Flags and Flag Signals

General Flag Information

• According to SOLAS Regulation V/25, every ship must fly its national ensign while it’s underway or at anchor, during both daylight and nighttime hours. The national ensign should be displayed prominently and clearly visible from a distance, preferably at the stern of the ship.  No other flag should be larger than the national ensign and it must always be located in the position of honor.  In traditional maritime etiquette, the position of honor for displaying flags on ships typically dictates that the national ensign or flag of a country should not be flown directly below any other flag.
• A courtesy flag is flown as a sign of respect when entering a foreign port.  These flags will have the national ensign of the foreign country and will often be located on a starboard side halyard (but can be located in other positions – on the foremast or the bow staff).
• Flags are typically flown from sunrise to sunset but ship specific conventions may dictate otherwise.  If flags are raised and lowered on a daily basis, the tradition is to hoist the national ensign first and lower it last at nighttime.  Next in order of priority is the courtesy flag which would occur after the hoisting of the ship’s national ensign in the morning and before the ship’s national ensign in the evening.  National flags should not touch the deck.
• National flags should not be flown on the same halyard as flag signals, company flags, or ship specific flags.  Company flags are often flown at the bow and taken down once the ship leaves port or weighs anchor.

Signal Flags

• The use of signal flags as a form of communication is becoming more rare, however there are some flag signals that a mariner should be familiar with as they are used by well run ships as a standard practice.
• Each signal flag corresponds to a specific letter of the phonetic alphabet.  For more on the phonetic alphabet, click here.  For a complete list of signal flags, click here.

	Alpha: "I have a diver down" Vessels in the area are to stay clear. Note that there is also an alternate diver flag denoted by a red flag with a diagonal white line through it.
	Bravo: "I am taking on, discharging, or carrying dangerous goods" This is commonly used to indicate that the ship is taking on fuel but can also indicate the transfer of other dangerous goods.
	Golf: "I require a pilot"
	Hotel: "I have a pilot onboard"
	November over Charlie: The SOLAS flag signal for distress
	Papa: "I am about to set sail"