What is the main purpose of distress signals in maritime practice?

The primary purpose of distress signals in maritime practice is to indicate a need for assistance. These signals are employed to communicate to other vessels and rescue agencies that the sender is in a distress situation and requires help. The effectiveness of distress signals is critical because timely assistance can often be the difference between life and death in emergencies at sea.

When a vessel sends a distress signal, it is conveying an urgent message that calls for immediate aid, which can involve rescue operations, medical assistance, or other forms of support. This encompasses various established forms of signaling, such as the use of flares, distress flags, and specific radio transmissions, all aimed at rapidly attracting attention to the vessel in distress.

While informing other vessels of location and signaling for supplies might be aspects of maritime communication, they do not encapsulate the primary function of distress signals, which is to convey immediate danger and the desperate need for help. Communicating weather conditions also falls outside the scope of distress signals, as it does not inherently convey an emergency situation requiring assistance.