flag hoist. flags although you may never see them displayed except at fleet parades, around naval...

Flag hoistFlag hoist

FlagsFlags

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 signalling flags, they are a set of flags of different colours, 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 pennants, one answering pennant, and three substituters or repeaters.

FlagsFlags

Only a few colours can be readily distinguished at Only a few colours can be readily distinguished at sea. These are: sea. These are: redred, , blueblue, , yellowyellow, , blackblack, and white; , and white; and these cannot be mixed indiscriminately. and these cannot be mixed indiscriminately.

You will notice, for clarity, the flags shown are You will notice, for clarity, the flags shown are either red and white, yellow and blue, blue and either red and white, yellow and blue, blue and white, or black and white; besides plain red, white, white, or black and white; besides plain red, white, and blue.and blue.

FlagsFlags• One-flag signalsOne-flag signals are urgent or very common signals are urgent or very common signals

• Two-flag signalsTwo-flag signals are mostly distress and manoeuvring are mostly distress and manoeuvring signals. signals.

• Three-flag signalsThree-flag signals are for points of the compass, are for points of the compass, relative bearings, standard times, verbs, punctuation, relative bearings, standard times, verbs, punctuation, also general code and decode signals. also general code and decode signals.

• Four-flagsFour-flags are used for geographical signals, names of are used for geographical signals, names of ships, bearings, etc. ships, bearings, etc.

• Five-flag signalsFive-flag signals are those relating to time and position. are those relating to time and position.

• Six-flag signalsSix-flag signals are used when necessary to indicate are used when necessary to indicate north or south or east or west in latitude and longitude north or south or east or west in latitude and longitude signals. signals.

• Seven-flagsSeven-flags are for longitude signals containing more are for longitude signals containing more than one hundred degrees.than one hundred degrees.

Single letter flag hoistSingle letter flag hoist

Alfa (alpha) – Diver down, keep clear

Bravo – I’m taking in, discharging or carryingdangerous goods

Charlie – Yes (affirmative)

Delta -- Keep clear of me, I’m manoeveringwith difficulty


Echo – I am altering my course to starboard

Foxtrot – I’m disabled, communicate with me

Golf – I require a pilot

Hotel – I have a pilot on board


India – I’m altering my course to port

Juliet – Keep clear, I’m on fire and havedangerous cargo

Kilo – I wish to communicate with you

Lima – You should stop your vessel instantly


Mike – My vessel is stopped and making no way

November – No (Negative)

Oscar -- Man overboard

Papa – I’m about to proceed to sea

Single letter flag hoistSingle letter flag hoistQuebec -- My vessel is "healthy" and I requestfree practique

Romeo

Sierra – I am operating astern propulsion

Tango – Keep clear of me, I’m engaged in pairtrawling


Uniform – You are running into danger

Victor – I Require assistance

Whiskey – I Require medical assistance

Xray -- Stop your intentions and wait for my signals


Yankee – I Am dragging my anchor

Zulu – I Require a tug

Letter flagsLetter flags

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

0

Repeat First Flag

Repeat Second Flag

Repeat Third Flag

Decimal (point) and Answering pennant

Examples, two flag signalsExamples, two flag signals

AC - I am abandoning my vessel.

LO - I am not in my correct position: used by a light vessel.

RU - Keep clear of me; I am maneuvering with difficulty.

AN - I need a doctor. NC - I am in distress and require immediate assistance.

SO - You should stop your vessel instantly.

BR - I require a helicopter.

PD - Your navigation lights are not visible.

UM - The Harbour is closed to traffic.

CD - I require immediate assistance.

PP - Keep well clear of me.

UP - Permission to enter Harbour is urgently requested. I have an emergency.

Answering pennantAnswering pennant

At the dip – The code flag hoisted "at the dip“indicates that the receiver has seen the signal fromthe transmitting ship

Close up – The code flag hoisted "close up" indicates that the receiver has understood the signal from the transmitting ship

Nation flagNation flag

Meaning:Meaning: This flag indicates the nationality of the vesselThis flag indicates the nationality of the vessel

Place:Place:On board of a vessel the nation flag may only be hoisted at On board of a vessel the nation flag may only be hoisted at the following places:the following places:

• When the vessel is sailing, at the smallest mast or the one When the vessel is sailing, at the smallest mast or the one placed placed most aft.most aft.• In every other circumstance, in the mast on the stern of the In every other circumstance, in the mast on the stern of the vesselvessel

It is strictly prohibited to place other It is strictly prohibited to place other flags than your nation flag on these places!flags than your nation flag on these places!

Courtesy flagCourtesy flag

Meaning:Meaning:

The courtesy flag is a little nation flag of the country one is The courtesy flag is a little nation flag of the country one is visitingvisiting

Place:Place:

The courtesy flag is hoisted at the starboard yard of the front The courtesy flag is hoisted at the starboard yard of the front mast. If there is no yard, than the flag may be hoisted to the mast. If there is no yard, than the flag may be hoisted to the top of the front mast. top of the front mast.

The courtesy flag will never be hoisted in the mast on the The courtesy flag will never be hoisted in the mast on the stern of the vessel.stern of the vessel.

Courtesy flagCourtesy flag

Remark

Saoudi Arabia:

This country has two nation flags: one for its own and one for visitors.

The visitors must use the first flag. Here the sword is pointed at the mast. Symbolically, you point the sword to yourself and not to the country.

Saoudi Arabia uses the second flag. Her the sword is pointed away from the mast. Symbolically it is pointed to the visitors and protects the country.

flag hoist. flags although you may never see them displayed except at fleet parades, around naval...

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