Marine Safety - Safety Lights

A personal rescue strobe is a small signaling light intended to be attached to a PFD so if a boat crew member goes overboard, their position will be visible to those left on board. Since we last looked at personal rescue strobes theres been some new developments in the intensity of the light that can be generated from a small handheld strobe. Strobes can be manual or automatic (water activated).

Most safety lights are small and practically unnoticeable until you need it. Lights that are USCG or SOLAS approved are guaranteed not to interfere with the life jacket’s operation. Emergency lights and strobes are important pieces of emergency safety equipment that are required for most commercials fishing vessels.

USCG Requirements for Rescue Lights

To gain USCG approval rescue lights must flash 50 to 70 times per minute for at least 8 hours and be visible for at least one nautical mile. LEDs draw very little power allowing many of our safety lights to flash continuously for 40 hours or more and be visible for over 1 1/2 nautical miles, which is well above requirements. Clipping one of these lights to your PFD will help ensure that if you fall overboard you will be visible to others on your boat or to rescue crews.