International Distress Signals

fog horn continuous sounding

Constant sounding of any fog signal apparatus

gun fired at one minute intervals

Firing of a gun or other explosive once every minute

orange smoke

Igniting an orange smoke signal

dye marker (any color)

Setting a dye marker of any color

"MAYDAY" by radio

Speaking the words "MAY DAY" by radiotelephone

flames on a vessel

creating flames on the vessel (burning a tar barrel, oil barrel, etc.)

parachute red flare

firing a rocket parachute flare with a red light

red star shell

firing of rockets or shells which throw red stars once every minute

orange background black ball and square

flying a piece of orange colored canvas with either a black square and circle or other appropriate symbol for identification from the air.

square flag and ball

hoisting a square flag with a ball, or something that looks like a ball, above or below it

Code flags November charlie

hoisting the international signal flags which indicate November charlie. November is a white and blue checkered flag, and charlie is horizontal stripes of blue, white, red, white, blue

radio telegraph alarm

sending the radiotelegraph alarm signal

radio telephone alarm

sending the radiotelephone alarm signal

sos

signalling of ... --- ... (SOS) in the morse code by radio telegraphy or some other method

wave arms

standing on deck with arms outstretched to each side, slowly and repeatedly raising and lowering arms

position indicating radio beacon

transmitting SOS signals by an emergency position indicating radio beacon (EPIRB)