Good day to all.

I started work in the marine industry last year, and am planning to carry a VHF around with me, especially when I go offshore aboard vessels to make repairs. I am hoping someone will be able to give me the following answers.
1. Do I need to get a ham radio license to transmit?
Let's say I need to call my "water taxi" back after I'm done. But I may be using 156.8 MHz instead of 144 - 148 MHz
2. Does anyone know what the laws and rules are for 156.8 MHz?
From what I understand, all ships listen on Channel 16/156.8 MHz.
3. Thinking of the (In order of cheap to expensive, and honestly, my preference because gaji not big) Baofeng UV-9R plus, TYT TH-UV8000D, TYT TH-UV98.
Anyone have any experience with them? (I have been checking out reviews, etc) Might have to buy 2 units, in case the water taxi does not have a set of their own. A bit extra for VHF tuned antennas also.
If I could get my boss to pay for them, I'll still need to convince him of the unit(s) to buy.

I hope someone here is familiar and can direct me to the correct resources. I do electrical and electronics, so am not familiar with the laws concerning VHF usage in this situation. I have read the MCMC guidelines for amateur radio operators, and I think I understand them. This is all I can think off for now, hopefully I can move from the answers I get here. Thanks.

_{This is the backstory of why I want to carry a VHF with me. Probably important in my mind only, so I'll spare you all the details}

Thanks for the answer. I think the proper step would be to get an AROC Class B license and use 144-148 MHz for now, just in case I need comms in the future.

So... membership with MARTS, then take exam, then apply with form AA to get callsign. Have I got that sequence correct? I see that MARTS needs to vouch for my character.. is there a time frame that I should be a member for that to happen?