The master of a vessel must not, within or outside the Republic, use or display or cause or permit any person under his authority to use or display at a place on land within the Republic from which it can be seen from the sea -
- any signal which by regulation is declared to be a signal of distress, except in the circumstances and for the purpose prescribed; or
- any private signal, whether registered or not, which is likely to be mistaken for any such signal of distress.