The Merchant Shipping (Signals of Distress) Rules 1992

• Citation: S.I. 1992/1582
• Sections: 3

Section 1

(1) These Rules may be cited as the Merchant Shipping (Signals of Distress) Rules 1992 and shall come into force on 29th July 1992.

(2) The Merchant Shipping (Signals of Distress) Rules 1977 are hereby revoked.

Section 2

In these Rules the expression “signal of distress” means any of the signals of distress prescribed by regulation 3 of the Merchant Shipping (Distress Signals and Prevention of Collisions) Regulations 1989 for use by vessels (other than seaplanes) as signals of distress.

Section 3

(1) No signal of distress shall be used by any vessel unless the master of the vessel so orders.

(2) The master of the vessel shall not order any signal of distress to be used by his vessel unless he is satisfied—

(a) that his vessel is in serious and imminent danger, or that another ship or an aircraft or person is in serious and imminent danger and cannot send that signal; and

(b) that the vessel in danger (whether his own vessel or another vessel) or the aircraft or person in danger, as the case may be, requires immediate assistance in addition to any assistance then available.

(3) The master of a vessel which has sent any signal of distress by means of radio or other means shall cause that signal to be revoked by all appropriate means as soon as he is satisfied that the vessel or aircraft to which or the person to whom the signal relates is no longer in need of assistance as aforesaid.