When sailing in waters, it is not always possible to rule out danger to the vehicle and crew. With distress signaling devices, it is possible to alert others to your own distress. The distress signaling devices also include so-called caliber 4 weapons, or colloquially: signal pistols. On behalf of the (German) Federal Ministry of the Interior, all district or public order offices, district administration departments, etc. are currently issuing a “request for the submission of documents regarding the safe storage of firearms” to all owners of firearms. Important: this check also affects skippers who own a caliber 4 weapon. SeaHelp lists the specific requirements for “safe storage” as defined by the law.
It is part of every skipper’s general duty of care to familiarize themselves with the various distress signaling devices, to select the appropriate devices for their sailing area and to carry them on board. Pyrotechnic signaling devices should therefore be part of the standard equipment.
Recommended equipment: The Deutsche Gesellschaft zur Rettung Schiffbrüchiger (DGzRS) and the Fachverband Seenotrettungsmittel (FSR) recommend the following for all sailing areas: 8 parachute signal rockets, red, climbing height 300 meters, light intensity 20,000cd, lighting duration 30 seconds, 2 hand flares, red, light intensity 15,000cd, lighting duration 60 seconds, drip-free when burning, 2 smoke flares, orange, smoking duration one minute or instead of the smoke flares 2 smoke signals, orange, buoyant, smoking duration three minutes.
It should be noted that only pyrotechnic distress signals approved by the Bundesanstalt für Materialprüfung (BAM) may be used.
And: distress signals may only be used in an emergency at sea, i.e. when there is a risk to the life and limb of the crew. The purchase, transportation and storage of distress signal pistols, signaling devices and pyrotechnic distress signaling devices is also regulated by law in Germany. This is because all distress signaling devices contain explosives.
Specialist retailers offer a wide range of distress signals. It should be noted here that the purchase of the various signaling devices is linked to various requirements such as minimum age, certificate of competence or weapon ownership card. The certificate of competence for signal pistols and pyrotechnic distress signaling devices of class T2 can be taken at the responsible recreational craft licensing committees (FKN certificate of competence for distress signaling devices in accordance with the Explosives Act pursuant to Section 1 (2) 1 SprengV).
The FKN (so-called “Pyro-Schein”) entitles the holder to purchase and transport pyrotechnic distress signaling devices of category P2 (signal rockets, parachute signal rockets, certain smoke signals) that require a permit.
Signal pistols caliber 4 pose a “special problem”, safe storage must be proven
In addition to pyrotechnic distress signaling devices, signal pistols in calibre 4 are particularly popular with water sports enthusiasts as an alternative to hand signals. According to information from Bremen police on the subject of distress signaling devices, however, these pose a “particular problem” because armed rampages in Germany in the past have led to a further tightening of gun laws. For example, the latest amendment to the Weapons Act means that the safe storage of signaling and firearms at home and on board must be proven.
On behalf of the Federal Ministry of the Interior, all district and public order offices, district administration departments, etc. are therefore currently issuing a “request to all firearms owners to submit documents regarding the safe storage of firearms.” Important: this check also affects skippers who own a caliber 4 weapon.
For this category of weapon, which is equivalent to a firearm, a “security container of DIN / EN 1143-1 resistance grade 0 or VDMA 24992 security level B or comparable standards” is required, according to the police information. In addition, the container must be secured against removal, i.e. it must be firmly attached to the boat.
A so-called “Hamburg box” is prescribed as a secure container for signal pistols cal. 4 on board a seagoing vessel
Specifically, this means: “On board a seagoing vessel in port, a secure container made of sheet steel at least 4 mm thick (so-called ‘Hamburger Kasten’) and electronic or mechanical locking is required,” writes Helmut Kalbfleisch, for example, in “Die Waffen-Sachkundeprüfung“.
In any case, “precautions must be taken to prevent the signal pistol from being lost or falling into the hands of unauthorized third parties. And: if the signal pistol is to be stored on board the ship in winter storage, this is only possible with the express permission of the authorities. A container on board with security level B or resistance grade 0 is not sufficient here.
The Bremen police recommend that the ammunition must also be stored either in a separate inner compartment or in a separate sheet steel cabinet with a swing bolt lock. Incidentally, the sailing area of the boat is not decisive for non-compliance with these regulations. Every boat sailing under the German flag is subject to these regulations.
For confirmation, a corresponding proof of purchase and a photograph of the type plate of the safety container to substantiate the purchase as well as a signed declaration of safe storage must be submitted to the authorities – the weapons authority. The police point out that there is always the option of handing in the weapon (without compensation) to the relevant weapons authority or the police.
“You can save yourself the trouble”: Bobby Schenk on the subject of a signal pistol cal. 4 on board a yacht
The opinion of long-distance sailor and circumnavigator Bobby Schenk on the subject: “A signal pistol (caliber 4), and thus also the firearms certificate and a corresponding firearms ownership card, can be safely spared. Because: the difficulties in practice, i.e. in the eyes of the immigration officers, are the same as with a real firearm.
A signal pistol or even rockets were once effective in Titanic times, but today they can be replaced much more effectively by various radio signals (or even powerful LED spotlights)” (complete interview on the subject of weapons on board).
The most modern – and one of the safest – ways of alerting the rescue services are EPIRBs (Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacon). Once the alarm has been triggered, the EPIRB buoy first determines its own position and then transmits an emergency call via one or more satellites or coastal radio stations. Certain data records are then transmitted fully automatically, containing the vehicle identification, the emergency type, the last position with time, as well as the direction of movement and speed.
In areas covered by SeaHelp (overview here), it is possible to make an emergency call quickly and reliably using the SeaHelp app . To do this, move the red emergency call button (SOS) of the SeaHelp app from left to right and also confirm the emergency call by sending the emergency SMS message. An emergency SMS is automatically sent to the SeaHelp operations center, which contains and transmits both the cell phone number and the current position data.
A SeaHelp employee from the operations center calls back immediately to get an overview of the situation. Depending on the requirements, a SeaHelp rescue boat is then deployed and/or other necessary measures are initiated immediately.
Information on the new weapons legislation can be found in the following information sheets, which can be downloaded from the Internet:
- Information sheet – Distress signal pistols – General requirements for the granting of permits
- Weapons and ammunition permit
- Reliability and personal suitability under firearms law
- Application for the issue of a firearms acquisition authorization (pre-entry)
- Application for the issue of a weapons possession card
- Safe storage of weapons and ammunition
- Proof of the measures taken for the safe storage of firearms and ammunition subject to authorization
Further information:
For further questions, it is best to contact the local regulatory authority (weapons authority) or the water police. The (German) Dienstgruppe Sportschifffahrt also offers regular lectures on the subject of distress signal weapons and pyrotechnic distress signaling devices as part of its skipper safety tips. Info: Tel. +49 421362 9833 / +49 421362 14897. An overview of the lecture dates can be found at fsr.de.com.
Contribution series:
- Sea distress signaling equipment (Part 1): The safe storage of 4-caliber signal pistols on board
- Marine distress signaling equipment (Part 2): Acquisition and handling of 4-gauge signal pistols on board
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