Canadian VHF Frequency and Usage Table
Currently in Canada there are approximately 65 VHF channels available including (5) channels dedicated to Environment Canada’s "Continuous Marine Broadcast" (CMB) Services. Additionally there are (7) Environment Canada WX channels WX1 thru WX7.
Like most other places in the world, Canada has dedicated many of these channels to specific uses. More importantly, there are additional restrictions as to what these frequencies may be used for by the area of Canada you are in. For the non-Canadian boater, this is where it can get confusing. A good example would be channel 69; in the (EC) "Eastern Coastal" areas of Canada, this frequency is used by the commercial fishing industry while along the (BCC) "British Columbia Coast" area, it is an authorized frequency for pleasure craft. In addition, there are (8) frequencies in which power output is limited to 1 watt. In 2017 you will be adding (8) new frequencies and only Industry Canada knows what they will do with that.
Complete List of Canadian VHF Frequencies and Usage
Updated to reflect new VHF frequencies as of 01 January 2017.
Canadian VHF Frequencies and Usage
*Footnotes at bottom of table.
Canadian VHF Frequencies and Usage |
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|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Channel Number | Ship Transmit MHz | Ship Receive MHz | Simplex | Duplex | *Use | *Notes |
| 01 | 156.050 | 156.650 | X | PC | BCC | |
| 02 | 156.100 | 160.700 | X | PC | BCC | |
| 03 | 156.150 | 160.750 | X | PC | BCC, Inl. BCC | |
| 1004 | 156.200 | 156.200 | X | IS, SS, C, S | DFO/Canadian Coast Guard only in BCC area. Commercial fishing in EC area. | |
| 1005 | 156.250 | 156.250 | X | SM | EC, NL, AC, GL, WC, BCC, Inl. BCC | |
| 06 | 156.300 | 156.300 | X | IS, C, NC, S | All Areas. May be used for search and rescue communications between ships and aircraft. | |
| 2006 | 160.900 | 160.900 | X | Restricted | For Experimental Use Only. | |
| 1007 | 156.350 | 156.350 | X | IS, SS, C | EC, NL, AC, GL, WC, BCC, Inl. BCC | |
| 08 | 156.400 | 156.400 | X | IS, C, S | EC, WC, Inl. BCC. Also assigned for intership in the Lake Winnipeg area. | |
| 09 | 156.450 | 156.450 | X | IS, SS, C, NC, S, SM |
AC, BCC, Inl. PRA. Commercial - BCC area. May be used to communicate with aircraft and helicopters in predominantly maritime support operations. | |
| 10 | 156.500 | 156.500 | X | IS, SS, C, NC, S, SM |
AC, GL, BCC. Commercial - BCC area. May also be used for communications with aircraft engaged in coordinated search and rescue and antipollution operations. | |
| 11 | 156.550 | 156.550 | X | IS, SS, C, NC, SM |
AC, GL, BCC. VTS - BCC area. Also used for pilotage purposes. | |
| 12 | 156.600 | 156.600 | X | IS, SS, C, NC, SM |
AC, GL, WC, BCC. VTS - BCC area. Port operations and pilot information and messages. | |
| 13 | 156.650 | 156.650 | X | IS, C, NC, SM | EC, NL, AC, GL, WC, BCC, Inl. BCC. VTS - BCC area. Bridge-to-Bridge navigational traffic. |
|
| 14 | 156.700 | 156.700 | X | IS, SS, C, NC, SM |
AC, GL, BCC. VTS - BCC area. Port operations and pilot information and messages. | |
| 15 | 156.750 | 156.750 | X | IS, SS, C, NC, SM |
EC, NL, AC, GL, WC, BCC, Inl. BCC. Port operations and Ship Movement - BCC area. All operations limited to 1 watt maximum power. May also be used for on-board communications. | |
| 16 | 156.800 | 156.800 | International Distress, Safety and Calling | All Areas | ||
| 17 | 156.850 | 156.850 | X | IS, SS, C, NC, SM |
EC, NL, AC, GL, WC, BCC, Inl. BCC. Port operations and Ship Movement - BCC area. All operations limited to 1 watt maximum power. May also be used for on board communications. | |
| 1018 | 156.900 | 156.900 | X | IS, SS, C | EC, NL, AC, GL, WC, BCC, Inl. BCC. Towing - BCC area. | |
| 1019 | 156.950 | 156.950 | X | IS, SS | All Areas. DFO/Canadian Coast Guard. Pacific Pilots - BCC area. |
|
| 20 | 157.000 | 161.600 | X | SS, S, SM | EC, NL, AC, GL, WC, BCC, Inl. BCC. Port operations only with 1 watt maximum power. | |
| 1021 | 157.050 | 157.050 | X | IS, SS | All Areas. DFO/Canadian Coast Guard only. | |
| 2021 | -------- | 161.650 | S | All Areas. Continuous Marine Broadcast (CMB) service. | ||
| 1022 | 157.100 | 157.100 | X | IS, SS, C, NC | All Areas. For communications between Canadian Coast Guard and non-Canadian Coast Guard stations only. | |
| 23 | 157.150 | 161.750 | X | SS, PC | BCC, Inl. BCC. | |
| 2023 | -------- | 161.750 | S | GL. Continuous Marine Broadcast (CMB) service. | ||
| 24 | 157.200 | 161.800 | X | SS, PC | Al Areas. | |
| 25 | 157.250 | 161.850 | X | SS, PC | BCC. Also assigned for operations in the Lake Winnipeg area. | |
| 2025 | -------- | 161.850 | S | AC. Continuous Marine Broadcast (CMB) service. | ||
| 26 | 157.300 | 161.900 | X | SS, PC | All Areas. | |
| 27 | 157.350 | 161.950 | X | SS, PC | AC, GL, BCC. | |
| 28 | 157.400 | 162.000 | X | SS, S, PC | BCC. | |
| 2028 | -------- | 162.000 | S | AC, GL. Continuous Marine Broadcast (CMB) service. | ||
| 60 | 156.025 | 160.625 | X | SS, PC | BCC. | |
| 1061 | 156.075 | 156.075 | X | IS, SS, C | EC, BCC. DFO/Canadian Coast Guard only in BCC area. Commercial fishing only in EC area. | |
| 1062 | 156.125 | 156.125 | X | IS, SS, C | EC, BCC. DFO/Canadian Coast Guard only in BCC area. Commercial fishing only in EC area. | |
| 1063 | 156.175 | 156.175 | X | IS, SS, C | BCC. Tow Boats - BCC area. | |
| 64 | 156.225 | 160.825 | X | SS, PC | BCC. | |
| 1064 | 156.225 | 156.225 | X | IS, SS, C | EC. Commercial fishing only. | |
| 1065 | 156.275 | 156.275 | X | S, IS, SS, C, NC |
All Areas. Search and rescue and antipollution operations on the Great Lakes. Towing on the Pacific Coast. Port operations only in the St. Lawrence River areas with 1 watt maximum power. Intership in INLD PRA. | |
| 1066 | 156.325 | 156.325 | X | S, IS, SS, C, NC |
EC, NL, AC, GL, WC, BCC, Inl. BCC. Port operations only in the St. Lawrence River/Great Lakes areas with 1 watt maximum power. 1 watt marina channel - BCC area. | |
| 67 | 156.375 | 156.375 | X | S, IS, SS, C, NC |
All Areas. May also be used for communications with aircraft engaged in coordinated search and rescue and antipollution operations. Commercial fishing only in EC and INLD PRA areas. Pleasure craft - BCC area. | |
| 68 | 156.425 | 156.425 | X | IS, SS, NC | All Areas. For marinas, yacht clubs and pleasure craft. | |
| 69 | 156.475 | 156.475 | X | IS, SS, C, NC | EC, NL, AC, GL, WC, BCC, Inl. BCC. Commercial fishing only - EC area. Pleasure craft - BCC area. | |
| 70 | 156.525 | <156.525 | DSC for Distress, Urgency, Safety and Calling. | <All Areas. Voice communications prohibited. | ||
| 71 | 156.575 | 156.575 | X | S, IS, SS, SM, C, NC |
EC, NL, AC, GL, WC, BCC, Inl. BCC. Ship Movement - BCC area. Marinas and yacht clubs - EC and on Lake Winnipeg. | |
| 72 | 156.625 | 156.625 | X | IS, C, NC | EC, BCC. May be used to communicate with aircraft and helicopters in predominantly maritime support operations. Pleasure craft - BCC area. |
|
| 73 | 156.675 | 156.675 | X | S, IS, SS, C, NC |
All Areas. May also be used for communications with aircraft engaged in coordinated search and rescue and antipollution operations. Commercial fishing only in EC and INLD PRA areas. | |
| 74 | 156.725 | 156.725 | X | IS, SS, SM, C, NC |
EC, BCC. VTS and Ship Movement - BCC area. | |
| 75 | 156.775 | 156.775 | X | IS, SS, SM, C | All Areas. Simplex port operation, ship movement and navigation related communication only. 1 watt maximum. | |
| 76 | 156.825 | 156.825 | X | IS, SS, SM, C | All Areas. Simplex port operation, ship movement and navigation related communication only. 1 watt maximum. | |
| 77 | 156.875 | 156.875 | X | S, IS, SS, SM | EC, NL, AC, GL, WC, BCC, Inl. BCC. Pilotage - BCC area; 25 watts. Port operations only in the St. Lawrence River/Great Lakes areas with 1 watt maximum power. | |
| 1078 | 156.925 | 156.925 | X | IS, SS, C | EC, BCC. Fishing Industry - BCC area. | |
| 1079 | 156.975 | 156.975 | X | IS, SS, C | EC, BCC. Fishing Industry - BCC area. | |
| 1080 | 157.025 | 157.025 | X | IS, SS, C | EC, BCC. Whale Watching - BCC area. | |
| 1081 | 157.075 | 157.075 | X | S, IS, SS | EC, NL, AC, GL, WC, BCC, Inl. BCC. DFO/Canadian Coast Guard use only. | |
| 1082 | 157.125 | 157.125 | X | IS, SS | EC, NL, AC, GL, WC, BCC, Inl. BCC. DFO/Canadian Coast Guard use only. | |
| 1083 | 157.175 | 157.175 | X | IS, SS | EC, BCC. DFO/Canadian Coast Guard and other Government agencies. | |
| 2083 | -------- | 161.775 | S | AC, GL, BCC. Continuous Marine Broadcast (CMB) Service. | ||
| 84 | 157.225 | 161.825 | X | SS, PC | BCC. | |
| 85 | 157.275 | 161.875 | X | SS, PC | NL, AC, GL, BCC. | |
| 86 | 157.325 | 161.925 | X | SS, PC | BCC. | |
| 87 | 157.375 | 161.375 | X | IS, SM, NC | NL, AC, GL, BCC. Port operation and ship movement -EC area. Pleasure craft - BCC area. | |
| 87B | 161.975 | 161.975 | AIS | All Areas. Automatic Ship Identification and Surveillance System. | ||
| 88 | 157.425 | 157.425 | X | IS, SM, C | NL, AC, GL, BCC. Port operation and ship movement — BCC area. | |
| 88B | 162.025 | 162.025 | AIS | All Areas. Automatic Ship Identification and Surveillance System. | ||
| WX-1 | --- | 162.550 | S | Environment Canada Weather Radio | ||
| WX-2 | --- | 162.400 | S | Environment Canada Weather Radio | ||
| WX-3 | --- | 162.475 | S | Environment Canada Weather Radio | ||
| WX-4 | --- | 162.425 | S | Environment Canada Weather Radio | ||
| WX-5 | --- | 162.450 | S | Environment Canada Weather Radio | ||
| WX-6 | --- | 162.500 | S | Environment Canada Weather Radio | ||
| WX-7 | --- | 162.525 | S | Environment Canada Weather Radio | ||
Table Footnotes |
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| EC | - East Coast (NL, AC, GL, and Eastern Arctic areas) | IS | Intership | |||||||||
| NL | - Newfoundland and Labrador | SS | Ship to Shore | |||||||||
| AC | - Atlantic Coast, Gulf and St. Lawrence River to and including Montreal | C | <Commercial | |||||||||
| GL | - Great Lakes including the St. Lawrence above Montreal | NC | Non-Commercial | |||||||||
| WC | - West Coast (BCC, Western Arctic, and Athabasca-Mackenzie Watershed areas) | S | Safety | |||||||||
| BCC | - British Columbia Coast (Pacific Coast) | SM | Ship Movement | |||||||||
| Inland BC | - Inland Waters of BC and the Yukon | PC | Public Correspondence | |||||||||
| Inland PRA | - Inland Waters of MB, SK, and AB | AIS | Automatic Ship Identification | |||||||||
| VTS | Vessel Traffic Services | |||||||||||
The complete list can be downloaded in zipped PDF format Canadian VHF Frequency Chart
Canadian Ship Station License
To start, Ship Station Licensing is handled by Industry Canada. For those looking to apply, we have included the application form (IC3020EA) that you may download, complete, and then print out for submission to your nearest Industry Canada district office.
Canadian Maritime Ship Station License Application
Canadian MMSI
If you are in need of a MMSI for your DSC radio you can apply with the application below. These applications should also be submitted to your nearest Industry Canada district office.
The file above includes applications for both licensed and un-licensed radio stations.
