[Code of Federal Regulations]

[Title 33, Volume 1]

[Revised as of July 1, 2005]

From the U.S. Government Printing Office via GPO Access

[CITE: 33CFR87.1]



[Page 219-220]

 

                TITLE 33--NAVIGATION AND NAVIGABLE WATERS

 

         CHAPTER I--COAST GUARD, DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY

 

PART 87_ANNEX IV: DISTRESS SIGNALS--Table of Contents

 

Sec. 87.1  Need of assistance.









Sec.

87.1 Need of assistance.

87.3 Exclusive use.

87.5 Supplemental signals.



    Authority: 33 U.S.C. 2071; 49 CFR 1.46.





    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 radiotelegraphy or by any other signaling 

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.



[[Page 220]]



    (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 rocket parachute flare or a hand flare showing a red light;

    (j) A smoke signal giving off orange-colored smoke;

    (k) Slowly and repeatedly raising and lowering arms outstretched to 

each side;

    (l) The radiotelegraph alarm signal;

    (m) The radiotelephone alarm signal;

    (n) Signals transmitted by emergency position-indicating radio 

beacons;

    (o) Signals transmitted by radiocommunication systems, including 

survival craft radar transponders meeting the requirements of 47 CFR 

80.1095.

    (p) A high intensity white light flashing at regular intervals from 

50 to 70 times per minute.



[CGD 81-007, 47 FR 16174, Apr. 15, 1982, as amended by CGD 89-024, 55 FR 

3947, Feb. 6, 1990; CGD 94-011, 63 FR 5732, Feb. 4, 1998]