Mobile marine radio service (medium wave)

Mobile marine radio service (medium wave)
Frequency range	300-3000 kHz
Range	approx. 1500 nm
Emergency / calling frequency	500 kHz
DSC alarm frequency (Emergency / Urgency / Security)	unavailable
DSC routine calls to land	458.5 kHz
DSC routine calls towards the ship	455.5 kHz
Necessary radio operating certificate
Commercial shipping	General Operator's Certificate
Recreational boating	Long Range Certificate

The mobile marine radio service on medium wave was the first mobile marine radio service ever. The frequencies of the medium wave have been used for tactile radio ( Morse code ) since the beginning of radio traffic in marine radio . For around 80 years, the frequency of 500 kHz was the international calling and distress frequency in maritime radio services. In modern seafaring as well as in recreational shipping, this frequency range no longer plays a role in Europe for ship-to-ship and ship-to-shore traffic. However, NAVTEX uses the frequencies 490 kHz and 518 kHz of the medium wave for teletype broadcasts of the maritime emergency and safety radio in land-ship traffic and is compulsory for ships that require equipment, recommended for all others.

Individual evidence

1. ↑ ITU Radio Regulations, Edition 2012 (accessed on January 21, 2015)