Module 03

Flags and pennants

A hoist is read from the top down. Flown alone, most alphabet flags carry a standing meaning that an officer of the deck must recognise at a glance — several of them are hazard signals.

Lesson

Reading a hoist

  • Single flag: the standing meaning listed below, most of them urgent or navigational.
  • Two flags: distress and manoeuvring signals from the international code.
  • Three flags: points of the compass, times, bearings and general code groups.
  • A substitute repeats an earlier flag of the same class in the same hoist, so a ship never needs two of one flag.
  • Hoists are read top down, and the nearest hoist to the observer is read first.

Reference

Alphabet flags

Alfa

A · Alfa

I have a diver down; keep well clear at slow speed.

Bravo

B · Bravo

I am taking in, discharging or carrying dangerous goods.

Charlie

C · Charlie

Affirmative — yes.

Delta

D · Delta

Keep clear of me; I am manoeuvring with difficulty.

Echo

E · Echo

I am altering my course to starboard.

Foxtrot

F · Foxtrot

I am disabled; communicate with me.

Golf

G · Golf

I require a pilot. (Fishing: hauling nets.)

Hotel

H · Hotel

I have a pilot on board.

India

I · India

I am altering my course to port.

Juliett

J · Juliett

I am on fire and have dangerous cargo; keep well clear.

Kilo

K · Kilo

I wish to communicate with you.

Lima

L · Lima

You should stop your vessel instantly.

Mike

M · Mike

My vessel is stopped and making no way through the water.

November

N · November

Negative — no.

Oscar

O · Oscar

Man overboard.

Papa

P · Papa

All persons report on board; the vessel is about to proceed to sea.

Quebec

Q · Quebec

My vessel is healthy and I request free pratique.

Romeo

R · Romeo

Received / my way is astern (naval use).

Sierra

S · Sierra

I am operating astern propulsion.

Tango

T · Tango

Keep clear of me; I am engaged in pair trawling.

Uniform

U · Uniform

You are running into danger.

Victor

V · Victor

I require assistance.

Whiskey

W · Whiskey

I require medical assistance.

Xray

X · Xray

Stop carrying out your intentions and watch for my signals.

Yankee

Y · Yankee

I am dragging my anchor.

Zulu

Z · Zulu

I require a tug. (Fishing: shooting nets.)

Reference

Numeral pennants

Numeral pennant One

1 · Numeral pennant One

Figure 1.

Numeral pennant Two

2 · Numeral pennant Two

Figure 2.

Numeral pennant Three

3 · Numeral pennant Three

Figure 3.

Numeral pennant Four

4 · Numeral pennant Four

Figure 4.

Numeral pennant Five

5 · Numeral pennant Five

Figure 5.

Numeral pennant Six

6 · Numeral pennant Six

Figure 6.

Numeral pennant Seven

7 · Numeral pennant Seven

Figure 7.

Numeral pennant Eight

8 · Numeral pennant Eight

Figure 8.

Numeral pennant Nine

9 · Numeral pennant Nine

Figure 9.

Numeral pennant Zero

0 · Numeral pennant Zero

Figure 0.

Reference

Substitutes

First substitute

SUB1 · First substitute

Repeats the first flag of the same class already flying in that hoist.

Second substitute

SUB2 · Second substitute

Repeats the second flag of the same class already flying in that hoist.

Third substitute

SUB3 · Third substitute

Repeats the third flag of the same class already flying in that hoist.

Flag artwork is drawn to scale for recognition training; always work from the official International Code of Signals for operational use.