International Maritime Signal Flags

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International maritime signal flags. From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia ... The system of international maritime signal flags is a way of representing ...
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International Code Flags or Signaling Flags. More than you ever wanted to know: ... international shipping traffic, International code flags are used to signal ...
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The system of international maritime signal flags is a way of representing individual letters of the alphabet in International Code of Signalss to or from ships. It is a component of the International Code of Signals. International Marine Signal Flags
There are various methods that the flags can be used as signals:

each flag spells out a letter of an alphabetic message.
individual flags have specific and standard meanings; for example, diving support vessels raise the "A flag" indicating their inability to move from their current location because they have a diver underwater.
one or more flags form a code word whose meaning can be looked up in a code book held by both parties. An example is the Popham numeric code used at the Battle of Trafalgar.
in yacht racing and dinghy racing, flags have other meanings; for example, the P flag is used as the "preparatory" flag to indicate an imminent start, and the S flag means "shortened course" (for more details see Racing Rules of Sailing#Race Signals).

NATO uses an extra set of flags to communicate specific types of messages.

==Letters==Image:ICS_Alpha.svg] down; keep well clear at slow speed. With three numerals, azimuth or bearing.Image:ICS_Bravo.svg|BI am taking in, or discharging, or carrying dangerous goods. (Originally used by the Royal Navy specifically for military explosives.)Image:ICS_Charlie.svg].Image:ICS_Foxtrot.svg|FI am disabled; communicate with me.Image:ICS_Golf.svg|GI require a Harbour pilot. When made by fishing vessels operating in close proximity on the fishing grounds it means: "I am hauling nets". With four or five numerals, longitude. (The last two numerals denote minutes and the rest degrees.)Image:ICS_Hotel.svg|HI have a pilot on board.Image:ICS_India.svg|II am altering my course to Port (nautical).Image:ICS_Juliett.svg|JI am on fire and have dangerous cargo on board: keep well clear of me, or I am leaking dangerous cargo.Image:ICS_Kilo.svg|KI wish to communicate with you. With one numeral, I wish to communicate with you by; 1) Morse signalling by hand-flags or arms; 2) Loud hailer (megaphone); 3) Morse signalling lamp; 4) Sound signals.Image:ICS_Lima.svg|LIn harbor: The ship is under Quarantine.
At sea: You should stop your vessel instantly. With four numerals, latitude. (The first two denote degrees and the rest minutes.)Image:ICS_Mike.svg]. (often attached to the man overboard pole on boats). With a sinister hoist, the semaphore flag.Image:ICS_Papa.svg].Image:ICS_Romeo.svg|R The way is off my ship. With one or more numerals, distance in nautical miles.Image:ICS_Sierra.svg|S I am operating astern propulsion. With one or more numerals, speed in knots.Image:ICS_Tango.svg|T Keep clear of me; I am engaged in pair trawling. With four numerals, local time. (The first two denote hours and the rest minutes.)Image:ICS_Uniform.svg]. When made by fishing vessels operating in close proximity on the fishing grounds it means: "I am shooting nets". With one or more numerals, time (UTC). (The first two denote hours and the rest minutes.) (Origin of the phrase 'Coordinated Universal Time'.)* N and C together (No and Yes) is used as a distress signal.

Numbers {||- style="text-align: center; font-weight: bold;"| Type of flag || 0 || 1 || 2 || 3 || 4 || 5 || 6 || 7 || 8 || 9|-| Allied flags ]s || || || || || || || || || || |}

Other flags {||-| || || || || |-| Prompt flag || First Substitute flag || Second substitute || Third substitute || Fourth substitute|-| colspan=5 | Allied signals |-| || || || || |-| Code/answer (ANS) || Preparative (PREP) || Question (INT) || Negation (NEGAT) || Designation (DESIG)|-| || || || || |-| Course Pennant (CORPEN) || Turn (TURN) || Screen (SCREEN) || Speed (SPEED) || Station (STATION)|-| || || || || |-| Port (PORT) || Starboard (STBD) || Formation (FORM) || Division (DIV) || Squadron (SQUAD)|-| || || |-| Group (FLOT)|| Subdivision (SUBDIV) || Emergency (EMERG)|}

See also

England expects that every man will do his duty
Flag signals
NATO phonetic alphabet
Character encoding

References {{cite book| title = International Code of Signals| publisher = International Maritime Organisation| date = 1995-->

External links

Freeware to aid memorizing the flags from The Navy Patuxent Sailing Club
La flag-alfabeto - signal flags used for the Esperanto language. Description: the flags for the esperanto letters with diacritical marks have the lighter color in the normal flag replaced with light green, which is not used in any normal flag.
Signalman manual
brief history of naval signals