FCC General Radiotelephone Operator License (GROL) Element 1 Practice Test

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When using radiotelephony, on what frequency would a vessel normally call another ship station?

A Only on 2182 kHz in ITU Region 2.

B On 2182 kHz or Ch-16, unless the station knows that the called vessel maintains a simultaneous watch on another intership working frequency.

When ships start a radiotelephony conversation, they use widely monitored calling channels so the initial contact is heard reliably. The standard MF calling channel is 2182 kHz, and the primary VHF calling channel is Channel 16. Using these channels for the first call maximizes the chance that the other vessel hears the attempt, since they are routinely watched for distress and call signals.

You normally call on one of these channels to reach the other ship. If you know the called vessel is actively monitoring a different intership working frequency for that particular traffic, you may call on that frequency instead. After contact is established, you switch to the appropriate working channel for the actual conversation.

Calling at a specific time or using a vessel-specific channel assigned by the FCC isn’t how it works in practice, and the concept isn’t limited to a single ITU region. Channel 16 remains the standard calling channel on VHF, and 2182 kHz serves that role on MF.

C On the appropriate calling channel of the ship station at 15 minutes past the hour.

D On the vessel's unique working radio channel assigned by the Federal Communications Commission.