Marine SSB: Worldwide Communications via HF radio
Marine SSB (Single Side Band) is a popular means of communications for the independent cruising yachtsmen and a must if you are planning to do bluewater cruising to the Caribbean, Pacific or Mediterranean.
The range of SSB is up to several thousand miles and calls between yachts are free and there are coast stations broadcast weather bulletins and even email.

WHY SSB MIGHT BE FOR YOU!
Get the answer from Rod Heikell's very informal site

Having an SSB MF/HF transceiver on board your yacht offers communication independence, you are not tied into any contracts or connection charges.
The frequencies used for marine communications are internationally agreed by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU). Below you will find a list of HF frequencies. In the main most frequencies are Duplex and intended for ship to shore use. Some bands do have simplex channels which can be used for either ship to shore or intership working.
Band R/T Frequency DSC Frequency Day Time Range Night Time Range
MF 2182 kHz 2187.5 kHz 150 nm 500 nm
HF4 4125 kHz 4207.5 kHZ 300 nm 1000 nm
HF6 6215 kHz 6312 kHz 600 nm 1500 nm
HF8 8291 kHz 8414.5 kHZ 1000 nm 2000 nm
HF12 12290 kHz 12577 kHz 2500 nm  
HF16 16420 kHz 16804.5 kHz    
VHF 156.800 MHz (Ch16) 156.525 MHz (Ch 70) 30 nm 30 nm

NOTE: Range is for guidance only and will depending on your operating conditions and HF radio propagation conditions.

Ch 4 Mhz 6 Mhz 8 Mhz 12 Mhz 16 Mhz 18 Mhz 22 Mhz 25 Mhz
A 4146 kHz 6224 khz 8294 kHz 12353 kHz 16528 kHz 18825 kHz 22159 kHz 25100 kHz
B 4149 kHz 6227 kHz 8297 kHz 12356 kHz 16531 kHz 18828 kHz 22162 kHz 25103 kHz
C   6230 kHz   12359 kHz 16534 kHz 18831 kHz 22165 kHz 25106 kHz
D       12362 kHz 16537 kHz 18834 kHz 22168 kHz 25109 kHz
E       12365 kHz 16540 kHz 18837 kHz 22171 kHz 25112 kHz
F         16543 kHz 18840 kHz 22174 kHz 25115 kHz
G         16546 kHz 18843 kHz 22177 kHz 25118 kHz
4000 kHz 4024 kHz 4048 kHz 8101 kHz 8125 kHz 8149 kHz 8173 kHz
4003 kHz 4027 kHz 4051 kHz 8104 kHz 8128 kHz 8152 kHz 8176 kHz
4006 kHz 4030 kHz 4054 kHz 8107 kHz 8131 kHz 8155 kHz 8179 kHz
4009 kHz 4033 kHz 4057 kHz 8110 kHz 8134 kHz 8158 kHz 8182 kHz
4012 kHz 4036 kHz 4060 kHz 8113 kHz 8137 kHz 8161 kHz 8185 kHz
4015 kHz 4039 kHz   8116 kHz 8140 kHz 8164 kHz 8188 kHz
4018 kHz 4042 kHz   8119 kHz 8143 kHz 8167 kHz 8191 kHz
4021 kHz 4045 kHz   8122 kHz 8146 kHz 8170 kHz  
An open community of sailors keep in touch on a daily basis over the SSB radio, calls are totally free.

The best time to listen is early morning 0600 to 0930 and in the evenings 1800 to 2100 local time, this is when radio conditions are ideal. You should hear a number of yachtsmen talking to each other although in Northern Europe it is not so popular compared to the the Mediterranean and Caribbean.
Net Areas frequency Times
Mediterranean Net 8122 kHz 0530 GMT
Caribbean calling frequency and safety net 8104 kHz 1215 (0815 AST)
Atlantic Net (Herb) 12359 kHz 2000
Bahamas weather net 4003 kHz 7:00 am AST
Caribbean weather net 4045 kHz
8104 kHz
8137 kHz
from 07:00 AST
Cruiseheimer's net (East coast and Bahamas) 8152 kHz 08:30 AST
Northwest Caribbean 8188 kHz 08:00 AST
   
A network of coast-radio all for ship to shore communications. Below is a list of stations and the channels they use.

NOTE: ITU channel are duplex (split frequency)
e.g. coast station transmits on one frequency and the ship transmit on a different (lower) frequency.
Where (Tx in kHz) this is the coast station transit frequency, the frequency you may wish to monitor.
Frequency split; the number of kHz that has to be deducted to get the ships transmit frequency
Station Callsign 4MHz 6MHz 8MHz 12MHz 16MHz 18MHz 22MHz
ITU duplex channels   401 to 429 601 to 608 801 to 837 1201 to 1241 1601 to 1656 1801 to 1815 2201 to 2253
Frequency split   -292kHz -301kHz -524kHz -847kHz -882kHz -978kHz -696kHz
DISTRESS
(Tx in kHz)
  421
(4417)
606
(6516)
821
(8779)
1221
(13137)
1621
(17302)
1806
(19770)
2221
(22756)
Olympia, Greece
(Tx in kHz)
SVN 424
(4426)
  806
(8734)
1232
(13170)
1640
(17359z)
  2217
(22744)
Oostende Radio, Belgium (Tx in kHz) OST 411
(4387)
  815
(8761)
1207
(13095)
1630
(17329)
   
Monaco Radio
(Tx in kHz)
3AC 403
(4363)
  804
(8728)
1224
(13146)
1607
(17260)
  2225
(22768)
Brunei Bay Radio
(Tx in kHz)
V8V2222 428
(4351)
608
(6522)
835
(8710)
1239
(13191)
  1804
(19764)
2229
(22780)
Bangkok Meteorology Service - Thailand     ---
(6765.1)
809
(8743)
       
Cape Town - S.Africa
(Tx in kHz)
ZSC 407
(4375)
 
 
808
(8740)
1224
(13146)
   
 
 
 
Shipcom - USA
(Tx in kHz)
KLB 417
(4405)
  805
(8731)
1209
(13101)
1624
(17311)
   
Shipcom - USA
(Tx in kHz)
WLO 405
(4369)
414
(4396)
607
(6519)
824
(8788)
830
(8806)
1212
(13110)
1226
(13152)
1607
(17260)
1641
(17362)
1807
(19773)
2237
(22804)
USA coastguard working channels
(Tx in kHz)
  424
(4426)
601
(6501)
816
(8764)
1205
(13089)
1625
(17314)
   
MF Coastguards, Daytime range 100 to 150 miles , night time range up to 1000 miles.
Station Frequency USB UK Coastguards in local time
Aberdeen Coastguard, UK 2226 kHz 0730 & 1930
Clyde Coastguard, UK 1883 kHz 0810 & 2010
Falmouth Coastguard, UK 2226 kHz 0710 & 1910
Humber Coastguard, UK 2226 kHz 0750 & 1950
Shetland Coastguard, UK 2226 kHz 0710 & 1910
Stornoway Coastguard, UK 1743 kHz 0710 & 1910
Below in GMT times
Malin Head , Ireland 1677 KHz 0033, 0433, 0833, 1233, 1633, 2033
Valentia Radio, Ireland 1752 kHz 0233, 0633, 1033, 1433, 1833, 2233
Oostende Radio, Belgium 2761 kHz 0230, 0630, 1030 1430, 1830, 2230
Netherlands Coastguard 3673 kHz 0940 & 2140
Gris-Nez, France 1650 kHz 0650 & 1850
Corsen, France 1650 & 2677 kHz 0815 & 2015
La Garde, Frence
Mediterranean Coast
1696 & 2677 kHz 0650, 0833, 1433, 1603, 1850
Machichaco, Spain 1707 kHz 0703, 1303, 1903
Cabo de Penas, Spain 1677 kHz 0703, 1303, 1903
Coruna, Spain 1698 kHz 0703, 1303, 1903
Finisterre, Spain 1764 kHz 0703, 1303, 1903
Chipiona, Spain 1656 kHz 0733, 1233, 1933
Tarifa, Spain 1704 kHz 0733, 1233, 1933
Cado de Gata, Spain 1767 kHz 0750, 1303, 1950
Palma, Spain 1755 kHz 0750, 1303, 1950
Arrecife, Canary Isles 1644 kHz 0803, 1233, 1903
Las Palma, Canary Isles 1689 kHz 0803, 1233, 1903
Alges, Horta, Monsanto - Portugal
Ponta Delgada - The Azores
Porto Santo - Maderia
2657 kHz  
Ancona, Italy 2656 kHz 0133, 0433, 0733, 0933, 1333, 1733, 1933, 2133
Rome, Italy 1888 kHz  
Kerkyra - Greece
Limnos
Irakleion
Rodos
2830 kHz
2730 kHz
2799 kHz
2624 kHz
0730, 0903, 1533, 2133
Turkey 2670 kHz  
Haifa, Israel 2649 kHz 0303, 0703, 1103, 1503, 1903, 2303
US Coastguard 2670 kHz  
US Coastguard HF frequencies
US Coastguard Weather Transmissions
Station and Callsign Frequencies Times (GMT)
USCG Chesapeake (NMN) 4426 kHz, 6501 kHz, 8764 kHz, 13089 kHz, 17314 kHz 0330, 0515, 0930, 1115, 1530, 1715, 2130, 2315
USCG Pt Reyes (NMC) 4426 kHz, 6501 kHz, 8764 kHz, 13089 kHz, 17314 kHz 0430, 1030, 1630, 2230
USCG New Orleans (NMG) 4316 kHz, 8502 kHz, 12788 kHz, 0330, 0515, 0930, 1115, 1530, 1715, 2130, 2315
USCG Honolulu (NMO) 6501 kHz, 8764 kHz, 13089 kHz 0005, 0600, 1200, 1800
Australian HF weather frequencies
Australia Coastguard Weather Transmissions
Station and Callsign Frequencies Times (CST)
Wiluna W. Australia (VMW) 2056 kHz, 4149 kHz, 6230 kHz, 8113 kHz, 12362 kHz, 16528 kHz 0300, 0700, 1100, 1500, 1900, 2300
Charleville S. Australia (VMC) 2201 kHz, 4426 kHz, 6507 kHz, 8176 kHz, 12365 kHz, 16546 kHz 0200, 0600, 1000, 1400, 1800, 2200

Frequency Comments
2182kHz MF International distress frequency for ship, aircraft and survival craft.
3023kHz Intercommunications between mobile stations engaged in coordintion of search and rescue.
4125kHz Distress and safety traffic by radiotelephone
5680kHz Intercommunications between mobile stations engaged in coordintion of search and rescue.
6125kHz Distress and safety traffic by radiotelephone
8364kHz Designated for use by survival craft stations.
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The Short Range Certificate is required for operations on marine VHF channels from onboard a leisure craft.

In the UK the Short Range Certificate is issued by the RYA.

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