What vhf channel to communicate with a tug?

  • catnip
    south metro
    Posts: 629
    #1619741

    I was on the river last nite and just as we were about to leave a barge was rounding the corner so we decided to wait till it passed. We were on the inside of a mild bend so figured we were cool. Once he spotted us he started blowing his horn in a few bursts of 3 or 4. I was trying to reach him on ch 16 (thats what someone else told me to uscheck to tell him we were snuggled up on shore and he had room but I got nothing. He was coming down stream and I needed to go up stream. So what ch can I reach them on and is there anything else I could or should I have done?

    mojogunter
    Posts: 3301
    #1619745

    I think channel 6 is ship to ship safety communication.

    damman
    Pepin county Wi
    Posts: 312
    #1619747

    Channel 13

    Brian Klawitter
    Keymaster
    Minnesota/Wisconsin Mississippi River
    Posts: 59992
    #1619760

    Tows monitor channel 13 as hah DAM-man stated.

    The locks monitor 14. Most of the time I’ll talk with them on 14 as they will monitor both.

    It helps to end your call with “on channel 13” or whatever channel you’re calling them on.

    On a side note, if I can’t get out of the channel completely I’ll call them because I’m not sure how much room they need unless it’s a straight away. Depending on the size of the barges they are pushing, they might need more room then one would think.

    TheFamousGrouse
    St. Paul, MN
    Posts: 11640
    #1619769

    16 is the distress frequency. 13 is the channel all Comercial traffic is required to be be monitoring.

    Grouse

    Brian Klawitter
    Keymaster
    Minnesota/Wisconsin Mississippi River
    Posts: 59992
    #1619778

    16 is the distress frequency.

    Not to confuse the issue but 16 is not only a distress frequency, it’s a call frequency. It’s used to contact another vessel (other then commercial) and then move to another channel.

    TheFamousGrouse
    St. Paul, MN
    Posts: 11640
    #1619782

    Thanks for the clarification, BK.

    Grouse

    craig s
    Posts: 246
    #1619839

    Tugs pushing barges can be very intimidating!! Been in situations with early mornings and fog while duck hunting.

    Good info to know on the radios !

    catnip
    south metro
    Posts: 629
    #1619905

    Thanks everyone for all the good Information! Sounds like 13 is what I will try next time. I am new to this radio thing and the more I can learn the better off and hopefully safer I will be. toast

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