The following table describes the frequencies used in the Global Maritime Distress and Safety System: Alerting:
406.0-406.1 EPIRBs................. 406.0-406.1 MHz (Earth-to-
space).
1544-1545 MHz (space-to-Earth).
INMARSAT Ship Earth Stations 1626.5-1645.5 MHz (Earth-to-
capable of voice and/or direct space).
printing.
VHF DSC Ch. 70..................... 156.525 MHz. \1\
MF/HF DSC \2\...................... 2187.5 kHz \3\, 4207.5 kHz,
6312 kHz, 8414.5 kHz, 12577
kHz, and 16804.5 kHz.On-scene communications:
VHF Ch.16.......................... 156.8 MHz.
MF Radiotelephony.................. 2182 kHz.
NBDP............................... 2174.5 kHz.Communications involving aircraft:
On-scene, including search and 156.8 MHz \4\, 121.5 MHz \5\,
rescue. 123.1 MHz, 156.3 MHz, 2182
kHz, 3023 kHz, 4125 kHz, and
5680 kHz. \6\Locating signals:
406-406.1 EPIRB Beacons............ 121.5 MHz.
9 GHz radar transponders........... 9200-9500 MHz.
Maritime safety information (MSI):
International NAVTEX............... 518 kHz. \7\
Warnings........................... 490 kHz, 4209.5 kHz.
NBDP............................... 4210 kHz, 6314 kHz, 8416.5 kHz,
12579 kHz, 16806.5 kHz,
19680.5 kHz, 22376 kHz,
26100.5 kHz.
Satellite.......................... 1530-1545 MHz. \10\General distress and safety
communications and calling:
Satellite.......................... 1530-1544 MHz (space-to-Earth)
and 1626.5-1645.5 MHz (Earth-
to-space). \10\
Radiotelephony..................... 2182 kHz, 4125 kHz, 6215 kHz,
8291 kHz, 12290 kHz, 16420
kHz, and 156.8 MHz.
NBDP............................... 2174.5 kHz, 4177.5 kHz, 6268
kHz, 8376.5 kHz, 12520 kHz,
and 16695 kHz.
DSC................................ 2187.5 kHz, 4207.5 kHz, 6312
kHz, 8414.5 kHz, 12577 kHz,
16804.5 kHz, and 156.525 MHz.Survival craft:
VHF radiotelephony................. 156.8 MHz and one other 156-174
MHz frequency
9 GHz radar transponders........... 9200-9500 MHz.
\1\ Frequency 156.525 MHz can be used for ship-to-ship alerting and, if
within sea area A1, for ship-to-shore alerting.\2\ For ships equipped with MF/HF equipment, there is a watch
requirement on 2187.5 kHz, 8414.5 kHz, and one other frequency.\3\ Frequency 2187.5 kHz can be used for ship-to-ship alerting and, if
within sea area A2, for ship-to-shore alerting.\4\ Frequency 156.8 MHz may also be used by aircraft for safety purposes
only.\5\ Frequency 121.5 MHz may be used by ships for aeronautical distress
and urgency purposes.\6\ The priority of use for ship-aircraft communications is 4125 kHz,
then 3023 kHz. Additionally, frequencies 123.1 MHz, 3023 kHz and 5680
kHz can be used by land stations engaged in coordinated search and
rescue operations.\7\ The international NAVTEX frequency 518 kHz is the primary frequency
for receiving maritime safety information. The other frequencies are
used only to augment the coverage or information provided on 518 kHz.\8\ [Reserved]\9\ [Reserved]\10\ In addition to EPIRBs, 1544-1545 MHz can be used for narrowband
distress and safety operations and 1645.5-1646.5 MHz can be used for
relay of distress alerts between satellites. Feeder links for
satellite communications are assigned from the fixed satellite
service, see 47 CFR Sec. 2.106.\11\ [Reserved] [69 FR 64678, Nov. 8, 2004, as amended at 73 FR 4489, Jan. 25, 2008; 76 FR 67616, Nov. 2, 2011]
Equipment Requirements for Ship Stations