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Code of Federal Regulations Title 33. Navigation and Navigable Waters § 33.175.130 Visual distress signals accepted

Current as of January 02, 2025 | Updated by Findlaw Staff

(a) Any of the following signals, when carried in the number required, can be used to meet the requirements of § 175.110:

(1) An electric distress light meeting the standards of 46 CFR 161.013. One is required to meet the night only requirement.

(2) An orange flag meeting the standards of 46 CFR 160.072. One is required to meet the day only requirement.

(3) Pyrotechnics meeting the standards noted in Table 175.130.

(b) Any combination of signal devices selected from the types noted in paragraphs (a)(1), (2) and (3) of this section, when carried in the number required, may be used to meet both day and night requirements. Examples—the combination of two hand held red flares (160.021), and one parachute red flare (160.024 or 160.036) meets both day and night requirements. Three hand held orange smoke (160.037) with one electric distress light (161.013) meet both day and night requirements.

Table 175.130–Pyrotechnic Signal Devices

Approval number under 46 CFR

Device description

Meets requirement for

Number required

160.021

Hand Held Red Flare Distress Signals 3.

Day and Night․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․

3

160.022

Floating Orange Smoke Distress Signals.

Day Only․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․

3

160.024

Parachute Red Flare Distress Signals.

Day and Night 1․․․․․․․․․

3

160.036

Hand-Held Rocket-Propelled Parachute Red Flare Distress Signals.

Day and Night․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․

3

160.037

Hand-Held Orange Smoke Distress Signals.

Day Only․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․

3

160.057

Floating Orange Smoke Distress Signals.

Day Only․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․

3

160.066

Distress Signal for Boats, Red Aerial Pyrotechnic Flare.

Day and Night 2․․․․․․․․․

3

1 These signals require use in combination with a suitable launching device approved under 46 CFR 160.028.

2 These devices may be either meteor or parachute assisted type. Some of these signals may require use in combination with a suitable launching device approved under 46 CFR 160.028.

3 Must have manufacture date of 1 Oct. 1980 or later.

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Cite this article: FindLaw.com - Code of Federal Regulations Title 33. Navigation and Navigable Waters § 33.175.130 Visual distress signals accepted - last updated January 02, 2025 | https://codes.findlaw.com/cfr/title-33-navigation-and-navigable-waters/cfr-sect-33-175-130/

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