RULE 37: Distress Signals
When a vessel is in distress and requires assistance she shall use or exhibit the signals described in Annexure IV to these regulations.
Annexure IV – Distress signals
- Need of Assistance:
The following signals, used or exhibited either together or separately, indicate distress and need of assistance:- a gun or other explosive signal fired at intervals of about a minute;
- a continuous sounding with any fog-signalling apparatus;
- rockets or shells, throwing red stars fired one at a time at short intervals;
- a signal made by morse telegraphy or by any other signalling method consisting of the group …—… (SOS) in the morse code;
- a signal sent by radiotelephony consisting of the spoken word “Mayday”;
- the International Code Signal of distress indicated by N.C;
- a signal consisting of a square flag having above or below it a ball or something resembling a ball;
- flames on the vessel (as from a burning tar barrel, etc;
- a rocket parachute flare or a hand held flare showing a red light;
- a smoke signal giving off orange coloured smoke;
- slowly and repeatedly raising your arms;
- the radiotelegraph alarm signal;
- the radiotelephony alarm signal.
- signals transmitted by emergency position indicating radio beacons (EPIRB’s)
- approved signals transmitted by radio communication systems.
- Use of signals:
The use or exhibition of the foregoing signals except for the purpose of indicating distress or need of assistance and the use of other signals which maybe confused with any of the above signals is prohibited. - Other Signals:
Attention is drawn to the International code of Signals, the Merchant Ship Search and Rescue Manual and the following signals:- a piece of orange coloured canvas with either a black square or circle or other appropriate signal (for identification).
- dye marker.