[oceanbrew]

Having a tugboat captain as an uncle has given me many insights into commercial Vessel traffic. Almost all commercial vessels use channel 13 for communication. They do not go to channel 16 and many times they're not monitoring channel 16 regularly. Many sailing people do not know this and do not communicate with them which makes it difficult for the sailor and the commercial vessel at times. In areas of high traffic like the St. Johns River where large cargo ships, container ships, tankers & tugs come and go frequently regular checking of channel 13 or staying on channel 13 continuously is the best course of action. This would also be the best course of action for any sailor on a highly commercialized route. Large commercial vessels regularly state their position and ask about other vessels presence.

I receive regular thanks from tugboats and other vessels for monitoring and responding on channel 13. They wish that others (sailing vessels) would do the same. There are other commercial channels besides 13. I recommend you know which channel is used in your area.

 

[mbianka]

I always monitor channel 16 and 13 for just those reasons. Also having an AIS transponder also helps since I know the actual name of the commercial vessel I may need to make contact with or they with me.

 

[kwaltersmi]

Good tip! We monitor 16, 13 and 9.

 

[svzephyr44]

Except on the ICW I while in the US I monitor 16, 13 and 22A (don't want to miss those right whale warnings...) Except for the Florida bridges I don't find much use for channel 9. Just a reminder that channel 13 defaults to low power on most VHF radios. That is both part of its charm in a crowded port and a frustration when at sea if you don't remember to pump up the power when a ship is a few miles away.

 

[SVAuspicious]

They do not go to channel 16 and many times they're not monitoring channel 16 regularly.

They are supposed to monitor channel 16 continuously. That doesn't mean they are paying attention to that radio - the human brain is a great DSP and can filter all kinds of things out (guys - just ask your wife *grin*).

I agree with your recommendation though. I call commercial traffic first on 13 unless I'm in a VTS, in which case I use the VTS channel.

 

[Seaduction]

One does not need to be a tugboat captain to know the VHF channel assignments and recommended usage.

 

[oceanbrew]

I started this same thread on the cruisers forum...you should see the **** storm it stirred up!!! Hahahahaha...much less civilized than us sailors.

 

[MarkofSeaLife]

It may be applicable to USA sailors.

Every country or region of the world has its own local rules and its best to get to know them.
Whatever country, whatever language AIS works.


Mark

 

[Minnewaska]

I hear commercial vessels hailing recreational boaters on ch16 all the time around here. And vice versa. In fact, the cargo ships that come up the Bay make regular announcements on ch16 and always end with "standing by channel 16,13".

Still, good advice to use 13 if you need to hail them and aren't getting an answer on ch16.

 

[Donna_F]

I started this same thread on the cruisers forum...you should see the **** storm it stirred up!!! Hahahahaha...much less civilized than us sailors.

I read the CF thread to see what could possibly be "stirred up" as a rule is a rule. Seemed like a civil discussion to me. Different experiences from different sailing areas were discussed.

And, as mentioned in CF, if your tugboat uncle (or anyone else with a radio installed) does not monitor 16, he is breaking the rule.

 

[nolatom]

For the traffic nearest my office view (Mississippi River at New Orleans, looking out at the twin Crescent City Connection bridges,

it's 67 for all bridge-to-bridge navigational comms on the river, 13 on the Gulf ICW which has three river intersections nearby, and 14 for the bridge tenders (all in the ICW system, Miss river is all fixed bridges).

Yet most vessels, and as they become ships then bigger ships, then all of them, do monitor 16. If all else fails, use 16, it's the calling and distress channel, so switch channels quick if it's a "call" and stay on if it's distress.

But this is a commercial river. In the average yacht/smaller boat harbor or close to coast, ask the locals what it is, or look it up in Coast Pilot or Google. Big boats like it better if small boats can be talked with if needed, it's a courteous system if you use it.

 

[svHyLyte]

I read the CF thread to see what could possibly be "stirred up" as a rule is a rule. Seemed like a civil discussion to me. Different experiences from different sailing areas were discussed.

And, as mentioned in CF, if your tugboat uncle (or anyone else with a radio installed) does not monitor 16, he is breaking the rule.

Donna--

While what you say is correct, the unfortunate fact is that, in some areas, the amount of BS on 16 is overwhelming and a distraction. We often just turn the darned thing off unless we are transiting traffic lanes.

 

[Donna_F]

Donna--

While what you say is correct, the unfortunate fact is that, in some areas, the amount of BS on 16 is overwhelming and a distraction. We often just turn the darned thing off unless we are transiting traffic lanes.

I agree that there is a tremendous amount of BS on Ch 16 in some locations.

oceanbrew was posting as someone "in the know" when what he knows, while may be in practice where he is located, is not the rules and staying on ch 13 and not monitoring 16 is not the "best course of action" for everyone. I'm thinking of people new to boating who may read this and think it's correct. The CG isn't monitoring 13 for distress calls and if someone new (or anyone for that matter) forgets to change the channel in their panic, things could go terribly wrong.

 

[gamayun]

We monitor ch 14 (as well as 16) for commercial traffic in SF Bay. Since we might also have another channel for race communications or ch 9 for when rendez-vous'ing with other boats, it's best to get a radio that can automatically shift between the channels you want to listen to. The rules say something like, if you have a radio, whether required to have one or not, you must monitor 16. I just turn the volume down to keep the chatter distraction to a minimum, but high enough that I can hear an important hailing.

 

[hellosailor]

This is why dual watch, tri-watch, and scanning were invented.

The problem being that in many areas, commercial vessels don't bother responding to recreational boaters on "their" working channel. Always worth trying, but like prayer you aren't assured an answer.

 

[oceanbrew]

Yes. I should have been more specific regarding my posts title. I did mention in my original post that in my area, and that people should know their areas commercial traffic channels.

 

[capt jgwinks]

By FCC rules, if you start a call on 16 you must move to another working channel to complete it. If you call on 13, you can make the whole conversation on that channel. That's why the pros use it, it's just easier. They'll also sometimes use 06 of they don't want the CG to hear, as CG doesn't routinely monitor 06. I hardly ever use 16 to call another ship, I can usually get them on 13. Foreign vessels probably will be on 16, and we don't get very many of those here on Lake Michigan.

 

[Jim_W]

They are supposed to monitor channel 16 continuously. That doesn't mean they are paying attention to that radio - the human brain is a great DSP and can filter all kinds of things out (guys - just ask your wife *grin*).

I agree with your recommendation though. I call commercial traffic first on 13 unless I'm in a VTS, in which case I use the VTS channel.[

What is VTS???

 

[hellosailor]

The pros don't use 13 for convenience, they use it here in the US because the FCC has assign 13 to "bridge to bridge" operations and starting such operations on any other channel is inappropriate under the rules.

The pros are also under other requirements to monitor multiple channels.

 

[SVAuspicious]

What is VTS???

+1 for asking.