What is the correct way of talking on a marine VHF radio? You must use the proper channel for the given situations, communications must follow protocol, and the right language and terminology must be used for every transmission.
A key aspect of being at sea is safety. A VHF marine radio is a means of communication for all situations, particularly emergencies.
And in urgent situations, the last thing you want is for your calls to be lost in translation.
Talking on a VHF marine radio requires you to use the correct channels relative to your needs and know how to communicate your location. Using appropriate vocabulary, knowledge of the NATO (phonetic) alphabet, and following step-by-step protocol for conveying messages is vital.
When using VHF radios for marine communication, finding a channel, tuning in, and starting a conversation is not straightforward.
Below, I will explain the correct procedure, the language and terminology used while talking on a marine VHF radio, the appropriate channels, and what is considered bad etiquette.
First of all, you should be aware of who can use a marine VHF, and then you can follow protocol for VHF radio comms at sea.
This is true for emergencies and other communication. The steps are listed below for non-emergency-related communications.