Does a strobe light fulfill a mandate for a distress signal?

A strobe light does not fulfill the mandate for a distress signal because, under the International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea (COLREGs), specific signals are required to indicate distress. The accepted distress signals include visual signals such as a signal in the shape of a square flag that is colored international orange, three short blasts of a sound signal, or an orange distress flag. A strobe light, while it can be used for signaling purposes, does not specifically meet the criteria set forth in the regulations for a recognized distress signal on its own.

Using the correct and accepted means of signaling distress is critical for ensuring that other vessels can recognize a situation requiring assistance. Therefore, relying solely on a strobe light may not provide the necessary visibility or recognition required by the regulations, thereby failing to adequately convey a distress situation to nearby vessels. While a strobe light can complement other recognized signals, it does not replace the need for those required signals.