Flag

A flag is a piece of coloured cloth flown from a pole or mast, usually for purposes of signalling or identification. Flags were initially created for signalling (as in

Flags at sea

Main article: Maritime flags

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Flags are particularly important at sea, where they can mean the difference between life and death, and consequently where the rules and regulations for the flying of flags are strictly enforced. A national flag flown at sea is known as an ensign. A courteous, peaceable merchant ship or yacht customarily flies its ensign (in the usual ensign position), together with the flag of whatever nation it is currently visiting at the mast (known as a courtesy flag). To fly one's ensign alone in foreign waters, a foreign port or in the face of a foreign warship traditionally indicates a willingness to fight, with cannon, for the right to do so. This custom is still (2004) taken quite seriously by many naval and port authorities and is readily enforced in many parts of the world by boarding, confiscation, and other civil penalties.

Related Topics:
Ensign - Courtesy flag

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

In some countries yacht ensigns are different from merchant ensigns in order to signal that the yacht is not carrying cargo that requires a customs declaration. Carrying commercial cargo on a boat with a yacht ensign is deemed to be smuggling in many jurisdictions.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

There is a system of International maritime signal flags for numerals and letters of the alphabet. Each flag or pennant has a specific meaning when flown individually.

Related Topics:
International maritime signal flags - Pennant

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~