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Transport Canada
Table of Contents
Foreword
Definitions
Navigating Safely
Stablility
Safety on the Job
Equipment and Installations
Life Saving Equipment
Weather Information
Emergencies
Distress Signals
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Sample Sailing Plan
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Transport Canada > Marine Safety Home Page > Transport Publications | Marine Safety > Small Fishing Vessel Safety Manual (2003) | TP 10038 | Marine Safety

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Standard Marine Distress Signals

Search and Rescue/Canadian Coast Guard

Radio

Radiotelephone
Call: "Mayday!"
Give: name and position
Use: 156.8 MHz-Ch16
2182 kHz;
or use alarm signal.
VHF-DSC

406 MHz
Emergency position indicating radiobeacon
EPIRB

 

Code Flags.Code Flags

N over C



Distress Cloth. Distress Cloth

Ball over or under Square. Ball

over or under

Square


 

Sound signals: continuous. A black horn emitting red sound waves. Sound Signals

Continuous: Foghorn, bell, whistle.

Sound signals: 1-minute intervals. A gun or any explosive.

1-minute intervals: Gun or any explosive


 

Flares. Type A: Parachute rocket; and Type B: Multi-star rocket.Flares

Type A:
Parachute rocket



Type B:
Multi-star rocket


Flare. Type C: Hand-held. Type C:
Hand-held


Flare. Type D: Buoyant, floating in water.
Type D:
Buoyant or hand-held orange smoke



 

A flashlight. Flashlight


An arm signal. Arms extended outwards at shoulder height. Arm Signal

Do not use near helicopter (different meaning)


A flame. Flame on Vessel

as from burning tar, oil in barrel, etc.


A dye marker. Dye Marker


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Last updated: 2006 02 10 Top of Page Important Notices