International Distress Signals
Slowly and repeatedly
RAISING AND LOWERING OF ARMS
outstretched to each side
HAND HELD FLARE or
ROCKET PARACHUTE FLARE
showing a RED light
RED STARS
– thrown by rocket/shells,
one at a time at short intervals
ORANGE SMOKE
– from a smoke signal
CONTINUOUS SOUNDING of any
FOG SIGNALLING APPARATUS
GUN or EXPLOSIVE SIGNAL
fired at intervals of about
ONE MINUTE
FLAMES ON A VESSEL
-or heavy smoke from a vessel as from burning oil barrel or tar
SQUARE FLAG
– having above or below it a
BALL or anything resembling a BALL.
Known as ‘The distance signal’
INTERNATIONAL CODE SIGNAL OF DISTRESS ‘NC’
- The flying of flags ‘N’ over ‘C’ signifies “ I am in distress and request IMMEDIATE ASSISTANCE”
- May be made in MORSE CODE ( – · / – · – · ), by light or sound
- (Sometimes referred to as ‘November over Charlie’ signal)
S O S
Signal‘ S O S ‘ by any signal method Either by SOUND, LIGHT or RADIOTELEGRAPHY
AIDS TO IDENTIFICATION
(Following sending of distress signal)
- A DYE marker in the sea
- A piece of ORANGE material with a BLACK SQUARE or CIRCLE or similar mark
Either or both of the above assist searching aircraft to identify casualty vessel
- The RADIO TELEGRAPH ALARM SIGNAL
- The RADIO TELEPHONE ALARM SIGNAL
- Radiotelephony Signal comprising of the spoken word ‘MAYDAY, MAYDAY, MAYDAY’ followed by ‘MAYDAY, this is (name of vessel), position, nature of distress’
- Signals transmitted by Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacons (EPIRB’s)
OTHER METHODS OF SENDING SIGNALS
NOTES
- ENSIGN INVERTED IS NOT a recognised International Distress signal, but is widely ccepted to indicate a vessel in distress. When no other means is available
- The single letter ‘V’ by flag or Morse Code (· · · –) means ‘I require assistance but is NOT a distress signal
EMERGENCY ?
Dial 112 or 999 ask for Coastguard, Police, Fire or Ambulance as appropriate