Visual Distress Signals — Flares, Smoke, and Hand-Held Devices
TL;DR — Recreational vessels and small passenger vessels must carry USCG-approved visual distress signals (VDS) in specific quantities that vary by vessel type, operating area, and time of day; using any recognized distress signal for any purpose other than indicating genuine distress is prohibited. 33 CFR §87.02
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What the Rule Says
Recognized Distress Signals
Federal regulations enumerate the signals that legally indicate distress and need of assistance. Among the pyrotechnic and visual signals relevant to this topic:
- A rocket parachute flare or a hand flare showing a red light 33 CFR §87.01
- A smoke signal giving off orange-colored smoke 33 CFR §87.01
- Flames on the vessel (as from a burning tar barrel, oil barrel, etc.) 33 CFR §87.01
- A high-intensity white light flashing at regular intervals from 50 to 70 times per minute 33 CFR §87.01
These signals may be used together or separately. No signal on this list may be exhibited for any purpose other than indicating actual distress, and no other signal that could be confused with these is permitted. 33 CFR §87.02
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Approved Device Types and Quantities — Recreational Vessels (33 CFR Part 175)
For recreational vessels subject to 33 CFR Part 175, the following pyrotechnic devices are accepted, each requiring three units unless a non-pyrotechnic substitute is used:
| 46 CFR Approval | Device | Day/Night | |---|---|---| | 160.021 | Hand Held Red Flare | Day and Night | | 160.022 | Floating Orange Smoke | Day Only | | 160.024 | Parachute Red Flare | Day and Night | | 160.036 | Hand-Held Rocket-Propelled Parachute Red Flare | Day and Night | | 160.037 | Hand-Held Orange Smoke | Day Only | | 160.057 | Floating Orange Smoke | Day Only | | 160.066 | Red Aerial Pyrotechnic Flare | Day and Night |
Non-pyrotechnic alternatives are also accepted:
- One electric distress light (46 CFR 161.013) satisfies the night-only requirement. 33 CFR §175.130
- One orange flag (46 CFR 160.072) satisfies the day-only requirement. 33 CFR §175.130
Combinations are permitted. For example: two hand-held red flares (160.021) plus one parachute red flare (160.024 or 160.036) satisfies both day and night requirements. Three hand-held orange smoke signals (160.037) combined with one electric distress light (161.013) also satisfies both day and night requirements. 33 CFR §175.130
When a device requires a launcher to activate, a launcher approved under 46 CFR 160.028 must also be carried. 33 CFR §175.113
Uninspected passenger vessels must meet the visual distress signal requirements of 33 CFR Part 175 applicable to the vessel. 46 CFR §25.25-19
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Approved Device Types and Quantities — Commercial Fishing Vessels (46 CFR §28.145)
Commercial fishing vessels face requirements that scale with operating area:
Ocean, more than 50 miles from coastline:
- 3 parachute flares (160.136)
- 6 hand flares (160.121)
- 3 smoke signals (160.122)
Ocean, 3–50 miles from coastline; or more than 3 miles from coastline on the Great Lakes:
- 3 parachute flares (160.136 or 160.036)
- 6 hand flares (160.121 or 160.021)
- 3 smoke signals (160.122, 160.022, or 160.037)
Coastal waters (excluding Great Lakes); or within 3 miles of coastline on the Great Lakes:
- Night: one electric distress light (161.013) or 3 approved flares
- Day: one distress flag (160.072), or 3 approved flares, or 3 approved smoke signals
- The same 3 flares may count toward both the day and night requirement.
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Approved Device Types and Quantities — Inspected Small Passenger Vessels (46 CFR §180.68)
Inspected passenger vessels (T-boats) operating on oceans, coastwise, limited coastwise, or Great Lakes routes must carry:
- Six hand red flare distress signals (160.021 or 160.121 series)
- Six hand orange smoke distress signals (160.037 series)
Vessels on lakes, bays, and sounds, or rivers routes must carry:
- Three hand red flare distress signals (160.021 series)
- Three hand orange smoke distress signals (160.037 series)
Authorized substitutions for T-boats:
- A rocket parachute flare (160.036) may substitute for any required hand red flare. 46 CFR §180.68
- For any required hand orange smoke signal, the following may substitute: a rocket parachute flare (160.036), a hand red flare (160.021/160.121), or a floating orange smoke signal (160.022/160.122). 46 CFR §180.68
Exception: A vessel operating on short runs limited to approximately 30 minutes from the dock is not required to carry distress flares and smoke signals under this section. 46 CFR §180.68
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Stowage Requirements — Inspected Vessels
Each flare carried to meet 46 CFR §180.68 must be stowed in one of the following: 1. A portable watertight container marked as required by 46 CFR §185.614, carried at the operating station; or 2. A pyrotechnic locker secured above the freeboard deck, away from heat, in the vicinity of the operating station.
Portable watertight containers must be of a bright color and clearly marked in legible contrasting letters at least 12.7 millimeters (0.5 inches) high with the words "DISTRESS SIGNALS". 46 CFR §185.614
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Why It Matters on the Exam
The exam tests VDS knowledge from multiple angles. Expect questions that require you to:
1. Identify which signals are legally recognized as distress signals. The list in 33 CFR §87.01 is exhaustive for exam purposes. Know that a hand flare must show red light, smoke must be orange, and the white strobe must flash at 50–70 times per minute — not just any white strobe. 33 CFR §87.01
2. Select the correct approval series for a given vessel type and operating area. The exam frequently presents a scenario — vessel type, route, distance offshore — and asks which combination of devices is legally sufficient. The approval numbers (160.021, 160.036, 160.037, etc.) appear in answer choices. You must know which series satisfies day-only, night-only, or both. 33 CFR §175.130 46 CFR §28.145 46 CFR §180.68
3. Know the quantity differences between vessel categories. Recreational vessels generally need three pyrotechnic devices. T-boats on ocean/coastwise routes need six of each type. Commercial fishing vessels more than 50 miles offshore need six hand flares plus additional parachute flares and smoke signals. Mixing up these quantities is a common error. 33 CFR §175.130 46 CFR §180.68 46 CFR §28.145
4. Apply the prohibition on misuse. Any question asking whether you can fire a flare to signal a friend, test a device, or celebrate will have one correct answer: no. The prohibition is absolute. 33 CFR §87.02
5. Know the launcher requirement. If a device requires a launcher, you must carry an approved launcher (46 CFR 160.028). Carrying the flare without the launcher does not satisfy the requirement. 33 CFR §175.113
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Common Pitfalls
Pitfall 1: Confusing day-only devices with day-and-night devices. Orange smoke signals (160.022, 160.037, 160.057) are day only. They do not satisfy a night requirement. Red flares (160.021, 160.024, 160.036) satisfy both day and night. Candidates frequently assume smoke signals cover all periods. 33 CFR §175.130
Pitfall 2: Assuming one electric distress light covers both day and night. The electric distress light (161.013) satisfies the night-only requirement. It does not satisfy the day requirement. You still need an orange flag or pyrotechnic device for daytime. 33 CFR §175.130
Pitfall 3: Applying recreational vessel quantities to T-boats. A candidate who memorizes "three flares" for recreational vessels may answer incorrectly when the question involves an inspected passenger vessel on a coastwise route, which requires six hand red flares and six hand orange smoke signals. 46 CFR §180.68
Pitfall 4: Forgetting the 30-minute short-run exemption applies only to T-boats under §180.68. This exemption is specific to inspected passenger vessels under 46 CFR §180.68. It does not eliminate VDS requirements for recreational vessels or commercial fishing vessels under their respective regulations. 46 CFR §180.68
Pitfall 5: Overlooking stowage marking requirements. The container must be bright-colored and marked "DISTRESS SIGNALS" in letters at least 0.5 inches high. An unmarked or improperly marked container is a deficiency during a USCG inspection. 46 CFR §185.614
Pitfall 6: Treating the white strobe as a universal distress signal. The high-intensity white light is a recognized distress signal only when it flashes at 50 to 70 times per minute. A standard anchor light or deck strobe does not qualify. 33 CFR §87.01
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Quick Check
Q1: You are operating a 45-foot recreational vessel at night. You carry three hand-held orange smoke signals (160.037) and one electric distress light (161.013). Does this combination satisfy both day and night VDS requirements?
Yes. Three hand-held orange smoke signals (160.037) satisfy the day requirement, and one electric distress light (161.013) satisfies the night requirement. This combination is explicitly cited as meeting both day and night requirements. 33 CFR §175.130
Q2: An inspected small passenger vessel operates on a coastwise route. How many hand red flare distress signals and hand orange smoke distress signals must it carry?
Six hand red flare distress signals (160.021 or 160.121 series) and six hand orange smoke distress signals (160.037 series). 46 CFR §180.68
Q3: A commercial fishing vessel operates 60 miles offshore. What distress signals are required?
Three parachute flares (approval series 160.136), six hand flares (approval series 160.121), and three smoke signals (approval series 160.122). 46 CFR §28.145
Q4: A crewmember wants to test a parachute flare to make sure it works before an offshore trip. Is this permitted?
No. Use or exhibition of any recognized distress signal for any purpose other than indicating distress and need of assistance is prohibited. 33 CFR §87.02
Q5: A pyrotechnic VDS device requires a launcher. The vessel carries the flares but not the launcher. Does this satisfy the carriage requirement?
No. When a visual distress signal requires a launcher to activate, a launcher approved under 46 CFR 160.028 must also be carried. The flares alone do not satisfy the requirement. 33 CFR §175.113
Q6: What are the marking requirements for a portable watertight container used to stow distress flares on an inspected passenger vessel?
The container must be of a bright color and clearly marked in legible contrasting letters at least 12.7 millimeters (0.5 inches) high with the words "DISTRESS SIGNALS." 46 CFR §185.614
Q7: An inspected passenger vessel makes runs of approximately 25 minutes from the dock. Is it required to carry distress flares and smoke signals under 46 CFR §180.68?
No. A vessel operating on short runs limited to approximately 30 minutes away from the dock is not required to carry distress flares and smoke signals under 46 CFR §180.68. 46 CFR §180.68
Q8: Which of the following is a recognized distress signal: (a) orange smoke, (b) red smoke, (c) green flare, (d) white parachute flare?
(a) Orange smoke. A smoke signal giving off orange-colored smoke is a recognized distress signal. Red smoke, green flares, and white parachute flares do not appear on the recognized distress signal list. 33 CFR §87.01