A detachable wireless transceiver module (306, 308) operable to communicate with a marine radio wireless communication system (10) on board a waterborne vessel (12) is disclosed. The module is designed to be secured and operably connected to a handheld marine radio (250) in order to provide local wireless communications capability thereto. The enhanced handheld marine radio (250) is operable to communicate directly with one or more fixed mount marine radios (18, 38) and/or wireless handsets (26, 46, 50, 52) via local wireless channels.