Very High Frequency radio, the primary means of short-range voice communication between ships and between ship and shore in the maritime environment. VHF marine radio operates on designated channels between 156 and 174 MHz, with Channel 16 (156.8 MHz) designated as the international distress and calling frequency.
Category: Maritime Communication
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Morse CodeA communication system using sequences of short and long signals (dots and dashes) to represent letters and numbers.NAVTEXNavigational Telex, an international automated medium-frequency direct-printing service for delivery of navigational and meteorological warnings and forecasts, as well as urgent maritime safety information to ships.Pan-PanAn internationally recognised urgency signal, spoken three times at the beginning of a radio message, indicating that there is an urgent situation on board a vessel but no immediate danger to life or the vessel.SARSearch and Rescue, the coordinated effort to locate and recover persons in distress at sea, involving maritime rescue coordination centres (MRCCs), coast guard units, naval vessels, and commercial ships.SecuriteAn internationally recognised safety signal, spoken three times at the beginning of a radio message, used to broadcast important navigational or meteorological warnings to all vessels in the area.Ship ReportingMandatory or voluntary systems requiring vessels to report their position, course, speed, and other information to shore-based authorities when entering or transiting designated areas.
Back to DictionaryEntry updated May 2026