36. Ships in Distress

Traveling via water is one of the oldest and most efficient ways of travel, but not necessarily the safest.  Ships crossing bodies of water are known to run into trouble frequently.  Over time, with the advent of signaling techniques, along with lifeboats and life vests, travelling by ship became safer.

The seriousness of shipwrecks has changed in nature with better ways of communicating distress situations.  A distress signal is essentially something that will attract attention to attain some help.

Today, the most used distress signals are radio-based signals that are interpreted through satellite systems.  Even though complex technology is available, the old forms of marine signals like hand waving, flares and flags are still used.

In much older times, a ship in trouble would hoist a flag, upside down so that any ship in the distance would see it and realize that there is a ship that needs help.

Later, emergency flags came along with use of any object that would attract attention from by passers.  Another commonly used distress signal is the use of maritime signal flares. The flare is let up in the sky from a troubled ship, for ships or people on shore or on nearby ships to notice and send help.

Today’s common distress communication for ships is both technical and non-technical in nature;
1. Slowly and repeatedly raise and lower your arms outstretched to each side.  
2. If other boats or aircraft are in the area, let off an orange smoke flare (daylight) or a red hand-held flare (night).
3. An Orange Distress Flag displayed to attract the attention of other boats or overpassing aircraft.  
4. Display International Flags N over C.  
5. Continuously use sound signaling equipment for SOS.
6. Use your marine radio, calling out “mayday, mayday, mayday”.

At this stop notice the various forms of communicating distress on a ship.  Be sure to use the Battle Rattle.  Battle Rattles were used to call the crew to stations to prepare for battle or in times of distress.