1 The following signals, used or exhibited either
together or separately, indicate distress and need of assistance:
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(a) a gun or other explosive signals fired at
intervals of about a minute;
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(b) a continuous sounding with any fog-signalling
apparatus;
-
(c) rockets or shells, throwing red stars fired
one at a time at short intervals;
-
(d) a signal made by any signalling 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.;
-
(g) a signal consisting of a square flag having
above or below it a ball or anything resembling a ball;
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(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-coloured
smoke;
-
(k) slowly and repeatedly raising and lowering
arms outstretched to each side;
-
(l) a distress alert by means of digital selective
calling (DSC) transmitted on:
-
(i) VHF channel 70, or
-
(ii) MF/HF on the frequencies 2187.5 kHz, 8414.5
kHz, 4207.5 kHz, 6312 kHz, 12577 kHz or 16804.5 kHz;
-
(m) a ship-to-shore distress alert transmitted
by the ship’s Inmarsat or other mobile satellite service provider
ship earth station;
-
(n) signals transmitted by emergency position-indicating
radio beacons;
-
(o) approved signals transmitted by radiocommunications
systems, including survival craft radar transponders.
2 The use or exhibition of any of the foregoing
signals, except for the purpose of indicating distress and need of
assistance and the use of other signals which may be confused with
any of the above signals, is prohibited.
3 Attention is drawn to the relevant sections
of the International Code of Signals, the International Aeronautical
and Maritime Search and Rescue Manual, Volume III and the following
signals: