EMERGENCY PROCEDURES
18
Visual Distress Signals
Boats in coastal waters and the great lakes should carry visual distress signals for day or
night use, as appropriate for the day of operation.
Carry three signals for day use and three signals for night use. Some pyrotechnic signals,
such as red flares, meet both day and night use requirements.
Store pyrotechnic signals in cool, dry location. An orange or red watertight container
prominently marked „Distress Signals“ is recommended.
Other recognized visual distress signals include:
Flames in a bucket
Code flags November and Charlie
Square flag and ball
Black square an ball on orange background flag
Orange flag (certified)
Electric distress light (certified) – for night use only
Dye marker (any colour)
Person waving arms
National flag flown upside down
Audible Distress Signals
National boating law enforcement agencies require one hand, mouth or power-operated whistle
or horn, audible at least a half kilometre.
Other recognized audible distress signals include:
Radio communication (see Emergency Procedures – Radio Communication)
Radio-telegraph alarm
Positron indicating radio beacon
Morse Code SOS (3 short, 3 long, 3 short) sounded by any means
