The Irish Coast Guard has proposed a series of changes to its VHF working channels later this year.
The move follows amendments to transmitting frequencies in order to harmonise the VHF maritime mobile band internationally, which also require the coastguard to upgrade its radio equipment at a number of sites.
These upgrades are expected to take place between Monday 5 October and mid December, with dates for the channel changeovers yet to be confirmed. The affected remote sites are listed below:
| Site | Radio Call Sign | Current Channel | New Channel |
| Howth Hts | Dublin Coast Guard | CH 83 | CH 03 |
| Rosslare Hts | Rosslare Coast Guard | CH 23 | CH 05 |
| Mine Hd Hts | Mine Head Coast Guard | CH 83 | CH 03 |
| Cork Hts | Cork Coast Guard | CH 26 | CH 02 |
| Bantry Hts | Bantry Coast Guard | CH 23 | CH 05 |
| Valentia Hts | Valentia Coast Guard | CH 24 | CH 62 |
| Shannon Hts | Shannon Coast Guard | CH 28 | CH 64 |
| Belmullet Hts | Belmullet Coast Guard | CH 83 | CH 63 |
| Clifden Hts | Clifden Coast Guard | CH 26 | CH 03 |
| Malin Hd Hts | Malin Head Coast Guard | CH 23 | CH 05 |
| Scalp Mountain | Malin Head Coast Guard | CH 85 | CH 01 |
| Glen Hd Hts | Glen Head Coast Guard | CH 24 | CH 03 |
The remaining sites of Carlingford, Wicklow, Mizen Head, Galway, Clew Bay, Donegal Bay, Galley Head, Lough Ree and Lough Derg will retain their currently assigned channel.
Channel 16 will remain available at each remote site for distress, safety and calling and will not be affected by these changes. Channel 67is also available when required but may not be actively monitored at all times.
As the upgrade work progresses, the Irish Coast Guard will inform the public that a channel has changed by the following means:
- By broadcasting on the channel that will be changing in the days leading up to the switchover
- The Irish Coast Guard’s social media accounts on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.
- Updated information on the gov.ie website and the Safety on the Water website.
Further queries are directed to the coastguard at admin@irishcoastguard.ie
