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 pre departure checklist
water sense
playing safe on water
avoiding tugs & barges
fog at sea
distress signals at sea
sitting out a hurricane
holing up for a hurricane
heavy weather sailing
fire on board
towing and salvage
US salvage contract

distress signals

Rule 37 in the Rules of the Road states:

"When a vessel is in distress and requires assistance she shall use or exhibit the signals described in Annex IV to these regulations."

Red Star
Shells		 Fog Horn
Continuous
Soundings
 		 Flames on
A Vessel		 Gun Fired at Intervals of One Minute
Orange
Background
Black Ball &
Square
 		 SOS "Mayday"
by Radio		 Parachute
Red Flare
Dye Marker
(any color)		 Code Flags
November
Charlie
 		 Square Flag
and Ball		 Wave
Arms
Radio-
Telegraph
Alarm		 Radio-
Telephone
Alarm		 Epirb Smoke