 By Chief Tom Rau, Coast Guard Group Grand Haven
Giving blood donations, giving donations to natural disaster victims, and giving donations to charities- all are voluntary on the behalf of the donor. Without such selfless support one could only imagine the burdens placed on those in need. And so with Channel 16, without boater’s voluntary use of Channel 09 as a calling channel, Channel 16 faced a burden that threatened its very core as a safety and distress frequency. Fortunately, however, the majority of boaters voluntary efforts have restored Channel 16 to its primary role as a safety and emergency channel. The Coast Guard in deed commends you.
For those few recreational boaters who care to stand strong on their privilege to still use Channel 16 as their calling frequency, let me point out that the availability of Channel 16 as a safety and emergency frequency in the United States is a privilege unequaled anywhere in the world. Where else can you find a boater’s call for help responded to as rapidly as here? I find it peculiar, then, that on one hand a boater claims a privilege to hail on 16 while at the same time depriving fellow boaters of a far greater privilege- their access to immediate help.
It was the concern that a boater’s calls for help would go unheard by the Coast Guard that prompted Commander Roger Dubuc, Commander Coast Guard Group Grand Haven, to implement the Channel 09 program here on Lake Michigan. Even the most stead-fast boaters determined to uphold their voluntary 16 rights might concede had they spent an afternoon in Group Grand Haven’s Operation Center during a peak boating day last summer. The radio free-for-all on Channel 16 between boaters hailing one another became so unwieldy that calls for help were often muted. The Commander not only made the right decision, he made the only decision that could save Channel 16. That directive became effective on May 1, 1999.
With all due respect to the few that continue to uphold their Channel 16 hailing privilege, let me address a concern voiced by some. That concern is a boater calling for help over Channel 16 may go unheard by boaters monitoring Channel 09. This simply is not true. Many boaters now carry radios that can scan both Channel 16 and 09. But even more important than that, once the Coast Guard receives a call for help over Channel 16, we can then call boaters on Channel 09 for assistance. Seemingly, that’s a lot better than before when Channel 16 was so heavily congested with hailing traffic that a boater’s call for help may have gone unheard by the Coast Guard. Now not only does the Coast Guard clearly hear boaters in distress, it can readily pass that information to boaters over Channel 09. So that valuable link between boaters remains intact; if anything, it’s stronger than before. Please, advise me if it isn’t.
Maybe the few Channel 16 holdouts might switch over to 09 as a calling frequency after they review the following questions and answers.
Is using Channel 09 as a hailing frequency new?
No, using Channel 09 as a calling frequency between recreational boaters began in Boston Harbor in 1991 and in one year reduced radio traffic over Channel 16 by nearly 50 percent. Today, the use of Channel 09 has spread across northeastern United States. Coast Guard officials in that region hail recreational boaters for clearing up Channel 16.
Will the Coast Guard monitor Channel 09?
No. Channel 09 will act as a hailing frequency between recreational boaters only, the Coast Guard will not monitor the channel. Vessels requesting Coast Guard assistance should do so over Channel 16.
Over what channel will the Coast Guard broadcast Marine Advisories?
Although the CG will not monitor 09, it will broadcast marine advisories, safety information and marine assistance broadcast over Channel 09 and Channel 16.
How should recreational boaters contact Commercial vessels?
Commercial vessels, freighters, and pilot boats should continue to use Channel 16 as a hailing frequency. Recreational vessels should use Channel 16 when hailing these sources. Has the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) approved 09?
Not only has the FCC okayed Channel 09 as a nationwide secondary calling channel on VHF marine radio, they highly encourage its use, since it greatly reduces congestion on channel 16.
What areas will Channel 09 cover? Coast Guard Group Grand Haven, Milwaukee, and Sault Ste Marie are involved in the Channel 09 program which became effective May 1, 1999, and includes all of Lake Michigan and its connecting navigable rivers and lakes.
What this all boils down to is that Channel 16 is the boater’s equivalent of 911. It should be reserved for emergencies. Boat Smart: use Channel 09 as your hailing frequency.
Boat Smart is now on the internet: www.boatsmart.net (includes Lake water temperatures and weather).
Channel 16 is for safety and emrgencies, Channel 09 is for calling fellow boaters
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Boat Smart 
