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Distress signaling at sea still relies heavily on pyrotechnic flares, which are required by many national and international regulations. However, the advent of electronic devices for visual distress signaling , or eVDSD (Electronic Visual Distress Signaling Devices) offers an alternative that is beginning to gain recognition from certain maritime authorities. The U.S. Coast Guard?s decision to remove pyrotechnic flares from its vessels marks a new step in this development.
The United States Takes Another Step Forward
In June 2026, the U.S. Coast Guard completed the replacement of pyrotechnic flares on board its patrol boats with electronic distress signaling devices. This decision comes as eVDSDs are already recognized as a legal alternative to pyrotechnic flares on recreational vessels in the United States and Canada, provided they meet the RTCM 13200.0 standard.
This performance standard, developed by the Radio Technical Commission for Maritime Services (RTCM), defines the technical specifications that such equipment must meet. Despite this regulatory recognition in North America, ACR Electronics believes that a significant number of recreational boaters are still unaware that they can replace their pyrotechnic flares with these electronic devices.
Internationally, the situation is different. Conventions of the International Maritime Organization (IMO) still require commercial and passenger ships subject to these regulations to carry pyrotechnic flares on board. Many countries also apply this requirement to commercial and recreational vessels subject to their own regulations.
Different technical characteristics of pyrotechnic rockets
eVDSDs use a flashing LED system that produces a light signal visible from several miles away. Models that comply with the RTCM standard reproduce the SOS light signal recognized by search and rescue services.
Unlike pyrotechnic flares, which typically burn for between 30 seconds and 3 minutes, these devices can operate continuously for several hours. They can also be safely tested before a voyage at sea and then reused. Depending on the model, they run on replaceable or rechargeable batteries.
Their use also eliminates several constraints associated with pyrotechnic devices. They do not have an expiration date comparable to that of conventional fireworks, which generally have a shelf life of 3 years. They do not generate pyrotechnic waste and reduce the challenges associated with storing, transporting, or disposing of expired materials. Their use also eliminates the risk of burns to the user or accidental fires, particularly aboard a life raft.
Toward International Recognition?
ACR Electronics and its Ocean Signal brand are taking advantage of this development to call for the establishment of an international standard that would allow eVDSDs to be recognized as official distress devices by the International Maritime Organization and maritime authorities.
For the manufacturer, the goal is to gradually replace national approvals with a common framework that allows for global recognition of this technology.
" Industry indicators and trends clearly show that electronics represent the future of emergency signaling ", says Mikele D'Arcangelo, vice president of Global Marketing and Product Management at ACR Electronics and Ocean Signal.
He continues: " Today, with the availability of reliable electronic tools and modern alert and tracking systems, ACR Electronics believes that eVDSDs are the logical alternative to pyrotechnic flares. "
The manufacturer believes that both professional operators and recreational boaters should no longer be required to use only pyrotechnic devices, given the safety, storage, and environmental impact concerns associated with them.
However, changes to international regulations remain an essential step before these devices can replace pyrotechnic flares on all ships subject to international conventions. The U.S. Coast Guard?s decision nonetheless sets a precedent that is likely to fuel discussions on changes to mandatory safety equipment at sea.
In France, electronic fuses have not yet replaced pyrotechnics
While the United States and Canada now allow certified eVDSDs to replace pyrotechnic flares on recreational boats, this is not the case in France. Division 240, which sets the mandatory safety equipment requirements for recreational vessels, still requires pyrotechnic signals to be carried when safety regulations so require. Electronic devices are therefore not recognized as a regulatory substitute.
Nevertheless, the issue is beginning to gain attention. The U.S. Coast Guard?s decision to phase out pyrotechnic flares in favor of electronic devices, as well as the existence of an RTCM standard already in use in North America, are fueling the debate over a possible change in the rules. Until the International Maritime Organization (IMO) and national authorities amend their regulations, French recreational boaters will have to continue carrying pyrotechnic flares that comply with current regulations.
