Distress Rockets

Chemring Australia manufactures the Pains Wessex branded ‘Aurora’ products and is a distributor of the full range of Pains Wessex and Comet Rocket products. Click the brands displayed above to view the product lists.

Australian legislation states that all vessels operating outside protected waters must carry flare and/or rocket products and smoke products.

For inshore waters (Up to 2 nautical miles from the coast) you must have:

Two hand-held red flares and

Two hand-held, orange smokes.

For offshore waters (more than 2 nautical miles from the coast) you must have:

Two hand held red flares and

Two hand-held, orange smokes.

One Red Para Rocket.

If you operate both inshore and off shore you only need the offshore set of flares.

Flares should always be easily accessible, stored in a waterproof container, away from dampness and heat sources.

There will be an expiry date on your flares. Commercial vessels must replace out of date flare products , owners of private vessels should consider the expiry as best advice.

You should regularly check the condition of you flares. Check for physical damage and signs of dampness. Damaged flares should not be fired, mildew, or bubbling of labels may indicate dampness.

Do not forget - flares should never be used after expiry date

At expiry - flares must be disposed of carefully and in accordance with local regulations

Do not dispose of damaged, out of date or used flares in general rubbish collections.

Distress flares must only be used in times of genuine emergency . There are severe penalties for improper use. The coastguard and other emergency services are obliged to respond to the use of distress flares, you may well put someone else’s life at risk by diverting the emergency services away from someone in genuine need.