In article
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" wrote:

On Jul 17, 2:20*pm, Bruce in alaska wrote:
...
Just about ALL commercial Vessels use 16 for Calling, no matter where
they are in the world. It is what Channel 16 was meant to be used for,
and why ALL commercial vessels are required to maintain a Watch on
Channel 16 while navigating, no matter the size of the vessel. ...

Yes but there are important exceptions. In many places in the US of A
commercial vessels maintain a watch on 13 & VTS and do not watch 16.
See 33 CFR 26 particularly 26.04 (d). This is unfortunate and can be
confusing but if your life depends on getting in touch with a tug here
in SF Bay you better call on 13.

-- Tom.

Well actually, if a vessel is REQUIRED to be under VTS Control, then they
are exempt from maintaining a Watch on Ch 16 while under VTS Control,
but the VTS System Operators are then responsible to forward any
Distress or Safety Traffic to ALL vessels under their control. Any
Navigation Traffic would be passed on the Bridge to Bridge Channel 13.
Once you understand that ALL Vessels over 20 Meters in length, or Towing,
are Required to comply with the Bridge to Bridge Radiotelephone Act,
which requires a continuous Watch on Vhf Ch. 13 while the vessel is
Navigating. Then if you are near a VTS System, as a Voluntary Equipped
Vessel would use Ch 13 to pass any Navigation Traffic to a VTS controlled
Vessel. Traffic going from a VTS controlled vessel to a voluntary
Equipped Vessel would use the VTS Channel Radio to temporarily move to
Ch 16 for calling, and move to Ch 13 for working the voluntary Equipped
Vessel. Most Bridge to Bridge REQUIRED Vessels have a Third VHF Fitted
just to relieve the above situation, and as a Hot Standby Spare, should
one of the other REQUIRED Radios Fail.

--
Bruce in alaska
add path after fast to reply

On Jul 18, 2:44*pm, Bruce in alaska wrote:
...
Well actually, if a vessel is REQUIRED to be under VTS Control, then they
are exempt from maintaining a Watch on Ch 16 while under VTS Control,
but the VTS System Operators are then responsible to forward any
Distress or Safety Traffic to ALL vessels under their control.

Amen. Just want to point out that VTS isn't a radio relay service so
you have to remember to call commercial traffic on 13 when in a VTS
area.

-- Tom.