The Marine Coastguard Agency (MCA) have made some changes to the use of VHF marine channels in the Solent area, effective from September 2017. Here is a summary of what has changed.

New

There are Marine Safety Broadcasts on the following channels:

62 & 63 – Solent Area
64 – Newhaven, Needles and Beerhead
23 – Portland and Boniface Down
65 – National Coastwatch Institute (NCI)
67 – Solent Coastguard routine small boat traffic

Unchanged

Useful reference of local channels:

16 – Emergency calls to HM coast Guard
12 – Southampton VTS
11 – KHM Portsmouth
68 – Yarmouth Harbour (Also Beaulieu)
69 – Cowes Harbour Radio
66 – Lymington Harbour
80 – Marinas

If you need a VHF Operators licence you can take the VHF Short Range Certificate Incl DSC – Radio Course at Boatability in Portsmouth.