Merchant Shipping Act, 1951 (Act No. 57 of 1951)SchedulesSecond ScheduleProtocol of 1978 Relating to the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea, 1974AnnexChapter V : Safety NavigationRegulation 16 : Life-saving signals |
The following signals shall be used by lifesaving stations and maritime rescue units when communicating with ships or persons in distress and by ships or persons in distress when communicating with lifesaving stations and maritime rescue units. The signals used by aircraft engaged in search and rescue operations to direct ships are indicated in paragraph (d) below. An illustrated table describing the signals listed below shall be readily available to the officer of the watch of every ship to which this Chapter applies.
| (a) | Replies from lifesaving stations or maritime rescue units to distress signals made by a ship or person: |
Signal |
Signification |
By day.—Orange smoke signal or combined light and sound signal (thunderlight) consisting of three single signals which are fired at intervals of approximately one minute. |
“You are seen—assistance will be given as soon as possible.” |
By night.—White star rocket consisting of three single signals which are fired at intervals of approximately one minute. |
(Repetition of such signals shall have the same meaning.) |
If necessary the day signals may be given at night or the night signals by day.
| (b) | Landing signals for the guidance of small boats with crews or persons in distress: |
Signal |
Signification |
By day.—Vertical motion of a white flag or the arms or firing of a green star-signal or signalling the code letter “K” (—.—) given by light or sound-signal apparatus |
“This is the best place to land.” |
By night.—Vertical motion of a white light or flare, or firing of a green star-signal or signalling the code letter “K” (—.—) given by light or sound-signal apparatus. A range (indication of direction) may be given by placing a steady white light or flare at a lower level and in line with the observer. |
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By day.—Horizontal motion of a white flag or arms extended horizontally or firing of a red star-signal or signalling the code letter “S” (...) given by light or sound-signal apparatus. “Landing here highly dangerous.” |
“Landing here highly dangerous.” |
By night.—Horizontal motion of a white light or flare or firing of a red star-signal or signalling the code letter “S” (...) given by light or sound-signal apparatus. |
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By day.—Horizontal motion of a white flag, followed by the placing of the white flag in the ground and the carrying of another white flag in the direction to be indicated or firing of a red star-signal vertically and a white star-signal in the direction towards the better landing place or signalling the code letter “S” (...) followed by the code letter “R” (.—.) if a better landing place for the craft in distress is located more to the right in the direction of approach or the code letter “L” (.—..) if a better landing place for the craft in distress is located more to the left in the direction of approach. “Landing here highly dangerous. A more favourable location for landing is in the direction indicated.” |
“Landing here highly dangerous. A more favourable location for landing is in the direction indicated.” |
By night.—Horizontal motion of a white light or flare, followed by the placing of the white light or flare on the ground and the carrying of another white light or flare in the direction to be indicated or firing a red star-signal vertically and a white star-signal in the direction towards the better landing place or signalling the code letter “S” (...) followed by code letter “R” (.—.) if a better landing place for the craft in distress is located more to the right in the direction of approach or the code letter “L” (.—..) if a better landing place for the craft in distress is located more to the left in the direction of approach. |
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| (c) | Signals to be employed in connection with the use of shore life-saving apparatus: |
Signal |
Signification |
By day.—Vertical motion of a white flag or the arms or firing of a green star-signal. |
In general — “Affirmative”. |
By night.—Vertical motion of a white light or flare or firing of a green star signal. |
Specifically: |
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“Rocket line is held.” |
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“Tail block is made fast.” |
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“Hawser is made fast.” |
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“Man is in the breeches buoy.” |
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“Haul away.” |
By day.—Horizontal motion of a white flag or arms extended horizontally or firing of a red starsignal. |
In general — “Negative.” |
By night.—Horizontal motion of a white light or flare or firing of a red starsignal. |
Specifically: “Slack away.” “Avast hauling.” |
| (d) | Signals used by aircraft engaged on search and rescue operations to direct ships towards an aircraft, ship or person in distress (see explanatory Note below): |
| (i) | The following procedures performed in sequence by an aircraft mean that the aircraft is directing a surface craft towards an aircraft or a surface craft in distress: |
| (1) | Circling the surface craft at least once; |
| (2) | crossing the projected course of the surface craft close ahead at a low altitude, opening and closing the throttle or changing the propeller pitch; |
| (3) | heading in the direction in which the surface craft is to be directed. Repetition of such procedures has the same meaning. |
| (ii) | The following procedure performed by an aircraft means that the assistance of the surface craft to which the signal is directed is no longer required: |
Crossing the wake of the surface craft close astern at a low altitude, opening and closing the throttle or changing the propeller pitch.
Note.—Advance notification of changes in these signals will be given by the Organization as necessary.