---
kind: "section"
citation: "46 C.F.R. § 141.375"
title: "46"
number: "141.375"
heading: "Visual distress signals."
url: "https://uscodex.org/cfr/46/141.375"
---

# §141.375. Visual distress signals.

- (a) **Carriage requirement.** A towing vessel must carry a combination of day and night visual distress signals indicated in Table 141.370 of [§ 141.370](/cfr/46/141.370.md) for specified areas where the vessel operates.
- (b) **Day and night visual distress signals.** Hand-held red flare distress signals, approved under approval series 160.021 or 160.121, and hand-held rocket-propelled parachute red flares, approved under approval series 160.036 or 160.136, are acceptable as both day and night signals.
- (c) **Signals for day visual distress only.** Floating orange smoke signals, approved under approval series 160.022, 160.122, or 160.157, and hand-held orange smoke distress signals, approved under approval series 160.037, are only acceptable as day signals.
- (d) **Limited geographic area.** A vessel operating in a limited geographic area on a short run limited to approximately 30 minutes away from the dock is not required to carry visual distress signals under this section.
- (e) **Stowage.** Each pyrotechnic distress signal carried to meet this section must be stowed in either:
  - (1) **A portable watertight container carried at the operating station.** Portable watertight containers for pyrotechnic distress signals must be of a bright color and must be clearly marked in legible contrasting letters at least 12.7 millimeters (0.5 inches) high with “DISTRESS SIGNALS”; or
  - (2) A pyrotechnic locker secured above the freeboard deck, away from heat, in the vicinity of the operating station.

## Notes

### Authority

Authority: 46 U.S.C. 3103, 3301, 3306, 3308, 3316, 8104, 8904; 33 CFR 1.05; DHS Delegation 00170.1, Revision No. 01.4.

### Source

Source: USCG-2006-24412, 81 FR 40101, June 20, 2016, unless otherwise noted.