46 CFR § 28.145 - Distress signals.

---
identifier: "/us/cfr/t46/s28.145"
source: "ecfr"
legal_status: "authoritative_unofficial"
title: "46 CFR § 28.145 - Distress signals."
title_number: 46
title_name: "Shipping"
section_number: "28.145"
section_name: "Distress signals."
chapter_name: "COAST GUARD, DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY"
subchapter_number: "C"
subchapter_name: "UNINSPECTED VESSELS"
part_number: "28"
part_name: "REQUIREMENTS FOR COMMERCIAL FISHING INDUSTRY VESSELS"
positive_law: false
currency: "2026-03-24"
last_updated: "2026-03-24"
format_version: "1.1.0"
generator: "[email protected]"
authority: "46 U.S.C. 3316, 4502, 4505, 4506, 6104, 8103, 10603; DHS Delegation 00170.1, Revision No. 01.4."
regulatory_source: "CGD 88-079, 56 FR 40393, Aug. 14, 1991, unless otherwise noted."
cfr_part: "28"
---


# 28.145 Distress signals.

Except as provided by 28.305, each vessel must be equipped with the distress signals specified in table 28.145.

Table 28.145—Distress Signals

| Area | Devices required |
| --- | --- |
| Ocean, more than 50 miles from coastline | 3 parachute flares, approval series 160.136; plus 6 hand flares, approval series 160.121; plus 3 smoke signals, approval series 160.122. |
| Ocean, 3-50 miles from the coastline; or more than 3 miles from the coastline on the Great Lakes | 3 parachute flares, approval series 160.136, or 160.036; plus 6 hand flares, approval series 160.121 or 160.021; plus 3 smoke signals, approval series 160.122, 160.022, or 160.037. |
| Coastal waters, excluding the Great Lakes; or within 3 miles of the coastline on the Great Lakes | Night visual distress signals consisting of one electric distress light, approval series 161.013 or 3 approved flares; plus Day visual distress signals consisting of one distress flag, approval series 160.072, or 3 approved flares, or 3 approved smoke signals. |
| If flares are carried, the same 3 flares may be counted toward meeting both the day and night requirement. |  |

[CGD 88-079, 56 FR 40393, Aug. 14, 1991, as amended by CGD 95-012, 60 FR 48048, Sept. 18, 1995; USCG-2000-7790, 65 FR 58458, Sept. 29, 2000]