Guidelines for the Designation of VHF Marine Band Channel/Frequency

March 31, 2017

DOTr MEMORANDUM CIRCULAR NO. 004-17

 

GUIDELINES FOR THE DESIGNATION OF VHF MARINE BAND CHANNEL/FREQUENCY

 

I. AUTHORITY

a. Memorandum Order No. 4 Sec. 3 HTcADC

b. Republic Act 9993 (Philippine Coast Guard Law of 2009)

c. Rule 3 (f) 10 of the Implementing Rules and Regulations of RA 9993

II. REFERENCES

a. ITU VHF Marine Radio Channels and Frequencies

b. SOLAS 73/74, as amended

III. PURPOSE

This circular prescribes the list of designated channel for the VHF marine band radio to ensure the proper utilization of the frequency/channel on board all Philippine-registered vessel, watercrafts, fishing vessel and shore based stations for the purpose of enhancing the maritime communication security and safety within Philippine Maritime Domain.

IV. SCOPE

This circular applies to all Philippine-registered vessels engaged in domestic and international voyages including all watercrafts, small boats, fishing vessels, and shore based station.

V. DEFINITION OF TERMS

For the purpose of this circular, the following shall be defined as:

1. Commercial — designated radio channel for the purpose of commerce or for profit operation.

2. Commercial fishing — the activity of catching fish and other seafood for commercial profit, mostly from wild fisheries.

3. DSC — (Digital Selective Calling) is a standard for sending pre-defined digital messages via the medium-frequency (MF), high-frequency (HF) and very-high-frequency (VHF) maritime radio systems.

4. Fishing vessel — is a boat or ship used to catch fish in the sea, or on a lake or river.

5. Marine Operator — is someone who uses equipment at an amateur radio station to engage in two-way personal communications with other amateur operators on radio frequencies assigned to the amateur radio service. aScITE

6. Philippine Registered Vessel — a vessel registered under Philippine Laws.

7. Port Operation — tools such as policies, regulations, physical frameworks and arrangement incorporated into the infrastructure to enable maritime trade between trading partners.

8. Public Correspondence — any telecommunication which the offices and stations must, by reason of their being at the disposal of the public, accept for transmission.

9. Ship movement — is defined as the motion that a ship/vessel, boat or any other craft can experience.

10. Shore based station — is also the generic name to be used instead of BTS (Base Transceiver Station) which are typically denoting GSM-era radio base station technology.

11. SAR — (Search and Rescue) is the search for and provision of aid to people who are in distress or imminent danger.

12. VHF — (Very High Frequency) range of the radio spectrum is the band extending from 30 MHz to 300 MHz.

13. VTS — (Vessel Traffic Service) is a marine traffic monitoring system established by harbour or port authorities, similar to air traffic control for aircraft.

14. Watercrafts — are water-borne vehicles including ships, boats, and hovercraft.

VI. POLICIES

1. All Philippine-registered vessels, fishing vessels and shore based stations shall strictly observe the designated channel/frequencies and its usage as follows:

Channel Number	Ship Transmit MHz	Ship Receive MHz	Designation
01	156.050	160.650	Public Correspondence (Marine Operator)
02	156.100	160.700	Public Correspondence (Marine Operator)
03	156.150	160.750	Public Correspondence (Marine Operator)
03A	156.150	156.150	Philippine Coast Guard
04	156.200	160.800	Public Correspondence (Marine Operator), Port operation, ship movement
04A	156.200	156.200	Commercial fishing
05	156.250	160.850	Public Correspondence (Marine Operator), Port operation, ship movement
05A	156.250	156.250	Port operation
06	156.300	156.300	Inter-ship Safety
07	156.350	160.950	Public Correspondence (Marine Operator), Port Operation, ship movement
07A	156.350	156.350	Commercial
08	156.400	156.400	Commercial (inter-ship only)
09	156.450	156.450	Boater Calling channel, Commercial & Non-commercial (Recreational)
10	156.500	156.500	Commercial
11	156.550	156.550	Commercial. VTS in selected areas.
12	156.600	156.600	Philippine Coast Guard Distress
13	156.650	156.650	Inter-ship Navigation Safety (bridge-to-bridge)
14	156.700	156.700	Port operation. VTS in selected areas.
15	156.750	156.750	Commercial. Non-commercial, ship movement (1w)
16	156.800	156.800	International Distress, Safety and Calling
18	156.900	161.500	Port operation, ship movement
18A	156.900	156.900	Commercial
19	156.950	161.550	Port Operation, ship movement
20A	157.000	157.000	Port Operation
21	157.050	161.650	Port operation, ship movement
21A	157.050	157.050	Philippine Coast Guard only
22	157.100	161.700	Port operation, ship movement
23	157.150	160.750	Public Correspondence (Marine Operator)
23A	157.150	157.150	Philippine Coast Guard only
24	157.200	161.800	Public Correspondence (Marine Operator)
25	157.250	161.850	Public Correspondence (Marine Operator)
26	157.300	161.900	Public Correspondence (Marine Operator)
27	157.350	151.950	Public Correspondence (Marine Operator)
28	157.400	162.00	Public Correspondence (Marine Operator)
60	156.025	160.625	Public Correspondence (Marine Operator)
61	156.075	160.675	Public Correspondence (Marine Operator), port operation, ship movement
61A	156.075	156.075	Philippine Coast Guard
62	156.125	160.725	Public Correspondence (Marine Operator), Port operation, ship movement
63	156.175	160.775	Public Correspondence (Marine Operator), Port operation, ship movement
63A	156.175	156.175	Port operation and Commercial. VTS in selected areas
64	156.225	160.825	Public Correspondence (Marine Operator), Port operation, ship movement
64A	156.225	156.225	Philippine Coast Guard
65	156.275	160.875	Public Correspondence (Marine Operator), Port operation, ship movement
65A	156.275	156.275	Port operations
66	156.325	160.875	Public Correspondence (Marine Operator), Port operation, ship movement
66A	156.325	156.325	Port operation
67	156.375	156.375	Commercial fishing, SAR
68	156.425	156.425	Non-commercial (Recreational)
69	156.475	156.475	Non-commercial (Recreational)
70	156.525	156.525	Digital selective calling (voice communications not allowed)
71	156.575	156.575	Non-commercial (Recreational), international: port operations and ship movement
72	156.625	156.625	Non-commercial (inter-ship only)
73	156.675	156.675	Port operations
74	156.725	157.725	Port operations and ship movement
75	156.775	156.775	Port operations (inter-ship only) (1w)
76	156.825	156.825	Port operations (inter-ship only) (1w)
77	156.875	156.875	Port operations (inter-ship only) (1w)
77	156.875	156.875	Port operations (inter-ship only)
78	156.925	161.525	Public Correspondence (Marine Operator), Port Operation, ship movement
78A	156.925	156.925	Non-commercial (Recreational)
79	156.975	161.575	Port operation and ship movement
79A	156.975	156.975	Commercial
80	157.025	161.625	Port operation, ship movement
80A	157.025	157.025	Commercial
81	157.075	161.675	Port operation, ship movement
81A	157.075	157.075	Philippine Coast Guard
82	157.125	161.725	Public Correspondence (Marine Operator), Port operation, ship movement
82A	157.125	157.125	Philippine Coast Guard
83A	157.175	157.175	Philippine Coast Guard
84	157.225	161.825	Public Correspondence (Marine Operator)
85	157.275	161.875	Public Correspondence (Marine Operator)
86	157.325	161.925	Public Correspondence (Marine Operator)
87	157.375	161.975	Public Correspondence (Marine Operator)
88	157.425	162.025	Public Correspondence (Ship-to-coast)
88A	157.425	157.425	Commercial, Inter-ship only

2. All radio operators shall ensure that the radio equipment is in good working condition and capable of transmitting and receiving on the following distress channels: HEITAD

156.3 MHZ (channel 6)	Inter-ship and Safety
156.6 MHz (channel 12)	PCG distress
156.8 MHz (channel 16)	VHF international Distress, Safety and Calling
156.525 MHz (channel 70)	VHF International Distress for DSC

3.  To promote the safety of navigation, all Philippine-registered vessels, watercrafts, fishing vessels, and shore based station shall maintain continuous radio monitoring on (channel 16) VHF marine band channel designation as provided under this circular.

4. No person/s is allowed to use the designated channel/frequencies when not on its intended purposes particularly the international distress channel (channel 16).

5. Distress channel must only be used to establish contact before going to a working channel.

VII. FINES AND PENALTIES

Vessels/Radio operator found and engaged in using the unauthorized specific channel/frequencies designation.

Offense	Fines/penalties
First Offense	P2,000.00
Second Offense	P5,000.00
Third and Succeeding Offenses	P10,000.00

VIII. RESCISSION

All policies, directives, and orders inconsistent with this circular are hereby amended, rescinded, or repealed accordingly.

IX. SEPARABILITY CLAUSE

If any section of this circular held or declared unconstitutional by a competent court, shall not affect the other sections hereof and shall continue to be enforced as if the section so voided had never been incorporated herein. ATICcS

X. EFFECTIVITY

This circular shall take effect fifteen (15) days after publication in the Official Gazette or in any two (2) newspapers of general circulation and upon filing of three (3) certified copies thereof with the University of the Philippines Law Center.

(SGD.) ARTHUR P. TUGADESecretary, DOTr

Published in The Philippine Star on May 18, 2017.