Visual Distress Signals

Visual distress signals support radio and electronic alerting. Red parachute rockets are for long-range night or poor-visibility alerting. Red hand flares help rescuers pinpoint the vessel at closer range. Orange smoke is a daytime locating signal. White flares are collision-warning signals, not distress signals.

The international distress signal N over C is made with two International Code flags: November above Charlie. Other recognised distress signals include flames on the vessel, continuous sounding of a fog signal, a square flag with a ball above or below it, slowly raising and lowering outstretched arms, and SOS by light or sound.