DISTRESS

DISTRESS

Authority to use Distress Signals

No signal of distress shall be used by any ship unless the Master so orders.

The Master shall not order any signal of distress to be used un less he is satisfied:

 That his vessel is in serious and imminent danger, or that another vessel, aircraft or a
person is in serious or imminent danger and cannot itself send that signal; and
 That the vessel in danger (whether his own vessel or another vessel), the aircraft in
danger, or the person in danger as the case may be, requires immediate assistance in
addition to any assistance then available to her.

The Master of a vessel, which has sent any signal of distress, by means of radio or any other
means, shall cause that signal to be revoked by all appropriate means as soon as he is satisfied
that the vessel or aircraft is no longer in need of assistance.

Distress signals can be found in Annex IV of the Collision Regulations

Misuse of Distress Signals

If prescribed signals are used in wrong circumstances or a private signal, liable to be mistaken
for a distress signal is used or displayed, the Master who offends or permits anyone under his
authority to offend, is liable, on conviction on indictment to a fine, and, on summary conviction,
to a maximum fine of £1000, and further liable to pay compensation for any labour undertaken,
risk incurred or loss sustained in consequence. The compensation is recoverable in the same
manner as salvage.

Obligation to Assist Vessels or Aircraft in Distress

If a signal is received from any source that a vessel or aircraft is in distress, the Master of a
British ship is to proceed with all speed to the persons in distress and, if possible, inform them
that he is doing so, unless:

 He is unable to
 In special circumstances he considers it unreasonable or unnecessary
 He is released from the obligation

Bear in mind that a distress message received by DSC should be acknowledged by a Coast Radio
Station (CRS) if possible. If no CRS acknowledges within a short period of time, than the Master
is still obliged to acknowledge, retransmit and proceed to the distress