How DSC will affect you?

From 1 February 1999 SOLAS vessels are no longer required to monitor the 2182kHz MF distress frequency. From 1 February 2005 they will no longer need to monitor the Ch16 VHF distress channel. On the same date, Coastguard rescue centres will cease to keep a dedicated headset watch on Ch16, and rescue centres in other countries may stop listening on the channel altogether.

Thereafter, you may find that the only way to communicate with SOLAS ships is with a DSC equipped radio.

07/11/2003