46 CFR 117.68: Distress flares and smoke signals required
Last reviewed: October 14, 2026
This section sets the distress flares and smoke signals a vessel must carry, based on its route. It allows some substitutions, exempts vessels on short runs, and requires flares to be stowed in a watertight container or pyrotechnic locker.
Applies toVessels on oceans, coastwise, limited coastwise, Great Lakes, lakes, bays, and sounds, or rivers routes, except vessels on short runs described in paragraph (d).
What it says
A vessel on an oceans, coastwise, limited coastwise, or Great Lakes route must carry six hand red flare distress signals approved in accordance with § 160.021 in subchapter Q of this chapter, or another standard specified by the Commandant.
46 CFR 117.68(a)(1)“Six hand red flare distress signals approved in accordance with § 160.021 in subchapter Q of this chapter, or other standard specified by the Commandant”
A vessel on an oceans, coastwise, limited coastwise, or Great Lakes route must also carry six hand orange smoke distress signals approved in accordance with § 160.037 in subchapter Q of this chapter, or another standard specified by the Commandant.
46 CFR 117.68(a)(2)“Six hand orange smoke distress signals approved in accordance with § 160.037 in subchapter Q of this chapter, or other standard specified by the Commandant.”
A vessel on a lakes, bays, and sounds, or rivers route must carry three hand red flare distress signals approved in accordance with § 160.021 in subchapter Q of this chapter, or another standard specified by the Commandant.
46 CFR 117.68(b)(1)“Three hand red flare distress signals approved in accordance with § 160.021 in subchapter Q of this chapter, or other standard specified by the Commandant”
A rocket parachute flare approved in accordance with § 160.036 in subchapter Q of this chapter, or another standard specified by the Commandant, may be substituted for any of the required hand red flare distress signals.
46 CFR 117.68(c)(1)“may be substituted for any of the hand red flare distress signals required under paragraph (a) or (b) of this section.”
One of the items listed in paragraph (c)(2) may be substituted for any of the required hand orange smoke distress signals.
46 CFR 117.68(c)(2)“One of the following may be substituted for any of the hand orange smoke distress signals required under paragraph (a) or (b) of this section:”
A vessel operating on short runs limited to approximately 30 minutes away from the dock is not required to carry distress flares and smoke signals under this section.
46 CFR 117.68(d)“A vessel operating on short runs limited to approximately 30 minutes away from the dock is not required to carry distress flares and smoke signals under this section.”
Each flare carried to meet this section must be stowed in a portable watertight container at the operating station, marked as required by § 122.614 of this subchapter, or in a pyrotechnic locker secured above the freeboard deck, away from heat, near the operating station.
46 CFR 117.68(e)“Each flare carried to meet this section must be stowed in one of the following:”
Common questions
How many hand red flares must a vessel on a rivers route carry?
A vessel on a lakes, bays, and sounds, or rivers route must carry three hand red flare distress signals. They must be approved under § 160.021 in subchapter Q of this chapter or another standard specified by the Commandant.
“A vessel on a lakes, bays, and sounds, or rivers route must carry:”
Can a rocket parachute flare replace a hand red flare?
Yes. A rocket parachute flare approved under § 160.036 in subchapter Q of this chapter, or another standard specified by the Commandant, may be substituted for any of the required hand red flares.
“may be substituted for any of the hand red flare distress signals required under paragraph (a) or (b) of this section.”
Is there an exemption from carrying flares and smoke signals?
Yes. A vessel operating on short runs limited to approximately 30 minutes away from the dock is not required to carry them under this section.
“A vessel operating on short runs limited to approximately 30 minutes away from the dock is not required to carry distress flares and smoke signals under this section.”
Where must distress flares be stowed?
Each flare must be stowed in a portable watertight container at the operating station, marked as required by § 122.614 of this subchapter, or in a pyrotechnic locker secured above the freeboard deck, away from heat, near the operating station.
“A pyrotechnic locker secured above the freeboard deck, away from heat, in the vicinity of the operating station.”
The text of 46 CFR 117.68
Electronic Code of Federal Regulations (eCFR), current as of March 31, 2026 · Read it on eCFR
Distress flares and smoke signals
(a) Oceans, coastwise, limited coastwise, and Great Lakes routes. A vessel on an oceans, coastwise, limited coastwise, or Great Lakes route must carry—
(1) Six hand red flare distress signals approved in accordance with § 160.021 in subchapter Q of this chapter, or other standard specified by the Commandant, including, but not limited to, approval series 160.121; and
(2) Six hand orange smoke distress signals approved in accordance with § 160.037 in subchapter Q of this chapter, or other standard specified by the Commandant.
(b) Lakes, bays, and sounds, and rivers routes. A vessel on a lakes, bays, and sounds, or rivers route must carry:
(1) Three hand red flare distress signals approved in accordance with § 160.021 in subchapter Q of this chapter, or other standard specified by the Commandant, including, but not limited to, approval series 160.121; and
(2) Three hand orange smoke distress signals approved in accordance with § 160.037 in subchapter Q of this chapter, or other standard specified by the Commandant.
(c) Substitutions. (1) A rocket parachute flare approved in accordance with § 160.036 in subchapter Q of this chapter, or other standard specified by the Commandant, may be substituted for any of the hand red flare distress signals required under paragraph (a) or (b) of this section.
(2) One of the following may be substituted for any of the hand orange smoke distress signals required under paragraph (a) or (b) of this section:
(i) A rocket parachute flare approved in accordance with § 160.036 in subchapter Q of this chapter, or other standard specified by the Commandant.
(ii) A hand red flare distress signal approved in accordance with § 160.021 in subchapter Q of this chapter, or other standard specified by the Commandant, including, but not limited to, approval series 160.121.
(iii) A floating orange smoke distress signal approved in accordance with § 160.022 in subchapter Q of this chapter, or other standard specified by the Commandant, including, but not limited to, approval series 160.122.
(d) Exemption for vessels on short runs. A vessel operating on short runs limited to approximately 30 minutes away from the dock is not required to carry distress flares and smoke signals under this section.
(e) Stowage. Each flare carried to meet this section must be stowed in one of the following:
(1) A portable watertight container carried at the operating station, and marked as required by § 122.614 of this subchapter; or
(2) A pyrotechnic locker secured above the freeboard deck, away from heat, in the vicinity of the operating station.
Sections it refers to
The plain-English explanation on this page was written with AI from the regulation text above and checked automatically before publishing: every quote appears in the text, every number comes from it, and a second model confirmed each statement adds nothing the text doesn't say. Regulation text current as of March 31, 2026. The regulation text governs. RegKnot is not affiliated with the U.S. Coast Guard.