46 CFR § 28.145
Distress signals
April 15, 2021
Except as provided by 28.305, each vessel must be equipped with the distress signals specified in table 28.145.
Table 28.145—Distress Signals
Open Table
| Area | Devices required |
|---|---|
| Ocean, more than 50 miles from coastline | 3 parachute flares, approval series 160.136; plus 6 hand flares, approval series 160.121; plus 3 smoke signals, approval series 160.122. |
| Ocean, 3-50 miles from the coastline; or more than 3 miles from the coastline on the Great Lakes | 3 parachute flares, approval series 160.136, or 160.036; plus 6 hand flares, approval series 160.121 or 160.021; plus 3 smoke signals, approval series 160.122, 160.022, or 160.037. |
| Coastal waters, excluding the Great Lakes; or within 3 miles of the coastline on the Great Lakes | Night visual distress signals consisting of one electric distress light, approval series 161.013 or 3 approved flares; plus Day visual distress signals consisting of one distress flag, approval series 160.072, or 3 approved flares, or 3 approved smoke signals.1 |
1If flares are carried, the same 3 flares may be counted toward meeting both the day and night requirement.
[CGD 88-079, 56 FR 40393, Aug. 14, 1991, as amended at 60 FR 48048, Sept. 18, 1995; USCG-2000-7790, 65 FR 58458, Sept. 29, 2000]
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