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Maritime & Shipping vocabulary · Radio Communication & SMCP

Channel 16

Meaning in maritime & shipping, with examples

nounCore term

In maritime & shipping, channel 16 means: The international VHF frequency (156.8 MHz) reserved for distress, urgency and safety calls and for first contact between stations. Ships at sea keep listening on it at all times.

In Turkish: 16. kanal, kanal 16

How it is used

Stations call on channel 16 and then switch to a working channel for the conversation, keeping 16 free. Ships keep a continuous listening watch on it, as well as a DSC watch on channel 70.

Example sentences

  1. We made contact on channel 16 and then switched to channel 6 to talk.

  2. The coast guard called all ships on channel 16 about a missing fishing boat.

Common collocations

  • listen on channel 16
  • call on channel 16
  • switch to a working channel
  • keep channel 16 clear
  • VHFVery High Frequency: the short-range marine radio band that ships use to talk to each other, to pilots, ports and VTS, and to send distress, urgency and safety calls.
  • maydayThe international radio distress signal, spoken three times, used when a ship, aircraft or person is in grave and imminent danger and needs immediate help.
  • GMDSSGlobal Maritime Distress and Safety System: the international system of radio and satellite equipment and procedures that lets ships send distress alerts and receive safety information anywhere at sea.
  • pan-panThe radio urgency signal, spoken three times, used when there is an urgent problem concerning the safety of a ship or a person but no grave and imminent danger.

More terms: Radio Communication & SMCP

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