Marine Signaling Devices & Safety Lights

If there is a fire, an engine failure, a leak, or when any member of the crew is seriously injured, a boater may need immediate assistance. In such situation, signaling devices are used to make it possible for rescuers or other people nearby to notice the signal indicating that a vessel is in distress and give it a helping hand. Flares, horns, whistles, emergency beacons, radar reflectors, safety flags – all these signaling devices are offered here.

Flares are pyrotechnic devices used for visual distress signaling. They are effective only when there is someone close enough to see them. That’s why it is advisable to use flares only when you are sure the signal will be noticed. An advantage of flares is that they can be applied day and night and they cost less than many other signaling products. However, people usually don’t know how to use them as it is against the law to do so just for practice. The most common types are red hand-held, parachute, and red meteor flares. When choosing a flare, consider light output, burn time, signal type, and deployment method.

One more way to transmit the distress signal is to use horns or whistles. These are sound signaling devices that are recommended to use when visual signals cannot be seen, as in the event of fog. Whistles are compact, light, easy to use, and are always at hand. Horns blast a loud tone of emergency. When there is a dense fog and visual conditions are limited, radar reflectors are of great help. These are the devices that let other vessels see you on their radar. In case of emergency, or when the shipping traffic is heavy, these may become irreplaceable assistants. Their technical properties depend on their size.

During the daytime, safety flags can be used in case of emergency. Bearing international distress signals and available in a variety of fluorescent colors, safety flags are highly effective and require no special skills to operate. Signaling mirror is another visual device that can be noticed up to 10 miles away and is resistant to corrosion in saltwater. Dye markers have a special dye which spreads over the surface of the water and increases the visibility for the rescuer. It is placed in a life vest pocket or safety kits and is always with you when needed. These and other safety devices can be purchased here.