46 CFR § 109.503 - Emergency signals.

---
identifier: "/us/cfr/t46/s109.503"
source: "ecfr"
legal_status: "authoritative_unofficial"
title: "46 CFR § 109.503 - Emergency signals."
title_number: 46
title_name: "Shipping"
section_number: "109.503"
section_name: "Emergency signals."
chapter_name: "COAST GUARD, DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY"
subchapter_number: "I-A"
subchapter_name: "A—MOBILE OFFSHORE DRILLING UNITS"
part_number: "109"
part_name: "OPERATIONS"
positive_law: false
currency: "2026-03-24"
last_updated: "2026-03-24"
format_version: "1.1.0"
generator: "[email protected]"
authority: "43 U.S.C. 1333; 46 U.S.C. 3306, 6101, 10104; DHS Delegation 00170.1, Revision No. 01.4."
regulatory_source: "CGD 73-251, 43 FR 56828, Dec. 4, 1978, unless otherwise noted."
cfr_part: "109"
---


# 109.503 Emergency signals.

(a) Emergency stations signals are established as follows:

(1) The signal to man emergency stations is a rapid succession of short soundings of both the general alarm bell and the whistle, if a whistle is installed, for a period of not less than 10 seconds.

(2) The signal to secure from emergency stations is the sounding of both the general alarm bell and the whistle, if a whistle is installed, three times.

(b) The abandon unit stations signals are established as follows:

(1) The signal to man abandon unit stations is a continuous sounding of both the general alarm and the whistle, if a whistle is installed.

(2) If whistle signals are used to direct the handling of lifeboats and davit-launched liferafts, they must be—

(i) One short blast to lower the lifeboats and davit-launched liferafts; and

(ii) Two short blasts to stop lowering the lifeboats and davit-launched liferafts.

(3) The signal to secure from abandon unit stations is the sounding of both the general alarm bell and the whistle, if a whistle is installed, three times.

[CGD 73-251, 43 FR 56828, Dec. 4, 1978, as amended by CGD 84-069, 61 FR 25303, May 20, 1996]