Marine Ship/Shore Telephone Calls

Marine Communications and Traffic Services centres provide a ship/shore marine telephone call service which, as an extension of the public telephone system, provides a person aboard a ship the means to talk to a person on shore or vice versa. Collect calls are accepted in both directions as well as ship to ship calls. Credit Card calls and calls billed to a third number are also acceptable.

How to Place a Marine Telephone Call

A "ship to shore" or "ship to ship" call may be placed by calling the appropriate MCTS Centre using a marine radio calling frequency (VHF channel 16 on the Great Lakes, VHF or HF frequencies in the Arctic). The MCTS Officer will then shift the vessel to the appropriate working radio channel or frequency and connect the call after obtaining some basic information.

A "shore to ship" call may be placed by contacting the telephone operator and requesting to make a marine radiotelephone call to a ship. The telephone operator will contact the appropriate MCTS centre, which will try to make radio contact with the appropriate ship. If the ship answers the radio call, the MCTS Officer will take the necessary action to connect the telephone call.

Cost

The cost of placing a marine telephone call is $15.75 for a minimum 3 minute call and $5.23 for each additional minute plus applicable long distance charges at the person to person rate.