Using the maritime radio service

The radio handbook for coastal vessels is a guide to operators of both ship and coastal radio stations, including operators of VHF and SSB radios.

The handbook provides information about:

• the correct procedure to use when communicating over the maritime radio network
• how maritime radio works
• how search and rescue is managed in New Zealand
• distress, urgency and safety calls including use of cell phones
• radio telephone procedure
• radio coverage and services
• other information, eg useful contacts and a glossary.
  

It also includes two stickers inside:

• VHF marine channel allocation
• Radio distress calling – how to

Radio handbook for coastal vessels: a guide to maritime communications in New Zealand 2011[PDF: 967b, 68 pages]
VHF marine channel allocation - sticker [PDF: 103Kb, 1 page]
Radio distress calling - sticker [PDF: 102Kb, 1 page]