On 3 November 1906, representatives from multiple nations convened at the International Radiotelegraph Conference in Berlin, laying the groundwork for a standardised distress signal that would resonate worldwide.
Amidst the dawn of radiotelegraphy, the need for a universally recognised call for help was increasingly urgent, as ships and vessels depended on a clear, unmistakable signal to communicate emergencies across vast oceans.
The conference ultimately chose “SOS” (· · · – – – · · ·), a succinct and easily recognisable sequence that transcended language barriers.
Designed to be simple to transmit and understand, this sequence of three short, three long, and three short pulses became an emblem of solidarity across nations, empowering mariners and radio operators with a shared, unequivocal call for assistance.
