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Electronic
Communications
Emergency
Signals Flags
Lights
Sounds
Day Shapes
There are two sets of rules
which govern the waters in and around the United States: Inland
Rules apply to all inland waters of the United States and International
Rules apply to the high seas and all connecting waters navigable by
seagoing vessels.
Electronic Communications
Emergency Signals -
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 The following are Approved
International Emergency Signals
See the
USCG Navigational Rules
1) SOS in Morse Code .
. . _ _ _ . . .
2) Mayday call
3) Gun or explosive signal fired at intervals of about one minute.
4) Continuous sounding of any fog signaling device.
5) Red flares; Rockets or shells with red star.
6) Orange smoke.
7) Flames on a vessel (such as oil burning in a drum)
8) International signal of distress indicated by code flags " N
" and " C "
9) Slowly raising and lowering outstretched arms.
10) A ball above a square flag.
 11)
Orange canvas with the symbol of a black ball above a black square.
12) A dye marker.
13) High intensity white light blinking at regular intervals of 50
to 70 times per second.
( Inland Rules Only )
Sounds -
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View Presentation on Inland Navigational Sounds
(Courtesy of Ohio DNR)
See the
USCG Navigational Rules
A vessel of more than 12
meters in length shall have a bell and whistle. A short blast is one
second and a prolonged blast is 4 to 6 seconds.
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Signals for Maneuvering
& Warning Signals (Inland & International Rules
34):
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1) One Short Blast: (USA Inland
Rule 34) You wish to pass port
to port. ( One blast for the one sylable word "port" )
2) One Short Blast: (International Rule 34) When two vessels are
in sight of each other and you wish to signal you are altering your course
to starboard. ( Two blasts for the two sylable word "starboard" )
3) Two Short Blasts: (USA
Inland Rule 34) You wish to
pass starboard-to-starboard.
4) Two Short Blasts: (International Rule 34) When
two vessels are in sight of each other and you wish to signal you are
altering your course to port.
5) Two Short Blasts: (USA Inland
Rule 34) You wish to overtake a vessel on the port side.
6) Two Prolonged Blasts followed by Two Short Blasts:
(International Rule 34) You wish to overtake a vessel on the port side.
7) One Short Blast: (USA
Inland Rule 34) You wish to overtake a vessel on the starboard side.
8) Two Prolonged Blasts followed by One Short Blasts:
(International Rule 34) You wish to overtake a vessel on the starboard
side.
9) Three Short Blasts: You are operating
in reverse.
10) Five or more Short Blasts:
Doubt or danger
Lights may also be used to supplement the
above sound signals.
1) One flash about one second: I
intend to leave you on my port.
2) Two flashes about one second each: I intend to leave you
on my starboard.
3) Three flashes about one second each: I am operation with
astern propulsion.
4) Five flashes about one second each: I am in doubt,
danger.
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Signals for Operations in
Reduced Visibility (Inland & International Rules 35)
The signals used in
reduced visibility should be given every 2 minutes. A short blast is about one second and a long
blast is four to six seconds.
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1) One Prolonged Blast: Vessel is making way
under power in reduced visibility (i.e. fog). This signal
is sounded at intervals of not more that 2 minutes.
2) Two Prolonged Blasts:
A vessel stopped and not making way but sill under way in reduced
visibility. This signal is sounded at intervals of not more that 2
minutes.
3) One
Prolonged
Blast followed by Two
Short Blasts Sailing vessel, commercial fishing vessel, vessel
not under command or one restricted by draft which is operation in
restricted visibility. This signal would be used by a sailboat
sailing in fog. This signal is sounded at intervals of not more that
2 minutes.
4) One Prolonged Blast
followed by three short Blasts: A vessel being towed in reduced
visibility.
Lights
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View Presentation on Inland Navigational Lights &
Shapes (Courtesy of Ohio DNR)
See the
USCG Navigational Rules
Light
patterns and required displays are complicated. A summary is given
below. However, you should always consult the USCG regulations to
make sure the abbreviated descriptions below apply to your boat.
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At night, all boats which are not at dock are
required to have lights.
Running lights should be turned on when
underway or at times of reduced visibility. All boats should
display running lights at night and are required for boats equal to or
greater than 23 feet. Sailing vessels under 65.6 feet ( 20
meters ) may have all
running lights displayed at the top of the mast.
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A sailboat's running lights, when under sail, are a green light
on the starboard bow, a red light on the port bow and a white light
pointing aft, on the stern.
Sailor's Tip: PORT wine is RED; The sailor LEFT his bottle of
PORT wine behind.
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A power driven vessel (including sailboats under
power) has a green light on the starboard bow, a red light on the
port bow and a white light on a stern, and a white light covering the same
arc as the red and green combined..
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Additional light configurations are as
discussed below: (Note: Also below is a short self test with the
navigational light configurations -- mouse over to see the answer.)
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 1) At Anchor - A single white
light on the mast which can be seen 360 degrees. A vessel over 100
meters shall also use the available working lights to illuminate her
decks.
2) Aground - Two red lights in a vertical line. (Rule 30)
3) Making way with sails up and motor on - Inverted cone ( only
required for sailboats, 12 meters or larger ).
 4) Dredging or making way with an obstruction on one side - Two
round green lights in a vertical line to indicate the
side safe to pass. Two red lights in a vertical
line to indicate the side which has the obstruction. Because the
dredging vessel also has restricted maneuverability, it must also display
three lights in a vertical line. The top and bottom lights are
red and the middle light is white.
5) Vessel restrained by draft, vessel - Three red
lights in a vertical line.
6) Vessel restricted in her maneuverability and the vessel is
less than 50 meters. - Three lights in a vertical line. The top and
bottom lights are red and the middle light is white.
 7) Vessel not under command and not making way- Two red lights in a
vertical line.
8) Vessel not under command and making way- Two red lights in a
vertical line plus red port, green starboard and white stern navigation
lights.
9) Vessel engaged in trawling ( fishing by dragging an apparatus
in the water such as a net) - Two vertical lights. The top light is
green and the bottom light is white.
10) Vessel engaged in fishing other that trawling - Two vertical
lights. The top light is red and the bottom light is white.
11) A vessel diving: Three vertical lights. The top and
bottom lights are red and the middle light is white.
12) Towing have a variety of light patterns. However, all have
yellow towing lights.
See inland navigation rules for specific patterns.
Day Shapes -
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View Presentation on Inland Navigational Lights &
Shapes (Courtesy of Ohio DNR)
There are five
types of day shapes: Circle, Diamond, Cone Apex Pointed Up, Cone
Apex
Pointed Down, and a Cylinder. All day shapes are black in color.
See the
USCG Navigational Rules
1) At Anchor - Single round ball
2) Aground - Three round balls in a vertical line.
3) Making way with sails up and motor on - Inverted cone ( only
required for sailboats, 12 meters or larger ).
4) Dredging or making way with an obstruction on one side - Two
green lights or two diamonds in a vertical line to indicate the
side safe to pass. ( Diamonds are a sailors best friend - Thus,
safe to pass. ) Two red lights or two circles in a vertical
line to indicate the side which has the obstruction.
5) Vessel not under command - Two round balls in a straight line.
6) Vessel restrained by draft - A cylinder.
7) Vessel restricted in her maneuverability - Three shapes in a
straight line. The top and the bottom are a ball and the middle is
a diamond.
8) Vessel engaged in fishing - Two cones in a vertical line with
their apexes pointed at the center.
Flags
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There are 46 flags and
14 pennants which can be used to display a special predefined meaning, a
letter or a number. A complete list of flags can be found at
US
Navy Signal Flags . Some of the more
common flags used are as follows:
 Q
"Quebec" flag for quarantine that your vessel meets all health
requirements and requests passage into port or through customs.
 A
"Alfa" I have a diver down below.
 F
"Foxtrot" I am disabled;
communicate with me.
 D
"Delta" I have restricted maneuverability or maneuvering with
difficulty, keep clear.
 L
"Lima" You should stop your vessel immediately
  N
and C "November" and "Charlie" International Distress Flags
The "N" flag alone signifies "No" or "Negative"
The "C" flag alone signifies "Yes" or "Affirmative"
 O
"Oscar" Man Over-Board
 U
"Uniform" You are running into danger
 V
"Victor" I require assistance
 W
"Whiskey" I require medical assistance
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