[Title 33 CFR C]
[Code of Federal Regulations (annual edition) - July 1, 2005 Edition]
[Title 33 - NAVIGATION AND NAVIGABLE WATERS]
[Chapter I - COAST GUARD, DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY (CONTINUED)]
[Subchapter S - BOATING SAFETY]
[Part 175 - EQUIPMENT REQUIREMENTS]
[Subpart C - Visual Distress Signals]
[From the U.S. Government Printing Office]
33NAVIGATION AND NAVIGABLE WATERS22005-07-012005-07-01falseVisual Distress SignalsCSubpart CNAVIGATION AND NAVIGABLE WATERSCOAST GUARD, DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY (CONTINUED)BOATING SAFETYEQUIPMENT REQUIREMENTS
Subpart C_Visual Distress Signals
Source: CGD 76-183, 44 FR 73024, Dec. 17, 1979, unless otherwise
noted.
Sec. 175.101 Applicability.
This subpart applies to boats on the coastal waters of the United
States and on the high seas beyond the territorial seas for boats owned
in the United States.
[CGD 76-183, 44 FR 73024, Dec. 17, 1979, as amended by USCG-1998-3799,
63 FR 35534, June 30, 1998]
[[Page 850]]
Sec. 175.105 Definitions.
(a) Visual distress signal means a device that is approved by the
Commandant under 46 CFR Part 160 or certified by the manufacturer under
46 CFR Parts 160 and 161.
(b) Coastal waters means:
(1) The U.S. waters of the Great Lakes (Lake Erie, Huron, Michigan,
Ontario, and Superior);
(2) The territorial seas of the United States; and
(3) Those waters directly connected to the Great Lakes and
territorial seas (i.e., bays, sounds, harbors, rivers, inlets, etc.)
where any entrance exceeds 2 nautical miles between opposite shorelines
to the first point where the largest distance between shorelines narrows
to 2 miles, as shown on the current edition of the appropriate National
Ocean Service chart used for navigation. Shorelines of islands or points
of land present within a waterway are considered when determining the
distance between opposite shorelines.
[CGD 76-183, 44 FR 73024, Dec. 17, 1979, as amended by CGD 82-073, 49 FR
7119, Feb. 27, 1984; 49 FR 20815, May 17, 1984]
Sec. 175.110 Visual distress signals required.
(a) No person may use a boat 16 feet or more in length, or any boat
operating as an uninspected passenger vessel subject to the requirements
of 46 CFR chapter I, subchapter C, unless visual distress signals
selected from the list in Sec. 175.130 or the alternatives in Sec.
175.135, in the number required, are onboard. Devices suitable for day
use and devices suitable for night use, or devices suitable for both day
and night use, must be carried.
(b) Between sunset and sunrise, no person may use a boat less than
16 feet in length unless visual distress signals suitable for night use,
selected from the list in Sec. 175.130 or Sec. 175.135, in the number
required, are on board.
[CGD 76-183, 44 FR 73024, Dec. 17, 1979, as amended by USCG-1999-5040,
67 FR 34760, May 15, 2002]
Sec. 175.113 Launchers.
(a) When a visual distress signal carried to meet the requirements
of Sec. 175.110 requires a launcher to activate, then a launcher
approved under 46 CFR 160.028 must also be carried.
Sec. 175.115 Exceptions.
The following persons need not comply with Sec. 175.110; however,
each must carry on board visual distress signals suitable for night use,
selected from the list in Sec. 175.130 or Sec. 175.135, in the number
required, between sunset and sunrise:
(a) A person competing in any organized marine parade, regatta,
race, or similar event;
(b) A person using a manually propelled boat; or
(c) A person using a sailboat of completely open construction, not
equipped with propulsion machinery, under 26[min] in length.
Sec. 175.120 Stowage.
No person may use a boat unless the visual distress signals required
by Sec. 175.110 are readily accessible.
[CGD 93-055, 61 FR 13926, Mar. 28, 1996, as amended by USCG-1999-5832,
64 FR 34715, June 29, 1999]
Sec. 175.125 Serviceability.
No person may use a boat unless each signal required by Sec.
175.110 is in serviceable condition and the service life of the signal,
if indicated by a date marked on the signal, has not expired.
[CGD 93-055, 61 FR 13926, Mar. 28, 1996, as amended by USCG-1999-5832,
64 FR 34715, June 29, 1999]
Sec. 175.128 Marking.
No person may use a boat unless each signal required by Sec.
175.110 is legibly marked with the approval number or certification
statement as specified in 46 CFR Parts 160 and 161.
[CGD 93-055, 61 FR 13926, Mar. 28, 1996, as amended by USCG-1999-5832,
64 FR 34715, June 29, 1999]
Sec. 175.130 Visual distress signals accepted.
(a) Any of the following signals, when carried in the number
required, can be used to meet the requirements of Sec. 175.110:
(1) An electric distress light meeting the standards of 46 CFR
161.013. One is
[[Page 851]]
required to meet the night only requirement.
(2) An orange flag meeting the standards of 46 CFR 160.072. One is
required to meet the day only requirement.
(3) Pyrotechnics meeting the standards noted in Table 175.130.
(b) Any combination of signal devices selected from the types noted
in paragraphs (a) (1), (2) and (3) of this section, when carried in the
number required, may be used to meet both day and night requirements.
Examples--the combination of two hand held red flares (160.021), and one
parachute red flare (160.024 or 160.036) meets both day and night
requirements. Three hand held orange smoke (160.037) with one electric
distress light (161.013) meet both day and night requirements.
Table 175.130--Pyrotechnic Signal Devices
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Approval
number Number
under 46 Device description Meets requirement for required
CFR
------------------------------------------------------------------------
160.021 Hand Held Red Flare Day and Night............ 3
Distress Signals \3\.
160.022 Floating Orange Smoke Day Only................. 3
Distress Signals.
160.024 Parachute Red Flare Day and Night \1\........ 3
Distress Signals.
160.036 Hand-Held Rocket- Day and Night............ 3
Propelled Parachute Red
Flare Distress Signals.
160.037 Hand-Held Orange Smoke Day Only................. 3
Distress Signals.
160.057 Floating Orange Smoke Day Only................. 3
Distress Signals.
160.066 Distress Signal for Day and Night \2\........ 3
Boats, Red Aerial
Pyrotechnic Flare.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ These signals require use in combination with a suitable launching
device approved under 46 CFR 160.028.
\2\ These devices may be either meteor or parachute assisted type. Some
of these signals may require use in combination with a suitable
launching device approved under 46 CFR 160.028.
\3\ Must have manufacture date of 1 Oct. 1980 or later.
[CGD 81-038-A, 47 FR 24548, June 7, 1982]
Sec. 175.135 Existing equipment.
Launchers manufactured before 1 January, 1981, which do not have
approval numbers are acceptable for use with meteor or parachute signals
listed in Table 175.130 under Sec. 175.130 as long as they remain in
serviceable condition.
[CGD 76-183, 44 FR 73024, Dec. 17, 1979, as amended by CGD 81-038-A, 47
FR 24548, June 7, 1982; USCG-1998-3799, 63 FR 35534, June 30, 1998]
Sec. 175.140 Prohibited use.
No person in a boat shall display a visual distress signal on waters
to which this subpart applies under any circumstance except a situation
where assistance is needed because of immediate or potential danger to
the persons on board.