More
than you ever wanted to know:
Although
you may never see them displayed except at fleet parades,
around naval installations, and areas with heavy
international shipping traffic, International code flags are
used to signal between two ships or between ship and shore.
Also called signaling flags, they are a set of flags of
different colors, shapes and markings which used singly or
in combination have different meanings. The flags include 26
square flags which depict the letters of the alphabet, ten
numeral pendants, one answering pendant, and three
substituters or repeaters.
Only
a few colors can be readily distinguished at sea. These are:
red, blue, yellow, black, and white; and these cannot be
mixed indiscriminately. You will notice, for clarity, the
flags shown are either red and white, yellow and blue, blue
and white, or black and white; besides plain red, white, and
blue.
One-flag
signals are urgent or very common signals (see meanings
below). Two-flag signals are mostly distress and maneuvering
signals. Three-flag signals are for points of the compass,
relative bearings, standard times, verbs, punctuation, also
general code and decode signals. Four-flags are used for
geographical signals, names of ships, bearings, etc.
Five-flag signals are those relating to time and position.
Six-flag signals are used when necessary to indicate north
or south or east or west in latitude and longitude signals.
Seven-flags are for longitude signals containing more than
one hundred degrees.
Flag
Courtesy:
U.S.
National Ensign & Merchant Flag
U.S.
Yacht Ensign |
It
is usually appropriate to fly the U.S. National
Ensign (flag) or U.S. Yacht Ensign at the stern of
your vessel. However, when operating
internationally, say going to the Bahamas, once in
foreign waters you are required to fly the
"Q" Flag or "Quarantine Flag"
until you have cleared customs. This flag should
be hoisted on the starboard spreader. If you are
on a power boat with no mast, the "Q"
flag can be displayed on the bow. It is also
customary to fly the country's courtesy flag when
operating in the waters of that country. After
clearing customs, the "Q" flag should be
replaced with the country's courtesy flag. |
Don’t
fly a foreign courtesy ensign after you have returned to
U.S. waters. It may show that you have "been
there," but it is not proper flag etiquette.
Customs
regulations and clearance procedures and costs may differ
from one foreign country to another. Be sure and check your
cruising guide for the proper procedures or try inquiring
locally by radio prior to entering a foreign port. Although
I have found that most custom officials speak some English
or have access to someone who does, don’t forget that you
are in their country and you should be prepared to
communicate with them in their language.
So,
now that you know all about signaling flags, get them out
and wave them high.
Related
Articles:
What does
it mean to "Dress
Ship" and how do you do it?
