VHF maritime mobile communications: A systems approach to serving user requirements

The existing international VHF maritime mobile communication system dates back to the 1947 International Radio Conference at Atlantic City, NJ. At that time, there was formal agreement on the place in the spectrum (built around the use of 156.80 MHz), and informal agreement on the use of a channel bandwidth of 100 kHz. This paper documents the events leading to the development of the maritime mobile VHF allocation structure in the United States in 1948 (Special Committee 7 of Radio Technical Commission for Marine Services). The establishment of a multichannel structure and basic rules for system operation are explained. The paper describes the subsequent adoption of the structure (FCC Rules and Regulations, 1952) by the maritime nations of Europe at the Hague, Holland, in 1957 and by the countries of the world at the International Radio Conference in Geneva, Switzerland, 1959. A description is given of the early and rapid growth of the US VHF structure on the Great Lakes, for safety and navigational purposes, and the expansion upon this usage in Europe to accomplish widespread port operations services. Major steps forward were taken in 1967 at the International Radio Conference on Maritime Mobile Services at Geneva, and in the promulgation of the FCC Rules of 1969. These actions established the 25-kHz channel bandwidth now in use. The availability, after 1968, of low-cost multichannel equipment, coupled with the increased channel availability of the new Rules set in motion a steady growth in usage by small vessels. More recent trends include the expanded usage of VHF to meet increased responsibilities of the US Coast Guard (USCG) for vessel management services and for surveillance of vessel operations. Reference is made to the current use of automation-for efficient systems management and for data exchanges between ship and shore-on the Great Lakes, and to the planning for introduction of automation on the inland rivers of the United States.