SAIPAN — The CNMI Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Management, working with the U.S. Coast Guard Sector Guam, is urging mariners to prepare for a temporary outage in VHF radio communications coverage in the vicinity of Rota and surrounding waters beginning Dec. 1, 2025.
Officials said mariners should anticipate reduced reception and transmission capabilities that could affect distress and safety communications.
The Coast Guard is working with local partners, including the Rota Department of Public Safety, and is accelerating interim solutions. HSEM said the outages are expected to continue until interim solutions are in place, potentially within the next couple of months, with long-term infrastructure enhancements also underway.
HSEM advised mariners to closely monitor VHF-FM channel 16 and other available channels, use alternative methods when possible, including satellite phones, emergency position indicating radio beacons, or other distress-signaling devices, and plan voyages with added caution, including informing local authorities or contacts of itineraries.
HSEM said the CNMI State Warning Point continues to monitor VHF channels 13 and 16 daily, and encouraged mariners to stay informed through Local Notices to Mariners, NAVTEX broadcasts, or by contacting the U.S. Coast Guard Sector Guam Joint Rescue Sub-Center at 1-671-355-4824 or via VHF-FM channel 16.
