Which visual distress signal uses a square flag and a black ball?

Which visual distress signal uses a square flag and a black ball?

• A. A red flag with a white circle
• B. A blue flag with a white square
• C. A square flag above a black ball
• D. A green flag with a black dot

Answer: (C)

Visual distress signals rely on standardized flag configurations that others can recognize at a glance. The signal that uses a square flag displayed above a black ball is the recognized daytime distress signal indicating you need assistance. It’s designed to be unambiguous in the open water, so nearby vessels know to come to your aid. The other color and shape combinations do not correspond to this official distress-day signal, so they wouldn’t communicate distress in a standardized way. For daytime signaling you use this flag-and-ball arrangement; at night you would use appropriate pyrotechnic or electronic distress signals instead.

Visual distress signals rely on standardized flag configurations that others can recognize at a glance. The signal that uses a square flag displayed above a black ball is the recognized daytime distress signal indicating you need assistance. It’s designed to be unambiguous in the open water, so nearby vessels know to come to your aid. The other color and shape combinations do not correspond to this official distress-day signal, so they wouldn’t communicate distress in a standardized way. For daytime signaling you use this flag-and-ball arrangement; at night you would use appropriate pyrotechnic or electronic distress signals instead.