What is the average range of vessel-to-vessel VHF-FM radio communications?
Official USCG Answer & Rule Citation
Correct Answer: Option A — 15 to 20 miles
VHF-FM transmissions operate primarily via line-of-sight propagation. Due to the curvature of the earth and typical antenna heights found on standard commercial vessels, average ship-to-ship communication ranges are limited to approximately 15 to 20 miles.
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