[Code of Federal Regulations]
[Title 46, Volume 6]
[Revised as of October 1, 2004]
From the U.S. Government Printing Office via GPO Access
[CITE: 46CFR161.013-7]
[Page 285]
TITLE 46--SHIPPING
Chapter I--Coast Guard, Department of Homeland Security (Continued)
PART 161_ELECTRICAL EQUIPMENT--Table of Contents
Subpart 161.013_Electric Distress Light for Boats
Sec. 161.013-7 Signal requirements.
(a) An electric light must have a flash characteristic of the
International Morse Code for S-O-S and, under design conditions,
(1) Each short flash must have a duration of \1/3\ second;
(2) Each long flash must have a duration of 1 second;
(3) The dark period between each short flash must have a duration of
\1/3\ second;
(4) The dark period between each long flash must have a duration of
\1/3\ second;
(5) The dark period between each letter must have a duration of 2
seconds;
(6) The dark period between each
S-O-S signal must have a duration of 3 seconds.
(b) The flash characteristics described in paragraph (a) must be
produced automatically when the signal is activated.