Flares and EVDS

All registrable vessels and non-registrable vessels. 

When operating beyond 400 metres, from shore in the ocean in unprotected waters, you must carry at least 2 handheld red flares and 2 handheld orange flares.

You can carry an EVDS instead of flares if a GPS-enabled Electronic Position Indicating Radio Beacon (EPIRB) is carried or GPS-enabled Personal Locator Beacon (PLB) is worn.

Find out more about what safety equipment you need. 

There are 3 main types of distress flares approved for use in Western Australia. All flares must be manufactured to Australian Standard AS 2092-2004 or comply with AMSA’s Marine Orders Part 25.

Orange smoke flares

range smoke flares:

• emit a cloud of orange smoke
• are designed for day use only and have no luminosity.

Orange hand-held flares burn for about 60 seconds.

The potential sighting range for orange smoke flares by day is 4 kilometres, although this can drop to less than 1 kilometres in a fresh breeze.

These flares are especially visible from aircraft, even on windy days.

Red hand-held flares

Red hand-held flares:

• are designed for use both night and day
• burn for about 45 seconds at 15,000 candle power
• have a potential sighting range at night is 10 to 12 km and about 4 to 6 km during the day.

Red parachute distress rockets

Red parachute rockets:

• are designed for use both night and day
• project a rocket to 300 metres high and then deploy a parachute-suspended red flare, which burns for about 40 seconds at 30,000 candle power
• have a potential sighting range of 15 kilometres by day and 40 kilometres at night.

NOTE: From 1 September 2026 parachute flares won’t be accepted as part of the required safety equipment for recreational vessels, only red and orange flares will be.

Electronic Visual Distress Signals (EVDS)

All EVDS must be of a type approved by DoT in a notice published in the Government Gazette. 

These approved devices meet specific standards. 

Currently, seven EVDS meet DoT’s requirements and have been approved for use:

• 547 Orion Electronic SOS Beacon Locator
• ACR Electronics ResQFlare
• Lonako (LNK-ERS1) Electronic Rescue Signal Light
• Tektite SOSeFlare 5th Gen
• Sirius Signal C-1003 SOS Distress Light
• Sirius Signal C-1004 SOS Distress Light
• Odeo Electronic Visual Distress SOS Signal Flare.

All newly purchased EVDS devices should be removed from packaging, checked for batteries and functionality. Skippers should become familiar with how to operate the device and store the EVDS onboard in an easily accessible position. 

Storage

Flares should always be:

• readily accessible
• stored in a waterproof container
• in a place where they don't receive too much pounding in rough conditions
• away from dampness and heat sources above 60 degrees Celsius.

Expiry dates

Flares must be within the expiry date and kept in serviceable condition at all times.

Check your flares regularly to ensure that they have not been affected by moisture.

Mildew or bubbling of paper coatings may indicate signs of moisture.

Download the Deckee app and put your flare expiry dates into the app to be notified when they are about to expire.

Flares are best used when you believe there is chance of it being seen.

The method used to fire a flare varies widely between flare types and manufacturers.

The firing instructions are always printed on the flare, so make sure you are familiar with how to fire your particular type of flare.

Hand-held red flares burn very hot and may spill glowing embers.

Hold it downwind so that embers don't spill into the vessel and tilt it while in your hand to avoid being burnt.

The Department of Transport regularly hosts flare demonstration events, where you can learn how handle and use emergency distress flares in a controlled environment.

Members of the public are invited to attend and encouraged to actively participate. 

Sign up to our Boating Communities newsletter, download Deckee or join us on Facebook to find out when our next flare event will be.

Arrange a flare demonstration or training session

If you are arranging for a flare demonstration and training session, please ensure that you submit a Flare demonstration application form.

There are severe penalties for the improper use of flares.

Flares have a very serious purpose.

Falsely indicating distress carries a severe penalty, but it also wastes a lot of time and resources - possibly weakening the ability to respond to a genuine emergency.

Do not leave flares in your boat when it is not in use and keep them away from children.

Please do not discard unserviceable flares in general rubbish collections or land fill.

Up to 10 flares may still be disposed of at the following Department of Transport offices and participating Household Hazardous Waste Program centres provided by WALGA.

For more information on the Household Hazardous Waste Program visit the WasteNet website.

This Program is administered by WALGA and funded by the Waste Authority through the Waste Avoidance and Resource Recovery Account.