If you can assist the stricken vessel without endangering yourself, you should. Flags serve a variety of purposes in the marine environment. There is no legislation governing the flying of any flag on numbered, undocumented or licensed vessels. However, there is a proper etiquette involved when displaying flags. Recreational boaters may fly flags to display boating affiliations. For example, many yacht clubs provide triangular shaped burgees to members.
And, members of the U. Power Squadrons and U. Coast Guard Auxiliary fly flags to identify themselves. Boaters also fly flags to identify their home state or nationality.
Flags are also used for specific boating activities and navigational purposes. For example, boats with scuba divers must fly a "diver down" flag when divers are in the water. There are two types of diver down flags and both are appropriate to display. They are a red flag with a white diagonal stripe and a rigid replica of an "alfa" flag. Another example is the flags used by committee members and participants of events sponsored by the US Sailing, the governing body of sailboat racing.
Flags are also used to signal your need for help. When in distress, a boat should fly an orange flag with a black square and black ball. A man overboard flag, consisting of the letter "O", can be fixed to a staff which is in turn fixed to a life ring.
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Donate Now Support Our Mission. Marketplace Your Purchase will Make a Difference. Visual Distress Signals The Regulations This information is directed primarily to recreational boaters, but the requirements discussed also apply to operators of vessels engaged in the carrying of six or fewer passengers.
The only exceptions are during daytime sunrise to sunset for: Recreational boats less than 16 feet in length Boats participating in organized events such as races, regattas or marine parades Open sailboats not equipped with propulsion machinery and less than 26 feet in length Manually propelled boats These boats only need to carry night signals when used on these waters at night.
Types of Visual Distress Signals A wide variety of signaling devices, both pyrotechnic and non-pyrotechnic, can be carried to meet the requirements of the regulation. Recreational boats less than 16' operating in coastal waters need only carry night signaling devices when operated at night.
All other boats must carry both night and day signaling devices. Any combination can be carried as long as they add up to three signals for day use and three signals for night use.
The following details a combination of devices which can be carried in order to meet the requirements: Three hand-held red flares day and night. Flares must be under 42 months of age. One electric distress light night only. One hand-held red flare and two parachute flares day and night. One hand-held orange smoke signal, two floating orange smoke signals day and one electric distress light night only.
Pleasure craft operators must be able to recognize, use and properly exhibit distress signals as required by the Small Vessel Regulations. Depending on the size of your craft, and whether you are operating a power or sail-driven vessel, you are required to carry certain types of distress signals.
Remember: It is an offence to make or report a fake distress signal. Sending false distress signals takes time away from Search and Rescue Organizations, making them unavailable or farther away from real emergencies. You are required to render assistance to any person, vessel or aircraft that signals distress.
You are also required to offer assistance if you respond to a distress call and are asked by the vessel in distress to render assistance. If it is unreasonable unsafe to offer assistance, you are not required to help. You can use your hands to signal distress: slowly raise and lower outstretched arms from above your head to each side of your body in repetition.
You can use a portable horn or whistle to signal distress by continuously sounding it in one minute intervals. You can also signal S. You can signal distress by continuously sounding a fog-signalling device. You may also use a gunshot or other explosive sound-emitting device fired at one minute intervals. A watertight flashlight can serve as an effective distress signal at night or during periods of reduced visibility.
To signal distress with a flashlight, flash S. Two orange smoke and 2 red hand flares are needed as part of the safety equipment for these boats. Your flares must be in date. Flares have a life span of 3 years and must be replaced before they expire. The expiry date is printed on the flare. The red and orange flares allow a distress signal to be seen during the day and at night-time. Effective ranges of these flares in conditions of good visibility are:. There are severe penalties for misuse of flares including—the cost of labour, risk incurred or loss sustained as a result of misusing flares.
Make sure you dispose of expired flares correctly. All boats operating beyond smooth and partially smooth waters or more than 2nm from land in open waters must carry a MHz digital EPIRB. Lightweight craft means off the beach type craft, human powered canoe and kayak, small sailing vessels less than 6m in length and personal watercraft.
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