Signal Pennants International Code Flags and Pennants 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.
Edge of a flag next to the pole or mast is termed the hoist; it's free end, the fly, and a short piece of line attached to lower end of hoist, or an extension thereto, as always provided on signal flags, the tack or tack-line. Flags of rectangular shape are called square flags. Those of triangular or tapering quadrilateral shape, pennants, and those having pointed corners at the fly (swallow-tailed) are called burgees.
A |
Alpha |
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When hoisted singly means: "I have a diver down; keep well clear at slow speed." |
B |
Bravo |
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When hoisted singly means: "I am taking in, or discharging, or carrying dangerous goods." |
C |
Charlie |
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When hoisted singly means: "Yes, affirmative". |
D |
Delta |
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When hoisted singly means: "Keep clear of me, I am maneuvering with difficulty." |
E |
Echo |
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When hoisted singly means: "I am altering my course to starboard." |
F |
Foxtrot |
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When hoisted singly means: "I am disabled; communicate with me." |
G |
Gulf |
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When hoisted singly means: 'I require a pilot". When made by fishing vessels operating on the fishing grounds, it means: "I am hauling nets." |
H |
Hotel |
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When hoisted singly means: "I have a pilot on board." |
I |
India |
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When hoisted singly means: "I am altering my course to port." Also called the interrogatory flag. |
J |
Juliet |
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When hoisted singly means: "I am on fire and have dangerous cargo on board. Keep well clear of me." |
K |
Kilo |
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When hoisted singly means: "I wish to communicate with you." |
L |
Lima |
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When hoisted singly means: "You should stop your vessel instantly." |
M |
Mike |
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When hoisted singly means: "My vessel is stopped and making no way through the water." Not international but commonly used: Doctor on board |
N |
November |
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When hoisted singly means: "No." Also known as the negative flag. |
O |
Oscar |
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When hoisted singly means: "man overboard." |
P |
Papa |
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When hoisted singly in port, means: "All persons return to the ship which is ready to depart." Also known, particularly among the British, as the Blue Peter. |
Q |
Quebec |
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When flown singly the quarantine flag means: "My vessel is healthy and I request free pratique." |
R |
Romeo |
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S |
Sierra |
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When hoisted singly means: "My engines are going astern." |
T |
Tango |
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When hoisted singly means: "Keep clear of me, I am engaged in pair trawling." As a freeboard mark, it indicates the load line in the tropics. Not international but commonly used: Request for transportation (from club launch) |
U |
Uniform |
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When hoisted singly means: "You are running into danger." |
V |
Victor |
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When hoisted singly means: "I require assistance." |
W |
Whiskey |
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When hoisted singly means: "I require medical assistance." |
X |
Xray |
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When hoisted singly means: "Stop carrying out your intentions and watch for my signals." |
Y |
Yankee |
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When hoisted singly means: "I am dragging my anchor." |
Z |
Zulu |
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When hoisted singly means: "I require a tug."; when shown by a fishing vessel near the fishing grounds, means: "I am shooting nets." |
First Repeater |
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The First Repeater repeats the upper flag or pennant of a hoist. Now called a substitute in the NATO Navies. |
Second Repeater |
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A signal flag used to repeat another flag directly above it in a flag hoist. |
Third Repeater |
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A signal flag used to repeat another flag directly above it in a flag hoist. |
Code and Answering Pennant |
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The answering pennant is used as a decimal point when sending numeric data. Close up (top of mast), the receiving vessel indicates she understands the hoist. At the end of the signal it indicates that the message is complete. At dip(half masted), hoisted by the receiving vessel as each hoist of the transmitting ship is seen. |
Some Useful Two Letter Signals:
AC |
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I am abandoning my vessel. |
LO |
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I am not in my correct position: used by a light vessel. |
RU |
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Keep clear of me; I am maneuvering with difficulty. |
AN |
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I need a doctor. |
NC |
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I am in distress and require immediate assistance. |
SO |
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You should stop your vessel instantly. |
BR |
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I require a helicopter. |
PD |
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Your navigation lights are not visible. |
UM |
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The Harbour is closed to traffic. |
CD |
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I require immediate assistance. |
PP |
OR
OR
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Keep well clear of me. |
UP |
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Permission to enter Harbour is urgently requested. I have an emergency. |
DV |
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I am drifting. |
QD |
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I am going ahead. |
CU |
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I am going to communicate with your station by means of the International code of signals. |
EF |
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SOS/MAYDAY has been canceled. |
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I am going astern. |
ZD1 |
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Please report me to the Coast Guard, New York |
FA |
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Will you give me my position? |
QQ |
OR
OR
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I require health clearance. |
ZD2 |
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Please report me to Lloyds, London. |
GW |
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Man overboard. Please take action to pick him up. |
QU |
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Anchoring is prohibited. |
ZL |
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Your signal has been received but not understood. |
JL |
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You are running the risk of going aground. |
QX |
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I request permission to anchor. |
AE |
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I must abandon my vessel |
CJ |
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Do you require assistance? |
CN |
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I am unable to give assistance |
JI |
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Are you aground? |
JL |
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You are running the risk of going aground |
JW |
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I have sprung a leak |
KN |
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I cannot take you in tow |
KN1 |
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I cannot take you in tow but I will report you and ask for immediate assistance. Note, a numeral is added to general messages to provide variation in meaning, to ask or answer a question, or to supplement the basic message. |
LN |
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Light (name follows) has been extinguished |
LO |
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I am not in my correct position (To be used by a lightship) |
LR |
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Bar is not dangerous |
LS |
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Bar is dangerous |
MF |
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Course to reach me is ... |
MG |
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You should steer course ... |
NC |
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I am in distress |
NF |
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You are running into danger |
NG |
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You are in a dangerous position |
YZ |
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Indicates words which follow are in plain language. Use is optional if it is obvious the words are in plain language. |
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