[Code of Federal Regulations]
[Title 46, Volume 7]
[Revised as of October 1, 2003]
From the U.S. Government Printing Office via GPO Access
[CITE: 46CFR180.68]

[Page 249-250]
 
                           TITLE 46--SHIPPING
 
   CHAPTER I--COAST GUARD, DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY (CONTINUED)
 
PART 180--LIFESAVING EQUIPMENT AND ARRANGEMENTS--Table of Contents
 
                   Subpart B--Emergency Communications
 
Sec. 180.68  Distress flares and smoke signals.

    (a) Oceans, coastwise, limited coastwise, and Great Lakes routes. 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 
Sec. 160.021 in subchapter Q of this chapter, or other standard 
specified by the Commandant; and
    (2) Six hand orange smoke distress signals approved in accordance 
with Sec. 160.037 in subchapter Q of this chapter, or other standard 
specified by the Commandant.
    (b) Lakes, bays, and sounds, and rivers routes. A vessel on a lakes, 
bays, and sounds, or rivers route must carry:
    (1) Three hand red flare distress signals approved in accordance 
with Sec. 160.021 in subchapter Q of this chapter, or other standard 
specified by the Commandant; and
    (2) Three hand orange smoke distress signals approved in accordance 
with Sec. 160.037 in subchapter Q of this chapter, or other standard 
specified by the Commandant.
    (c) Substitutions. (1) A rocket parachute flare approved in 
accordance with Sec. 160.036 in subchapter Q of this chapter, or other 
standard specified by the Commandant may be substituted for any of the 
hand red flare distress signals required under paragraph (a) or (b) of 
this section.
    (2) One of the following may be substituted for any of the hand 
orange smoke distress signals required under paragraph (a) or (b) of 
this section:
    (i) A rocket parachute flare approved in accordance with 
Sec. 160.036 in subchapter Q of this chapter, or other standard 
specified by the Commandant.

[[Page 250]]

    (ii) A hand red flare distress signal approved in accordance with 
Sec. 160.021 in subchapter Q of this chapter, or other standard 
specified by the Commandant.
    (iii) A floating orange smoke distress signal approved in accordance 
with Sec. 160.022 in subchapter Q of this chapter, or other standard 
specified by the Commandant.
    (d) Exemption for vessels on short runs. 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 this section.
    (e) Stowage. Each flare carried to meet this section must be stowed 
in one of the following:
    (1) A portable watertight container marked as required by 
Sec. 185.614 of this chapter, 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.

[CGD 85-080, 61 FR 975, Jan. 10, 1996; 61 FR 20557, May 7, 1996, as 
amended at 62 FR 51357, Sept. 30, 1997]