A new maritime safety initiative is underway to establish NL-VDS (Navigation Light Visual Distress Signal) as a global standard for vessels equipped with navigation lights.

The initiative introduces a new method for visually identifying boats in distress, addressing a critical gap in modern search and rescue (SAR) operations.

In recent years, maritime safety has seen significant advances in digital distress alerting.

Technologies such as Smartphones, DSC and satellite-based systems including the International Cospas-Sarsat Programme enable accurate and reliable transmission of a vessel’s GPS position.

The growing adoption of these systems across both recreational and commercial vessels has increased reliance on position-based rescue coordination.

However, once rescue units or nearby vessels arrive in the search area, quickly and confidently identifying the vessel in distress remains a challenge, particularly in areas with multiple boats.

Traditional visual distress signals such as flares and handheld devices are short lived, require manual deployment, and can present safety risks if mishandled. In a distress situation, crews are also often exhausted, stressed, and it may be too difficult and risky to be on deck.

NL-VDS addresses this gap by enabling a vessel’s existing navigation lights to be transformed into a continuous long lasting visual distress signal through a simple activation. Navigation lights are already designed to be visible and to communicate a vessel’s position, heading and operational status.

By building on this visual system, NL-VDS provides immediate and unmistakable identification without requiring additional equipment or active handling on deck.

The solution is currently in a development and validation phase, testing real-world recognition in collaboration with SAR stakeholders, and ensuring compatibility with existing Colreg regulation 37 annex IV.

The initiative aims to complement existing VDS (visual distress signal) and positioning systems by strengthening the final and most critical stage of rescue operations: rapid visual recognition.

NL-VDS is relevant to recreational boaters, small commercial vessels, professional fleets, and SAR organisations, offering a simple solution that can be applied globally.

To support adoption, our team is engaging with maritime authorities, SAR organisations, and international bodies such as International Maritime Rescue Federation, as well as classification societies and technical stakeholders.

The long-term ambition is to support the development of a global standard aligned with existing maritime regulations and practices.

“Every second counts in a search and rescue situation. If we can remove uncertainty and make a vessel in distress instantly recognisable, we are convinced that this will save lives,” said project founder Peter Westh.

Peter Westh has been a sailracer since the 1980s and identified this gap as more boaters began relying on modern GPS and satellite-based communication devices. NL-VDS is protected by granted patents in Sweden and the United States, with additional patent applications pending in Europe.

For more information, visit the website here.