Distress signal system for sea vessels and a method therefor

A distress signal unit intended for sea vessels having two or more navigation lights interconnected in an electrical circuit and arranged to emit a steady light in different directions in an operating state, characterized in

• that the distress signal unit has a body with connection points for electrical connection to the navigation lights and
• that the distress signal unit has a control means attached to the body, which control means is arranged to vary the current to the navigation lights in a distress signal state when the distress signal unit is connected to the navigation lights in order to vary the light emission therefrom in accordance with a pre-programmed pattern to form a well-established distress signal,
• that the distress signal unit further has a manually activatable actuator, which comprises a switch connected to the control means for activating or switching off the distress signal state by activating or switching off the control means, and
• that the distress signal unit further has a light activating means connectable to the electrical circuit, which light activating means is arranged to provide, when activated, power supply of said varying current to said navigation lights, in connection with activation of the distress state, regardless of whether said navigation lights are in the operating state or not;
• wherein
• the electrical circuit comprises at least two circuits, the at least two circuits being connected in parallel, wherein each of the at least two circuits is connected to a power source via an electrical switch, and wherein the light activating means is connected to the power source and each of the at least two circuits and is arranged to electrically bypass each electrical switch.