Frequencies
| Frequency | Channel | Use | |
|---|---|---|---|
| From ships (MHz) | From Coast (MHz) | ||
| 156.025 | 160.625 | 60 | Public Correspondence |
| 156.050 | 160.650 | 01 | Public Correspondence |
| 156.075 | 160.675 | 61 | Public Correspondence |
| 156.100 | 160.700 | 02 | Public Correspondence |
| 156.125 | 160.725 | 62 | Public Correspondence |
| 156.150 | 160.750 | 03 | Public Correspondence |
| 156.175 | 160.775 | 63 | Public Correspondence |
| 156.200 | 160.800 | 04 | Public Correspondence |
| 156.225 | 160.825 | 64 | Port Operations |
| 156.250 | 160.850 | 05 | Public Correspondence |
| 156.275 | 160.875 | 65 | Port Operations |
| 156.300 | 06 | Search and Rescue | |
| 160.900 | 160.900 | 2006* | Autonomous Maritime Radio Device Group B and experimental use for future applications or systems |
| 156.325 | 160.925 | 66 | Public Correspondence |
| 156.350 | 160.950 | 07 | Public Correspondence |
| 156.375 | 156.375 | 67 | Supplementary to Ch16 (for Distress urgency and Safety) |
| 156.400 | 08 | Port Operations and Commercial Operations | |
| 156.425 | 156.425 | 68 | Port Operations |
| 156.450 | 156.450 | 09 | Port Operations |
| 156.500 | 156.500 | 10 | Port Operations |
| 156.525 | 156.525 | 70 | Digital Selective Calling – Distress, Safety and Calling |
| 156.550 | 156.550 | 11 | Port Operations |
| 156.575 | 156.575 | 71 | Professional Fishing |
| 156.600 | 156.600 | 12 | Port Operations |
| 156.625 | 72 | Port Operations, Commercial and Non-Commercial Operations and Professional Fishing | |
| 156.650 | 156.650 | 13 | Port Operations, Distress, urgency and safety |
| 156.675 | 156.675 | 73 | Non-commercial Operations |
| 156.700 | 156.700 | 14 | Port Operations |
| 156.725 | 156.725 | 74 | Commercial Operations |
| 156.750 | 156.750 | 15 | Commercial Operations |
| 156.775 | 156.775 | 75# | Automatic Identification System Satellite |
| 156.800 | 156.800 | 16 | Distress, Safety and Calling |
| 156.825 | 156.825 | 76# | Automatic Identification System Satellite |
| 156.850 | 156.850 | 17 | Commercial Operations |
| 156.875 | 77 | Professional Fishing, Non-commercial Operations | |
| 156.900 | 161.500 | 18 | Port Operations |
| 156.925 | 161.525 | 78 | Commercial Operations |
| 156.950 | 156.950 | 1019 | Port Operations |
| 161.550 | 2019 | Port Operations | |
| 156.975 | 161.575 | 79 | Port Operations |
| 157.000 | 161.600 | 20 | Port Operations |
| 157.025 | 161.625 | 80^ | Repeater (distress, urgency, safety and ship movement) |
| 157.050 | 161.650 | 21^ | Repeater (distress, urgency, safety and ship movement) |
| 157.075 | 161.675 | 81^ | Repeater (distress, urgency, safety and ship movement) and Public Correspondence |
| 157.100 | 161.700 | 22^ | Repeater (distress, urgency, safety and ship movement) |
| 157.125 | 161.725 | 82^ | Repeater (distress, urgency, safety and ship movement) |
| 157.150 | 161.750 | 23 | Public Correspondence |
| 157.175 | 161.775 | 83 | Public Correspondence |
| 157.200 | 161.800 | 24 | VHF Data Exchange System |
| 157.200 | 157.200 | 1024 | VHF Data Exchange System |
| 161.800 | 161.800 | 2024 | VHF Data Exchange System |
| 157.225 | 161.825 | 84 | VHF Data Exchange System |
| 157.225 | 157.225 | 1084 | VHF Data Exchange System |
| 161.825 | 161.825 | 2084 | VHF Data Exchange System |
| 157.250 | 161.850 | 25 | VHF Data Exchange System |
| 157.250 | 157.250 | 1025 | VHF Data Exchange System |
| 161.850 | 161.850 | 2025 | VHF Data Exchange System |
| 157.275 | 161.875 | 85 | VHF Data Exchange System |
| 157.275 | 157.275 | 1085 | VHF Data Exchange System |
| 161.875 | 161.875 | 2085 | VHF Data Exchange System |
| 157.300 | 161.900 | 26 | VHF Data Exchange System |
| 157.300 | 1026 | VHF Data Exchange System | |
| 161.900 | 2026 | VHF Data Exchange System | |
| 157.325 | 161.925 | 86 | VHF Data Exchange System |
| 157.325 | 1086 | VHF Data Exchange System | |
| 161.925 | 2086 | VHF Data Exchange System | |
| 157.350 | 157.350 | 1027 | Port Operations |
| 161.950 | 161.950 | ASM1 (2027) | Application Specific Messaging |
| 157.375 | 157.375 | 87 | Port Operations |
| 157.400 | 157.400 | 1028 | Port Operations |
| 162.000 | 162.000 | ASM2 (2028) | Application Specific Messaging |
| 157.425 | 157.425 | 88 | Port Operations |
| 161.975 | 161.975 | AIS1 | Automatic Identification System |
| 162.025 | 162.025 | AIS2 | Automatic Identification System |
* Channel 2006 is designated for autonomous maritime radio device group B (AMRD Group B) that do not enhance the safety of navigation, using Automatic Identification System (AIS) technology. This channel may also be used for experimental use for future applications or systems so long as the operation does not cause harmful interference to, or claim protection from, stations operating in the fixed and mobile services, including the use of AMRD Group B (Appendix 18 (REV. WRC-19) of the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) Radio Regulations).
# Channels 75 and 76 may also be used for the purpose of navigation-related communications so long as the output power does not exceed 1 W in accordance with Appendix 18 (REV. WRC-19) of the ITU Radio Regulations.
^ The licensee must use this carrier frequency only if direct ship-to-ship or ship-to-shore communications on other carrier frequencies are not practicable.
Channels 24, 84, 25 and 85 may be merged in order to form a unique duplex channel with a bandwidth of 100 kHz in order to operate the VDES terrestrial component described in the most recent version of Recommendation ITU-R M.2092 (WRC-15) of the ITU.
Regulation
A large block of spectrum for maritime purposes is provided for in the VHF maritime mobile band. The VHF maritime mobile band consists of channels operating in the frequency range 156.000 MHz to 162.050 MHz, apart from those portions within this frequency range that are allocated to the land mobile service.
The regulatory framework that regulates channel arrangements and uses in Australia is provided for in the instruments identified below. The following VHF maritime mobile band channel allocations are to be read in conjunction with these legislative instruments.