Which radiotelephone transmission is permitted on channel 16?

• A. Routine weather broadcasts only.
• B. Administrative calls only.
• C. Distress signals (MAYDAY), calls to a particular station, and meteorological warnings.
• D. Private calls not allowed.

Answer: (C)

Channel 16 is the international distress, safety, and calling channel. It’s the one point of contact used to get attention quickly and to establish communication with other ships or coast stations in an emergency or when you need to reach a specific station.

Transmissions on this channel include the Mayday distress call when there is immediate danger to life or the vessel, calls to a particular station to initiate communication, and meteorological warnings that affect navigational safety. Routine weather broadcasts aren’t sent on this channel, and private or administrative traffic isn’t the intended use here; after contact is made on channel 16, conversations typically move to a working channel for normal discussions.