What is the International Maritime Mobile Service for Distress Frequency?

• A. 156.8 MHz
• B. 2182 kHz
• C. 121.5 MHz
• D. 243 MHz

Answer: (A)

The main idea is that there is a globally recognized distress channel for the marine radio service, and it sits on VHF at 156.8 MHz, known as Channel 16. This frequency is watched continuously by ships and coast stations, and it serves as the first point of contact when someone is in danger or needs urgent assistance. Once contact is established on Channel 16, conversations typically move to a separate working channel for routine traffic, while Channel 16 remains the stay-safe rendezvous point.

Understanding the other options helps place this in context. 2182 kHz is the HF distress and calling frequency used for long-range maritime communication, so it plays a similar role at a different part of the spectrum. 121.5 MHz is an older international distress frequency associated with the aviation/mobile rescue service and is not the primary maritime distress channel today. 243 MHz isn’t a standard maritime distress frequency.