial marine users will often use frequencies in the HF aeronautical or aircraft bands (including the 6525 kHz to 6685 kHz and 6685 kHz to 6765 kHz military aircraft 6 MHz subbands 6525 kHz to 6765 kHz), other HF aircraft bands, fixed/mobile band (including 43 meters - 6765-7000 kHz) clear frequencies in the shortwave broadcast bands or even amateur frequencies for "out of band" communications to reduce the chance of radio interception by their competition. Out of band frequencies are also used in other ITU regions for marine fax transmissions.
See also: VHF marine band
MF-SSB and HF-SSB marine traffic (usually in the bands above 4 MHz) can be in simplex or semi-duplex for voice and/or data. Cross-band operation is also allowed per ITU regulations. Often you will hear ship-to-ship communications in simplex mode on the "ship transmit" frequency of a duplex pair.
MF SSB and HF SSB marine bands
Band | Frequency Range |
---|---|
405-525 kHz | MF band, used in some areas for NAVTEX on 490 kHz and/or 518 kHz. 500 kHz or 500 kc (600 meters) was the original CW Morse code calling frequency |
1600-2000 kHz | MF band, used in Europe and elsewhere (also used heavily for fishnet beacons) - overlaps with 1800-2000 kHz 160 meter amateur band |
2000-2300 kHz | MF 2 MHz marine band - USB voice calling/distress 2182 kHz, DSC calling/distress 2187.5 kHz - USCG no longer monitors 2182 kHz USB |
2450-2850 kHz | MF 2 MHz marine band, USB voice and FSK modes, some AM voice heard here in Russia, Eastern Europe and Asia (older-generation trawler radios 2-3 MHz) |
4000-4063 kHz | 4 MHz fixed/mobile band, shared with marine for simplex purposes, can be paired cross-band with 8 MHz |
4063-4438 kHz | HF 4 MHz marine band - USB voice calling/distress 4125 kHz, DSC calling/distress 4207.5 kHz |
6200-6525 kHz | HF 6 MHz marine band - USB voice calling/distress 6215 kHz, DSC calling/distress 6312 kHz |
8000-8195 kHz | 8 MHz fixed/mobile band, shared with marine for simplex purposes, can be paired cross-band with 4 MHz |
8195-8815 kHz | HF 8 MHz marine band - USB voice calling/distress 8291 kHz, DSC calling/distress 8414.5 kHz |
12330-13200 kHz | HF 12 MHz marine band - USB voice calling/distress 12290 kHz, DSC calling/distress 12577 kHz |
16460-17360 kHz | HF 16 MHz/17 MHz marine band - USB voice calling/distress 16420 kHz, DSC calling/distress 16804.5 kHz |
18780-18900 kHz | HF 18 MHz marine band |
19680-19800 kHz | HF 19 MHz marine band |
22000-22855 kHz | HF 22 MHz marine band |
25070-25121 kHz | HF 25 MHz marine band |
26145-26175 kHz | HF 26 MHz marine band |
26175-30000 kHz | Various CB-like marine allocations found in this region (many SSB marine radios stop at 27500 kHz or 27.5 MHz) |
ITU Designated Simplex Frequencies
These frequencies are specifically designated for simplex use (ship-to-ship and/or ship-to-shore comms). Any frequency in the MF and HF marine bands may be used for simplex purposes, including the duplex channelized frequencies. Often the "ship TX" or "ship transmit" frequency is used for ship-to-ship communications. However, either frequency may be used for simplex communications. Frequencies in-between the ITU channels may be used for voice or data communications as well. USB mode is normally used, with some LSB. AM is rarely used, although it is found in the 2-3 MHz region in some parts of the world.
- 2 MHz (2000 kHz - 2850 kHz) marine band:
- 2003.0 kHz
- 2065.0 kHz
- 2079.0 kHz
- 2082.5 kHz
- 2086.0 kHz
- 2093.0 kHz
- 2096.5 kHz
- 2142.0 kHz
- 2203.0 kHz
- 2214.0 kHz
- 2635.0 kHz
- 2638.0 kHz
- 2670.0 kHz - this frequency is also used for maritime weather forecasts
- 2738.0 kHz
- 2782.0 kHz
- 2830.0 kHz
- 4 MHz (4000 kHz - 4438 kHz) marine band:
- 4146.0 kHz
- 4149.0 kHz
- 4417.0 kHz
- 4000 kHz to 4060 kHz are also designed for simplex maritime radio use, in 3 kHz steps (4000 kHz, 4003 kHz, 4006 kHz, etc.), shared with fixed/mobile service
- 6 MHz (6200 kHz - 6525 kHz) marine band:
- 6224.0 kHz
- 6227.0 kHz
- 6230.0 kHz
- 6516.0 kHz
- 8 MHz (8000 kHz - 8815 kHz) marine band:
- 8294.0 kHz
- 8297.0 kHz
- 8101 kHz to 8191 kHz are also designed for simplex maritime radio use, in 3 kHz steps (8101 kHz, 8104 kHz, 8107 kHz, etc.), shared with fixed/mobile service
- 12 MHz / 13 MHz (12330 kHz - 13200 kHz) marine band:
- 12353.0 kHz
- 12356.0 kHz
- 12359.0 kHz
- 12362.0 kHz
- 12365.0 kHz
- 16 MHz / 17 MHz (16460 kHz - 17360 kHz) marine band:
- 16528.0 kHz
- 16531.0 kHz
- 16534.0 kHz
- 16537.0 kHz
- 16540.0 kHz
- 16543.0 kHz
- 16546.0 kHz
- 18 MHz (18780 kHz - 18900 kHz) marine band:
- 18825.0 kHz
- 18828.0 kHz
- 18831.0 kHz
- 18834.0 kHz
- 18837.0 kHz
- 18840.0 kHz
- 18843.0 kHz
- 22 MHz (22000 kHz - 22855 kHz) marine band:
- 22159.0 kHz
- 22162.0 kHz
- 22165.0 kHz
- 22168.0 kHz
- 22171.0 kHz
- 22174.0 kHz
- 22177.0 kHz
- 25 MHz (25070 kHz - 25121 kHz) marine band:
- 25100.0 kHz
- 25103.0 kHz
- 25106.0 kHz
- 25109.0 kHz
- 25112.0 kHz
- 25115.0 kHz
- 25118.0 kHz
ITU Designated Duplex Frequencies
These frequencies are specifically designated for duplex use (generally ship-to-shore or shore-to-ship comms). Any frequency in the MF and HF marine bands may be used for simplex purposes, including the duplex channelized frequencies. Often the "ship TX" or "ship transmit" frequency is used for ship-to-ship communications. However, either frequency may be used for simplex communications. Frequencies in-between the ITU channels may be used for voice or data communications as well. USB mode is normally used, with some LSB. AM is rarely used, although it is found in the 2-3 MHz region in some parts of the world.
- 4 MHz (4000 kHz - 4438 kHz) marine band:
ITU Channel | Coast Transmit / Ship Receive | Ship Transmit / Coast Receive |
---|---|---|
401 | 4065 kHz | 4357 kHz |
402 | 4068 kHz | 4360 kHz |
403 | 4071 kHz | 4363 kHz |
404 | 4074 kHz | 4366 kHz |
405 | 4077 kHz | 4369 kHz |
406 | 4080 kHz | 4372 kHz |
407 | 4083 kHz | 4375 kHz |
408 | 4086 kHz | 4378 kHz |
409 | 4089 kHz | 4381 kHz |
410 | 4092 kHz | 4384 kHz |
411 | 4095 kHz | 4387 kHz |
412 | 4098 kHz | 4390 kHz |
413 | 4101 kHz | 4393 kHz |
414 | 4104 kHz | 4396 kHz |
415 | 4107 kHz | 4399 kHz |
416 | 4110 kHz | 4402 kHz |
417 | 4113 kHz | 4405 kHz |
418 | 4116 kHz | 4408 kHz |
419 | 4119 kHz | 4411 kHz |
420 | 4122 kHz | 4414 kHz |
421 | 4125 kHz | 4417 kHz |
422 | 4128 kHz | 4420 kHz |
423 | 4131 kHz | 4423 kHz |
424 | 4134 kHz | 4426 kHz |
425 | 4137 kHz | 4429 kHz |
426 | 4140 kHz | 4432 kHz |
427 | 4143 kHz | 4435 kHz |
- 6 MHz (6200 kHz - 6525 kHz) marine band:
ITU Channel | Coast Transmit / Ship Receive | Ship Transmit / Coast Receive |
---|---|---|
601 | 6200 kHz | 6501 kHz |
602 | 6203 kHz | 6504 kHz |
603 | 6206 kHz | 6507 kHz |
604 | 6209 kHz | 6510 kHz |
605 | 6212 kHz | 6513 kHz |
606 | 6215 kHz | 6516 kHz |
607 | 6218 kHz | 6519 kHz |
608 | 6221 kHz | 6522 kHz |
- 8 MHz (8000 kHz - 8815 kHz) marine band:
Note that "channel 833" is programmed in SSB marine radios in simplex mode only. It is the 8 MHz distress/calling frequency, 8291 kHz.
ITU Channel | Coast Transmit / Ship Receive | Ship Transmit / Coast Receive |
---|---|---|
801 | 8719 kHz | 8195 kHz |
802 | 8722 kHz | 8198 kHz |
803 | 8725 kHz | 8201 kHz |
804 | 8728 kHz | 8204 kHz |
805 | 8731 kHz | 8207 kHz |
806 | 8734 kHz | 8210 kHz |
807 | 8737 kHz | 8213 kHz |
808 | 8740 kHz | 8216 kHz |
809 | 8743 kHz | 8219 kHz |
810 | 8746 kHz | 8222 kHz |
811 | 8749 kHz | 8225 kHz |
812 | 8752 kHz | 8228 kHz |
813 | 8755 kHz | 8231 kHz |
814 | 8758 kHz | 8234 kHz |
815 | 8761 kHz | 8237 kHz |
816 | 8764 kHz | 8240 kHz |
817 | 8767 kHz | 8243 kHz |
818 | 8770 kHz | 8246 kHz |
819 | 8773 kHz | 8249 kHz |
820 | 8776 kHz | 8252 kHz |
821 | 8779 kHz | 8255 kHz |
822 | 8782 kHz | 8258 kHz |
823 | 8785 kHz | 8261 kHz |
824 | 8788 kHz | 8264 kHz |
825 | 8791 kHz | 8267 kHz |
826 | 8794 kHz | 8270 kHz |
827 | 8797 kHz | 8273 kHz |
828 | 8800 kHz | 8276 kHz |
829 | 8803 kHz | 8279 kHz |
830 | 8806 kHz | 8282 kHz |
831 | 8809 kHz | 8285 kHz |
832 | 8812 kHz | 8288 kHz |
- 12 MHz / 13 MHz (12330 kHz - 13200 kHz) marine band:
ITU Channel | Coast Transmit / Ship Receive | Ship Transmit / Coast Receive |
---|---|---|
1201 | 4065 kHz | 12230 kHz |
1202 | 4068 kHz | 12233 kHz |
1203 | 4065 kHz | 12236 kHz |
1204 | 4065 kHz | 12239 kHz |
1205 | 4065 kHz | 12242 kHz |
1206 | 4065 kHz | 12245 kHz |
1207 | 4065 kHz | 12248 kHz |
1208 | 4065 kHz | 12251 kHz |
1209 | 4065 kHz | 12254 kHz |
1210 | 4065 kHz | 12257 kHz |
1211 | 4065 kHz | 12260 kHz |
1212 | 4065 kHz | 12263 kHz |
1213 | 4065 kHz | 12266 kHz |
1214 | 4065 kHz | 12269 kHz |
1215 | 4065 kHz | 12272 kHz |
1216 | 4065 kHz | 12275 kHz |
1217 | 4065 kHz | 12278 kHz |
1218 | 4065 kHz | 12281 kHz |
1219 | 4065 kHz | 12284 kHz |
1220 | 4065 kHz | 12287 kHz |
1221 | 13137 kHz | 12290 kHz |
1222 | 4065 kHz | 12293 kHz |
1223 | 4065 kHz | 12296 kHz |
1224 | 4065 kHz | 12299 kHz |
1225 | 4065 kHz | 12302 kHz |
1226 | 4065 kHz | 12305 kHz |
1227 | 4065 kHz | 12308 kHz |
1228 | 4065 kHz | 12311 kHz |
1229 | 4065 kHz | 12314 kHz |
1230 | 4065 kHz | 12317 kHz |
1231 | 4065 kHz | 12320 kHz |
1232 | 4065 kHz | 12323 kHz |
1233 | 4065 kHz | 12326 kHz |
1234 | 4065 kHz | 12329 kHz |
1235 | 13179 kHz | 12332 kHz |
1236 | 13182 kHz | 12335 kHz |
1237 | 13185 kHz | 12338 kHz |
1238 | 13188 kHz | 12341 kHz |
1239 | 13191 kHz | 12344 kHz |
1240 | 13194 kHz | 12347 kHz |
1241 | 13197 kHz | 12350 kHz |
- 16 MHz / 17 MHz (16460 kHz - 17360 kHz) marine band:
ITU Channel | Coast Transmit / Ship Receive | Ship Transmit / Coast Receive |
---|---|---|
1601 | 4065 kHz | 4357 kHz |
1602 | 4068 kHz | 4360 kHz |
1603 | 4065 kHz | 4357 kHz |
1604 | 4065 kHz | 4357 kHz |
1605 | 4065 kHz | 4357 kHz |
1606 | 4065 kHz | 4357 kHz |
1607 | 4065 kHz | 4357 kHz |
1608 | 4065 kHz | 4357 kHz |
1609 | 4065 kHz | 4357 kHz |
1610 | 4065 kHz | 4357 kHz |
1611 | 4065 kHz | 4357 kHz |
1612 | 4065 kHz | 4357 kHz |
1613 | 4065 kHz | 4357 kHz |
1614 | 4065 kHz | 4357 kHz |
1615 | 4065 kHz | 4357 kHz |
1616 | 4065 kHz | 4357 kHz |
1617 | 4065 kHz | 4357 kHz |
1618 | 4065 kHz | 4357 kHz |
1619 | 4065 kHz | 4357 kHz |
1620 | 4065 kHz | 4357 kHz |
1621 | 4065 kHz | 4357 kHz |
1622 | 4065 kHz | 4357 kHz |
1623 | 4065 kHz | 4357 kHz |
1624 | 4065 kHz | 4357 kHz |
1625 | 4065 kHz | 4357 kHz |
1626 | 4065 kHz | 4357 kHz |
1627 | 4065 kHz | 4357 kHz |
1628 | 4065 kHz | 4357 kHz |
1629 | 4065 kHz | 4357 kHz |
1630 | 4065 kHz | 4357 kHz |
1631 | 4065 kHz | 4357 kHz |
1632 | 4065 kHz | 4357 kHz |
1633 | 4065 kHz | 4357 kHz |
1634 | 4065 kHz | 4357 kHz |
1635 | 4065 kHz | 4357 kHz |
1636 | 4065 kHz | 4357 kHz |
1637 | 4065 kHz | 4357 kHz |
1638 | 4065 kHz | 4357 kHz |
1639 | 4065 kHz | 4357 kHz |
1640 | 4065 kHz | 4357 kHz |
1641 | 4065 kHz | 4357 kHz |
1642 | 4065 kHz | 4357 kHz |
1643 | 4065 kHz | 4357 kHz |
1644 | 4065 kHz | 4357 kHz |
1645 | 4065 kHz | 4357 kHz |
1646 | 4065 kHz | 4357 kHz |
1647 | 4065 kHz | 4357 kHz |
1648 | 4065 kHz | 4357 kHz |
1649 | 4065 kHz | 4357 kHz |
1650 | 4065 kHz | 4357 kHz |
1651 | 4065 kHz | 4357 kHz |
1652 | 4065 kHz | 4357 kHz |
1653 | 4065 kHz | 4357 kHz |
1654 | 4065 kHz | 4357 kHz |
1655 | 4065 kHz | 4357 kHz |
1656 | 4065 kHz | 4357 kHz |
- 18 MHz (18780 kHz - 18900 kHz) / 19 MHz (19680 kHz - 19800 kHz) marine band:
ITU Channel | Coast Transmit / Ship Receive | Ship Transmit / Coast Receive |
---|---|---|
1801 | 18780 kHz | 19755 kHz |
1802 | 18783 kHz | 19758 kHz |
1803 | 18786 kHz | 19761 kHz |
1804 | 18789 kHz | 19764 kHz |
1805 | 18792 kHz | 19767 kHz |
1806 | 18795 kHz | 19770 kHz |
1807 | 18798 kHz | 19773 kHz |
1808 | 18801 kHz | 19776 kHz |
1809 | 18804 kHz | 19779 kHz |
1810 | 18807 kHz | 19782 kHz |
1811 | 18810 kHz | 19785 kHz |
1812 | 18813 kHz | 19788 kHz |
1813 | 18816 kHz | 19791 kHz |
1814 | 18819 kHz | 19794 kHz |
1815 | 18822 kHz | 19797 kHz |
- 22 MHz (22000 kHz - 22855 kHz) marine band:
ITU Channel | Coast Transmit / Ship Receive | Ship Transmit / Coast Receive |
---|---|---|
2201 | 22000 kHz | 22696 kHz |
2202 | 22003 kHz | 22699 kHz |
2203 | 22006 kHz | kHz |
2204 | 22009 kHz | 4357 kHz |
2205 | 22012 kHz | 4357 kHz |
2206 | 22015 kHz | 4357 kHz |
2207 | 22018 kHz | 4357 kHz |
2208 | 22021 kHz | 4357 kHz |
2209 | 22024 kHz | 4357 kHz |
2210 | 22027 kHz | 4357 kHz |
2211 | 22030 kHz | 4357 kHz |
2212 | 22033 kHz | 4357 kHz |
2213 | 22036 kHz | 4357 kHz |
2214 | 22039 kHz | 4357 kHz |
2215 | 22042 kHz | 4357 kHz |
2216 | 22045 kHz | 4357 kHz |
2217 | 22048 kHz | 4357 kHz |
2218 | 22051 kHz | 4357 kHz |
2219 | 22054 kHz | 4357 kHz |
2220 | 22057 kHz | 4357 kHz |
2221 | 22060 kHz | 4357 kHz |
2222 | 22063 kHz | 4357 kHz |
2223 | 22066 kHz | 4357 kHz |
2224 | 22069 kHz | 4357 kHz |
2225 | 22072 kHz | 4357 kHz |
2226 | 22075 kHz | 4357 kHz |
2227 | 22078 kHz | 4357 kHz |
2228 | 22081 kHz | 4357 kHz |
2229 | 22084 kHz | 4357 kHz |
2230 | 22087 kHz | 4357 kHz |
2231 | 22090 kHz | 4357 kHz |
2232 | 22093 kHz | 4357 kHz |
2233 | 22096 kHz | 4357 kHz |
2234 | 22099 kHz | 4357 kHz |
2235 | 22102 kHz | 4357 kHz |
2236 | 22105 kHz | 4357 kHz |
2237 | 22108 kHz | 4357 kHz |
2238 | 22111 kHz | 4357 kHz |
2239 | 22114 kHz | 4357 kHz |
2240 | 22117 kHz | 4357 kHz |
2241 | 22120 kHz | 4357 kHz |
2242 | 22123 kHz | 4357 kHz |
2243 | 22126 kHz | 4357 kHz |
2244 | 22129 kHz | 4357 kHz |
2245 | 22132 kHz | 4357 kHz |
2246 | 22135 kHz | 4357 kHz |
2247 | 22138 kHz | 4357 kHz |
2248 | 22141 kHz | 4357 kHz |
2249 | 22144 kHz | 4357 kHz |
2250 | 22147 kHz | 22840 kHz |
2251 | 22150 kHz | 22843 kHz |
2252 | 22153 kHz | 22849 kHz |
2253 | 22156 kHz | 22852 kHz |
- 25 MHz (25070 kHz - 25121 kHz) and 26 MHz (26145 kHz - 26175 kHz) marine band:
ITU Channel | Coast Transmit / Ship Receive | Ship Transmit / Coast Receive |
---|---|---|
2501 | 25070 kHz | 26145 kHz |
2502 | 25073 kHz | 26148 kHz |
2503 | 25076 kHz | 26151 kHz |
2504 | 25079 kHz | 26154 kHz |
2505 | 25082 kHz | 26157 kHz |
2506 | 25085 kHz | 26160 kHz |
2507 | 25088 kHz | 26163 kHz |
2508 | 25091 kHz | 26166 kHz |
2509 | 25094 kHz | 26169 kHz |
2510 | 25097 kHz | 26172 kHz |
See also:
- VHF marine band
- Maritime Fax Transmissions
- Maritime Weather Transmissions
- Pescadores or Peskies (Peskys) - marine users operating out of band
- 27 MHz Marine CB - 27MHz or 27 Meg Australia marine band
- 29 MHz CB - South African marine mobile 29MHz frequencies
- Japanese 1 watt DSB (AM) double side band fishery radio service Japan 26-27 MHz
- Japanese 25 watt SSB single side band fishery radio service Japan 27 MHz
- South Korean - Republic of Korea 27MHz fishery radio service AM 27 MHz
- HF fixed/mobile allocations, often heavily used by marine stations, i.e. pescadores
- Fishnet beacons, radiobuoy, 1.6-4 MHz and 26-30 MHz, slowly being replaced by SATCOM/GPS based systems
- [1] HF marine distress and calling frequencies
- [2] US Coast Guard MF and HF SSB marine radiotelephone frequency channel list (duplex and simplex)
- [3] US Coast Guard MF & HF 2-26 MHz marine SSB channel information
- [4] Marine Safety Broadcasts MF, HF, VHF and SATCOM broadcasts and services
This site is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com. Some links may be affiliate links. We may get paid if you buy something or take an action after clicking one of these.