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All questions
Marine radio

What should you do before making a routine marine VHF voice call?

Short answer

Listen and confirm the channel is clear of existing or higher-priority traffic

Marine VHF is shared and only one station should speak at a time. Listen first, wait for existing traffic to finish and keep routine calls clear of distress, urgency and safety communication.

Sources and scope

Reviewed by Richard Moore on . This answer is scoped to united kingdom marine vhf and internationally harmonised procedure; check the current chart, publication, local rules and official operational guidance before acting afloat.

Quick check

What should you do before making a routine marine VHF voice call?