4.4 Distress Signals
It is the International Regulations for Prevention of Collision at Sea that give the full definitive list of distress signals, in Annex IV. So here they are.
It will be evident that some are more useful and usual than others, and the "recommended" ones are highlighted in bold. But ANY of these is a distress signal which skippers should be able to recognise:
(a) a gun or other explosive signal fired at intervals of about one minute
(b) continuous sounding with any fog signalling apparatus
(c) rockets or shells throwing red stars, fired one at a time at short intervals
Similar to what we carry in standard flare packs, or Very pistols.
(d) a signal made with any signalling method consisting of the group S O S in the Morse Code: • • • - - - • • •
Very widely recognised and easily produced with a torch, horn etc.
(e) a signal sent by radiotelephony consisting of the spoken word "Mayday"
Usually the best method, because you can then have a conversation with the Coastguard on the VHF. See below.
(f) the internal 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
(h) flames on the vessel
(i) a rocket parachute flare or hand flare showing a red light
Both are carried in standard flare packs.
(j) a smoke signal giving off orange coloured smoke
Also in flare packs, for daytime use.
(k) slowly and repeatedly raising and lowering arms outstretched to each side
(l) the radiotelegraph alarm signal
(m) the radiotelephone alarm signal
(n) signals transmitted by emergency position-indicating radio beacons (EPIRBs)
Very useful if you carry one - the only effective signal when a long distance from shore.
(o) approved signals transmitted by radio communication systems, including survival craft radar transponders
SART devices are also very useful, because they give considerable assistance in rescue scenarios.
Mayday Message
The Mayday call is by far the most useful method of signallling distress and getting rescued. (Why "Mayday"? Because it's from the French for "Help me" - "M'Aidez". Most of the radio procedural words are anglicised French.) This is outside the scope of the IRPCS, but it is logical to tell you about it here.
There is a specified set of information that you should provide in a Mayday message, in a particular order. Don't worry if you can't remember it exactly, but this is the "proper" form of a Mayday message and the Coastguard will ask you for this information if you don't include it. (<identity> is the name of the vessel):
"Mayday Mayday Mayday"
"This is <identity> <identity> <identity>"
"Mayday"
"<identity>"
"My position is ... " (either Lat and Long, or distance and direction from a known point)
Nature of distress: e.g. "We are taking on water ...."
Assistance required: e.g. "We require immediate assistance."
"The number of people on board is ... " (include everyone)
Any other helpful information: e.g. "We are a small blue-hulled yacht and we are firing distress flares"
"Over"
My personal mnemonic for the above is M I P D A N I O - for Mayday Identity Position Distress Assistance Number Information Over - which for some reason is strangely memorably.
