It's the Law: Required Equipment

Visual Distress Signals (VDSs)

• Vessels on state or federally controlled waters must be equipped with visual distress signals that are U.S. Coast Guard—approved, in serviceable condition, and readily accessible.
• All vessels, regardless of length or type, are required to carry night signals when operating between sunset and sunrise. Most vessels must carry day signals also; exceptions to the requirement for day signals are:
  • Recreational vessels that are less than 16 feet in length
  • Non-motorized open sailboats that are less than 26 feet in length
  • Manually propelled vessels
• If pyrotechnic VDSs are used, a minimum of three must be carried in the vessel.
• The following combinations of signals are examples of VDSs that satisfy U.S. Coast Guard requirements:
  • Three handheld red flares (day and night)
  • Three orange smoke signals (day only) and one electric light (night only)

U.S. Coast Guard—Approved Visual Distress Signals

Pyrotechnic Visual Distress Signals

Orange Smoke Day Signal

Red Meteor Day and Night Signal

Red Flare Day and Night Signal

Non-Pyrotechnic Visual Distress Signals

Electric Light Night Signal

Orange Flag Day Signal

Arm Signal Although this signal does not meet VDS equipment requirements, wave your arms to summon help if you do not have other distress signals on board.

Federally Controlled Waters

Vessels must observe federal requirements on these waters:

• Coastal waters
• The Great Lakes
• Territorial seas
• Waters which are two miles wide or wider and are connected directly to one of the above

Don't "cry wolf" ...
It is illegal to knowingly transmit a false distress or hoax call, whether it be by radio, telephone, emergency flares, or any other means of communication. Under Rhode Island law, the penalty for a false distress or hoax call is a $1,000 fine, one year in jail, and reimbursement of emergency response costs.