Visual distress signals — flares, smoke, hand-held

33 CFR §175.113

§ 175.113 § 175.113 Launchers. (a) When a visual distress signal carried to meet the requirements of § 175.110 requires a launcher to activate, then a launcher approved under 46 CFR 160.028 must also be carried.

33 CFR §175.130

§ 175.130 § 175.130 Visual distress signals accepted. (a) Any of the following signals, when carried in the number required, can be used to meet the requirements of § 175.110: (1) An electric distress light meeting the standards of 46 CFR 161.013. One is required to meet the night only requirement. (2) An orange flag meeting the standards of 46 CFR 160.072. One is required to meet the day only requirement. (3) Pyrotechnics meeting the standards noted in Table 175.130. (b) Any combination of signal devices selected from the types noted in paragraphs (a) (1), (2) and (3) of this section, when carried in the number required, may be used to meet both day and night requirements.—the combination of two hand held red flares (160.021), and one parachute red flare (160.024 or 160.036) meets bo…

33 CFR §87.01

§ 87.01 § 87.01 Need of assistance. The following signals, used or exhibited either together or separately, indicate distress and need of assistance: (a) A gun or other explosive signal fired at intervals of about a minute; (b) A continuous sounding with any fog-signaling apparatus; (c) Rockets or shells, throwing red stars fired one at a time at short intervals; (d) A signal made by any method consisting of the group . . . - - - . . . (SOS) in the Morse Code; (e) A signal sent by radiotelephony consisting of the spoken word “Mayday”; (f) The International Code Signal of distress indicated by N.C.; (g) A signal consisting of a square flag having above or below it a ball or anything resembling a ball; (h) Flames on the vessel (as from a burning tar barrel, oil barrel, etc.); (i) A…

33 CFR §87.02

§ 87.02 § 87.02 Exclusive use. The use or exhibition of any of the foregoing signals except for the purpose of indicating distress and need of assistance and the use of other signals which may be confused with any of the above signals is prohibited.

46 CFR §180.68

§ 180.68 § 180.68 Distress flares and smoke signals. (a)A vessel on an oceans, coastwise, limited coastwise, or Great Lakes route must carry— (1) Six hand red flare distress signals approved in accordance with § 160.021 in subchapter Q of this chapter, or other standard specified by the Commandant, including, but not limited to, approval series 160.121; and (2) Six hand orange smoke distress signals approved in accordance with § 160.037 in subchapter Q of this chapter, or other standard specified by the Commandant. (b)A vessel on a lakes, bays, and sounds, or rivers route must carry: (1) Three hand red flare distress signals approved in accordance with § 160.021 in subchapter Q of this chapter, or other standard specified by the Commandant; and (2) Three hand orange smoke distress si…

46 CFR §185.614

§ 185.614 § 185.614 Portable watertight containers for distress flares and smoke signals. Portable watertight containers for distress flares and smoke signals shall be of a bright color, and containers shall be clearly marked in legible contrasting letters at least 12.7 millimeters (0.5 inches) high: “DISTRESS SIGNALS”. [CGD 85-080, 61 FR 1005, Jan. 10, 1996; 61 FR 24465, May 15, 1996]