50Misuse of distress and safety signals

50 Misuse of distress and safety signals

50.1  A person may do any of the following only if permitted by a Marine Order:

(a) transmit or display a signal of distress;

(b) transmit an urgency signal;

(c) send out a danger message.

50.2  A person may use a flare, rocket or shell, that could be mistaken for a prescribed signal of distress coming from a ship, only if:

(a) the person or another person is in distress; or

(b) approval has been received from the Rescue Coordination Centre Australia.

Note 1   The address of the Rescue Coordination Centre Australia is GPO Box 2181, Canberra ACT 2601, the telephone number is 1800 641 792 and the fax number is 1800 622 153.  Notice should be given 7 days in advance.

Note 2   The person may also need to comply with State or Territory requirements. A flare demonstration notification form is available from the AMSA website at http://www.amsa.gov.au.

 50.3 If a distress signal is accidentally transmitted or displayed from a ship when there is no danger to the ship, the master of the ship must immediately tell the marine rescue coordination centre for the search and rescue area:

(a) about the accidental transmission; and

(b) that there is no danger to the ship.

Note   Cancellation of a distress alert sent accidentally must be in accordance with Article 32 of the International Telecommunication Convention Radio Regulations annexed to the most recent International Telecommunication Convention in force.

 50.4 A person who removes an EPIRB from a ship, other than for test or repair, must ensure that the EPIRB is transported in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions.