🔍 Key Concepts

• Pyrotechnic distress signals carriage and service life requirements for vessels in U.S. waters • How the date of manufacture printed on flares relates to their allowed service (usable) period • Relevant rule in 46 CFR and Navigation and Vessel Inspection Circulars (NVIC) on flare expiration

💭 Think About

• Look at the date that is stamped on a hand flare or aerial flare. How far into the future is it normally considered valid on inspected vessels? • Think about why the Coast Guard limits the usable life of flares. Would they choose a relatively short period (2–3 years) or a very long one (5+ years) for safety-critical equipment? • Compare the choices to what you’ve actually seen on real flares or in pictures of flares used on exams or in textbooks.

✅ Before You Answer

• Verify the exact number of months allowed from date of manufacture, not from date of purchase or inspection. • Confirm that you are thinking about service (usable) life, not the total time it might still function if fired. • Eliminate any option that seems either too short to be practical or too long to ensure reliable performance of pyrotechnics.