To obtain your VHF Radio Call Sign

Or phone 0900 54332

Why Get a Marine VHF Radio

• To communicate distress immediately
• Continuous contact with search and rescue nationwide
• To hear other boaties in distress
• To get regular weather updates
• A cell phone lets you talk to one person, a VHF lets you talk to many people
• A cell phone has limited coverage in many areas in the marine environment
• It could save your life in an emergency!

Learn to operate a Marine VHF Radio

• It is a legal requirement for all users of Marine VHF radio to obtain a Marine VHF marine radio operators qualification
• Coastguard Boating Education Marine VHF Radio Certificate teaches the correct radio procedures, takes 6 hours, is available in classroom or home study options. Ph 0800 40 80 90 or email info@cbes.org.nz

Rules for radio use

• Listen before transmitting
• Don’t make unnecessary calls and keep all calls a brief as possible
• Don’t allow children to play with the radio
• Always use the name of the boat you are calling first, then identify yourself using your call sign and boat name
• Always ensure your microphone is correctly stowed to avoid accidently transmitting which will lock up the channel
• Use Channel 16 for making your initial call, then move to an agreed working channel
• Return to Channel 16 when you have completed a call

Marine VHF Radio call signs

• Legally all radio transmissions are required to be ‘individually identifiable’. All countries throughout the work have adopted the ‘call sign’ system as being the best option.
• A VHF call sign is a unique identification code for your boat that is registered on the National Search & Rescue database, and provides instant information about your vessel to help search and rescue personnel find you faster.
• Call signs on the national database are used solely for search and rescue purposes.
• VHF call signs for both recreational and commercial boaties are available from Coastguard Boating Education who maintain the database on behalf of the Radio Spectrum division of the Ministry of Economic Affairs.  There is a charge of $30.00.
• To obtain your marine radio call sign, phone Coastguard Boating Education on 0800 40 80 90 to pay by credit card or 0900 54332 to charge the $30 to the telephone account you are calling from.
• Please update your personal details should they change by calling Coastguard Boating Education on 09 361 4700 or 0800 40 80 90
• If you sell your boat you can either keep the call sign and advise the new owner to obtain a new call sign or let the call sign stay with the boat and advise Coastguard Boating Education of the change in owner details.

Phonetic Alphabet

When it is necessary to spell out call-signs, IDs or words, the following spelling should be used
The syllable to be emphasised are in red text.

LETTER	WORD	SPOKEN AS	LETTER	WORD	SPOKEN AS
A	Alpha	ALPHA	N	November	NOVEMBER
B	Bravo	BRAHVOH	O	Oscar	OSSCAH
C	Charlie	CHARLEE	P	Papa	PAH PAH
D	Delta	DELLTAH	Q	Quebec	KEH BECK
E	Echo	ECKOH	R	Romeo	ROW ME OH
F	Foxtrot	FOKSTROT	S	Sierra	SEE AIRRAH
G	Golf	GOLF	T	Tango	TANGGO
H	Hotel	HOH TELL	U	Uniform	YOU NEE FORM
I	India	IN DEE AH	V	Victor	VIKTAH
J	Juliett	JEW LEE ETT	W	Whiskey	WISSKEY
K	Kilo	KEYLOH	X	Xray	ECKS RAY
L	Lima	LEEMAH	Y	Yankee	YANGKEY
M	Mike	MIKE	Z	Zulu	ZOOLOO