Mariners are being urged to prepare for reduced VHF radio coverage around Rota starting Monday. The US Coast Guard issued the advisory Sunday, warning of temporary outages that could affect both distress calls and routine safety communications in waters surrounding Rota and the CNMI. 

Officials say the interruptions may continue for several months until interim fixes are in place, with long-term upgrades already in progress. Mariners are advised to closely monitor Channel 16, consider backup communication tools like satellite phones or emergency position-indicating radiobeacons, and share voyage plans with trusted contacts.

The Coast Guard says mariner safety is their top priority and will continue providing updates as improvements move forward.