Working Channel

Taken from [Pat's Boating In Canada] web site:

USA Working Channels

U.S. Channel	Usage in U.S. waters
16	Calling, Distress, and Safety
09	Calling
68 69 71 72 78	Recreational use
24-28, 84-87	Marine Operator
13	Locks, canals, bridges, pilots
66	Calling Pacific marinas
70	DSC Digital Selective Calling only

Canadian Working Channels

Channel assignments are different in different regions of Canada. See also http://boating.ncf.ca/vhfletter.html for information on using channels that have no assignment in an area. Basically that document states that if a channel has no specific assignment in a particular region, it may be used for ship-to-ship communication - monitor the channel to ensure it isn't being used.

Channel	PC	WA	PR	LW	EA	GL	NL	AC	Canadian Usage
06	Primary working channel - all regions
10						X		X	SM, Search & Rescue
11	X					X		X	SM, Pilotage
12	X	X				X		X	Port Operations, SM
13	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	Bridge-to-bridge (hail ships); Great Lakes navigation safety (1watt)
14						X		X	Port Operations
15	X	X			X	X	X	X	1 Watt only, EPIRB buoy
16	ONLY for emergency and calling - all regions
17	X	X			X	X	X	X	1 Watt only, Pilotage
18A									Victoria, BC Port Operations
22A	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	to call Coast Guard only
65A			X						Great Lakes SAR, MARBs, Pollution
66A	X								Calling BC marinas
67	X	X	X	X
68	Primary working channel - all regions
		X	X	X	X	X	X	X	Calling marinas
69	X	X	X	X
71	X				X	X	X	X	Intership only
73		X	X	X					(BC marinas now use 66A)
74	X				X	X	X	X	SM
Channel	PC	WA	PR	LW	EA	GL	NL	AC	Canadian Usage

Regions

• PC=Pacific coast,
• WA=West Arctic, Athabasca-Mackenzie
• PR=Prairie Provinces,
• LW=Lake Winnipeg, Red River
• EA=Eastern Arctic
• GL=Great Lakes
• NL=Newfoundland & Labrador
• AC=Atlantic Coast

Abbreviations

• SM=Ship Movement
• SAR=Search & Rescue