---
kind: "section"
citation: "46 C.F.R. § 109.503"
title: "46"
number: "109.503"
heading: "Emergency signals."
url: "https://uscodex.org/cfr/46/109.503"
---

# §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.

## Notes

### Amendments

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

### Authority

Authority: 43 U.S.C. 1333; 46 U.S.C. 3306, 6101, 10104; Department of Homeland Security Delegation No. 00170.1, Revision No. 01.4.

### Source

Source: CGD 73-251, 43 FR 56828, Dec. 4, 1978, unless otherwise noted.

### Amendments

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