What type of radios are used for bridge-to-bridge communication?

• A. VHF radios
• B. HF radios
• C. UHF radios
• D. CB radios

Answer: (A)

Bridge-to-bridge communication relies on direct, clear voice contact over a short to moderate distance, which VHF radios provide in the marine environment. The marine VHF band (roughly 156 to 162 MHz) offers reliable, high-quality voice communication over line-of-sight, which is ideal for ships talking to each other and to shore stations in harbors and along channels. This band is standardized with dedicated channels for inter-ship and safety communications, so crews know exactly where to listen and how to call, making quick, predictable coordination possible.

In contrast, HF radios are used for long-range, over-the-horizon communication that relies on ionospheric propagation, which isn’t necessary for nearby bridge-to-bridge talks and adds complexity and power requirements. UHF radios, while also line-of-sight, aren’t part of the common marine channel plan and aren’t the standard for ship-to-ship talk. CB radios operate on a citizen-band frequency with limited range and aren’t integrated into marine communications procedures.

So, the practical, standardized, and reliable choice for bridge-to-bridge conversations is VHF radios.