Flags

Colored flags are used by a ship in accordance with the International Flags Code, the code that enables vessels of any nationality to communicate with each other. It consists of 26 flags, corresponding to the alphabet, ten flags representing numbers, three special flags that mean the duplication of the preceding flag, and one answering pennant. Each flag has its own individual meaning in addition to a letter, which is described below. a – White and blue ‘keep well clear, at slow speed’ b – All red ‘carrying dangerous cargo’ c – Blue, white and red stripes ‘yes or affirmative’ d – Yellow with a blue strip ‘maneuvering with difficulty’ e – Half blue and half red ‘directing course to starboard’ f – White with a red diamond ‘communicate with me’ g – Yellow and blue stripes ‘require a pilot’ h – White and red ‘have a pilot on board’ i – Yellow with a black circle ‘directing course to port’ j – Blue with a white stripe ‘on fire, keep clear’ k – Yellow and blue ‘wish to communicate with you’ l – Yellow and black checks ‘stop your vessel immediately’ m – Blue with a white x ‘my vessel is stopped’ n – Blue and white checks ‘no or negative’ o – Red and yellow ‘man overboard’ p – Blue with a white box ‘personal return to ship’ q – All yellow ‘request clearance into port’ r – Red with a yellow cross ‘no meaning’ s – White with a blue box ‘moving astern’ t – Red, white and blue stripe ‘keep clear, engaged in trawling’ u – Red and white checks ‘you are running into danger’ v – white with a red x ‘require assistance’ w – blue with a white and red box ‘require medical assistance’ x – white with a blue cross ‘stop and watch for my signals’ y – Red and yellow stripes ‘I am dragging anchor’ z – Black, blue, red, yellow triangle ‘require a tug’