Marine Distress Signals Save Lives at Sea

Two fishermen in small fishing boat off the east coast of Iceland capsized.  One of them freed a liferaft and fired marine distress signals and handflares, seen on the coast. A lifeboat saved him but the other fisherman sadly died.  The death constituted Iceland’s only fatal marine accident in the past two years.

Marine Distress Signals can be designed to withstand harsh weather conditions and to operate underwater.

Marine Distress Signals for the Commercial Fishing Industry can include any of the following:

• Handflares
• Red parachute signal rockets
• Dye Marker (of any color)
• Manoverboards
• Orange smoke signals
• EPIRB
• Day and night signals
• Linethrowers
• Personal and compact miniflares
• Red Star Shells

A distress signal is an internationally recognized means for obtaining help.  The most commonly made method is radio signals, but many times the only option is to display a visually detectable item or illumination, or to make a loud sound.

A distress signal indicates that a person or group of people, ship, vessel, aircraft, or other vehicle is in imminent danger and needs urgent assistance.  Distress signals at sea are defined in the International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea and in the International Code of Signals.

Contact us for free information about maritime injury law, longshore claims or maritime piracy issues.  If you think you may have a maritime law claim, please call us. We are a maritime law firm and we will confidentially speak with you about your injury and answer your questions about maritime law.  No matter where you live, Schechter, Shaffer & Harris, L.L.P., Accident & Injury Lawyers can help you get the help you need.