Listen in - Boat Watching with a VHF Scanner

Even inexpensive scanners are capable of receiving VHF radio communications. The majority of radio traffic carried out on the Great Lakes is in the high VHF band with frequencies ranging from 156-157 MHz. Below is the complete listing followed by regional listings.

Read about my scanning set up

Maritime Frequencies

Low power on board communications

Automated Maritime Telecommunications System
  (AMTS) voice, fax, and teletype

216.0125 through 219.9875 (12.5 kHz steps) channels 101-180

Maritime Frequencies from the consolidated list

Vessel Traffic Services
Vessel Traffic Services are in place at several sites around the Great Lakes. These stations are set up to provide mariners with traffic information to add to the safety of vessels when transiting cramped, high traffic water ways. The service requires vessels to call in at certain points and then relays that information to other vessels. This is Great if you own a scanner and live in the area.

Detroit & St. Clair River Area Maritime Frequencies

Coast Guard
157.175 - St. Clair
157.050 - Port Huron/ Belle Isle
157.125 - Sarnia Ont.
157.150 - Detroit group
157.100 - Working channel from 16, Marine Safety Broadcast
156.700 - Macomb Co. Sheriff Marine Patrol
156.800 - Calling and distress (monitored by all)
381.800 - Helicopter (out of Selfridge ANG Base; can also be heard on other C.G. VHF channels during operations)
161.875/157.275 (duplex) weather reports from other stations/ships 161.900, 162.000 Detroit.
161.875/157.275 (duplex) Sarnia-- marine operator
161.775 - Continuous marine broadcast, Leamington and Kincardine Ont.
161.650 - Continuous marine broadcast, Sarnia and Port Burwell Ont.

VTS Sarnia
All ships over 20 meters, transiting the system between Detroit River Light in lake Erie and and Huron Cut Lights 11+12 in Lake Huron, must report in on these three channels:
156.550 - Sarnia traffic (ch.11) from Huron Cut to St.Clair Crib Light.
156.600 - Sarnia traffic (ch.12) from Detroit River Light to St. Clair Crib.
156.650 - Sarnia traffic (ch.13) back up for ch. 11 + 12
  Chart of the area

Commercial
156.500 - J.W. Westcott Co. (Mail Boat); Port Huron Pilot office; Rouge River bridges.
156.500, 156.900 - tug companies.
156.700 - Sterling fuel dock.
156.950 - towing/salvage.
156.400, 156.300, 156.275 - ship to ship
156.450 -Yacht clubs

Soo Area Maritime Frequencies
156.600 - Soo Control St. Mary's River Traffic Service From De Tour Reef Light to Ile Parisienne light.
156.700 - Soo Lockmaster
156.400 - Soo Warehouse Supply boat

Duluth Area Maritime Frequencies
156.300 - Ship to ship
157.350 - Ship working
156.400 - Ship to ship
156.500 - Docks and bridges
156.550 - USS walkie talkies
156.600 - Agents/ship
156.650 - Pilots and USS ship/shore
156.800 - Calling
156.900 - G tugs and ship working channel
156.950 - Interlake ship working
157.050, 157.100, 157.150 - USCG

St. Lawrence Seaway and Welland Canal

Cleveland
156.500 Great Lakes Towing (reports all traffic in the river)
156.650 Bridges
156.800 Security Calls

HF on the lakes
HF used by various shore stations around the lakes. With VHF and cellular phones these frequencies end up used most often to provide weather reports and notice to mariners broadcasts. Every great once-in-a-while you will hear a ship to shore phone call on them. All listed are upper side band unless otherwise noted.
Freq/ Station
2514.0 VCC Quebec CG Radio
2550.0 WLC Rogers City MI
2598.0 Canadian Coast Guard
2582.0 WLC and various Canadian CG
4369.0 WLC wx and some phone
4381.0 WLC
4408.0 WLC
4143.5 Upper Lakes Shipping (Canada)
6218.5 Upper Lakes Shipping (Canada)
5692.0 US Coast Guard - Traverse City and Detriot Air Stations

Common Radio Frequencies used by Great Lakes Vessels

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