- Laws of Fiji

[MAT 21,185] Distress signals37

(1) When a ship is in distress it must use or exhibit the following signals either together or separately to indicate distress and need of assistance—

(a)a gun or other explosive signals fired at intervals of about one minute;
(b)a continuous sounding with any fog-signalling apparatus;
(c)rockets or shells, throwing red stars fired one at a time at short intervals;
(d)a signal made by any signalling method consisting of the group “.........................---.........................” (SOS) in Morse Code;
(e)a signal sent by radiotelephony consisting of the spoken word “MAYDAY”;
(f)the International 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 a ship, for example, from a burning tar barrel, oil barrel etc;
(i)a rocket parachute flare or a hand flare showing a red light;
(j)a smoke signal giving off orange-coloured smoke;
(k)slowly and repeatedly raising and lowering arms outstretched to each side;
(l)a distress alert by means of digital selective calling (DSC) transmitted on—
- (i)VHF channel 70; or
- (ii)MF/HF on the frequencies 2187.5 kHz, 8414.5 kHz, 4207.5 kHz, 6312 kHz, 12577 kHz or 16804.5 kHz;
(m)a ship-to-shore distress alert transmitted by the ship’s Recognised Mobile Satellite Service Provider (RMSSP) ship earth station;
(n)signals transmitted by emergency position-indicating radio beacons; or
(o)approved signals transmitted by radio communications systems, including survival craft radar transponders.

(2) The following signals provided in the International Code of Signals, the International Aeronautical and Maritime Search and Rescue Manual, Volume III and the following signals shall also be signals for the purpose of this regulation—

(a)a piece of orange-coloured canvas with either a black square and circle or other appropriate symbol (for identification from the air); or
(b)a dye marker.