---
kind: "section"
citation: "46 C.F.R. § 169.815"
title: "46"
number: "169.815"
heading: "Emergency signals."
url: "https://uscodex.org/cfr/46/169.815"
---

# §169.815. Emergency signals.

- (a) The station bill must set forth the various signals used for calling the ship's company to their stations and for giving instructions while at their stations.
- (b) On vessels of 100 gross tons and over the following signals must be used.
  - (1) The first alarm signal must be a continuous blast of the vessel's whistle for a period of not less than 10 seconds supplemented by the continuous ringing of the general alarm bells for not less than 10 seconds.
  - (2) For dismissal from fire alarm stations, the general alarm must be sounded three times supplemented by three short blasts of the vessel's whistle.
  - (3) The signal for boat stations or boat drill must be a succession of more than six short blasts, followed by one long blast, of the vessel's whistle supplemented by a comparable signal on the general alarm bells.
  - (4) For dismissal from boat stations, there must be three short blasts of the whistle.
- (c) Where whistle signals are used for handling the lifeboats, they must be as follows:
  - (1) **To lower lifeboats, one short blast.**
  - (2) **To stop lowering the lifeboats, two short blasts.**

## Notes

### Authority

Authority: 33 U.S.C. 1321(j); 46 U.S.C. 3306, 6101; Pub. L. 103-206, 107 Stat. 2439; E.O. 11735, 38 FR 21243, 3 CFR, 1971-1975 Comp., p. 793; DHS Delegation 00170.1, Revision No. 01.4; § 169.117 also issued under the authority of 44 U.S.C. 3507.

### Source

Source: CGD 83-005, 51 FR 896, Jan. 9, 1986, unless otherwise noted.