- Translation: VHF on Board and the GMDSS: What Changes in 2028 — and What You Need to Do in Canada - Suggested English title: VHF on Board and the GMDSS: What’s Changing in 2028—and What You Need to Do in Canada

SOLAS vessels (primarily commercial ships) must comply with strict international rules for radio communications. These rules are part of the GMDSS — the Global Maritime Distress and Safety System. The GMDSS has not been updated since the 1990s. The IMO has adopted new performance standards for radio equipment carried on board ships. In Canada, SOLAS vessels must comply with Part 2 of the Navigation Safety Regulations, 2020. These regulations require SOLAS ships to be fitted with the radio equipment specified in SOLAS Chapter IV. What Transport Canada requires now — SSB 16/2025 Regardless of the 2028 standards issue, in 2025 Transport Canada issued a bulletin that applies to all vessels in Canadian waters — whether Canadian or foreign. The problem: some VHF radio manufacturers have already begun disabling channels 24, 25, 26, 84, 85, and 86 in analog mode under the “International” configuration of their sets. These channels will be reserved for digital use worldwide as of January 1, 2030. But in Canadian waters, they remain necessary until that date. The solution: if your radio has a “Canadian” mode, enable it when operating in Canadian waters. This keeps these channels available in analog mode. Summary - SOLAS ships must meet GMDSS radio rules; IMO has adopted new performance standards. - In Canada, SOLAS vessels must comply with Part 2 of the Navigation Safety Regulations, 2020, which mandates SOLAS Chapter IV radio equipment. - Transport Canada’s Ship Safety Bulletin (SSB) 16/2025 applies to all vessels in Canadian waters. - Issue: Some VHF sets in “International” mode already block analog on channels 24, 25, 26, 84, 85, and 86 ahead of a global digital-only allocation starting January 1, 2030, but analog use is still required in Canada until then. - Action: Switch radios to “Canadian” mode in Canadian waters to retain analog access to these channels.