Art. 29. Nothing in these rules shall exonerate any vessel, or the owner or master or crew thereof, from the consequences of any neglect to carry lights or signals, or of any neglect to keep a proper lookout, or of the neglect of any precaution which may be required by the ordinary practice of seamen, or by the special circumstances of the case.
Lights on United States naval vessels and revenue cutters.
Art. 30. The exhibition of any light on board of a vessel of war of the United States or a Coast Guard cutter may be suspended whenever, in the opinion of the Secretary of the Navy, the commander-in-chief of a squadron, or the commander of a vessel acting singly, the special character of the service may require it.
Distress signals.
Art. 31. When a vessel is in distress and requires assistance from other vessels or from the shore the following shall be the signals to be used or displayed by her, either together or separately, namely:
In the daytime—
A continuous sounding with any fog-signal apparatus, or firing a gun.
At night—
First. Flames on the vessel as from a burning tar barrel, oil barrel, and so forth.
Second. A continuous sounding with any fog-signal apparatus, or firing a gun.