What are the flags on a ship called?

A maritime flag is a flag designated for use on ships, boats, and other watercraft. Naval flags are considered important at sea and the rules and regulations for the flying of flags are strictly enforced.

What is the flag at the stern of a ship called?

ensign
An ensign is the national flag flown on a vessel to indicate nationality. The ensign is the largest flag, generally flown at the stern (rear) of the ship while in port.

What is the difference between the Union Jack and the Union Flag?

Sometime around 1674 the British flag became formally known as the ‘Union Jack’ when mounted on a warship and the ship was not in harbour. At the same time the British flag was referred to as the ‘Union flag’ on land.

What is the naval Jack flag?

A jack is a flag corresponding in appearance to the union or canton of the national ensign. In the United States Navy, it is a blue flag containing a star for each state. For countries whose colors have no canton, the jack is simply a small national ensign.

What is a Bravo flag?

Phonetic Pronunciation: BRAH-voh. Navy & International Meaning: I am taking in, discharging, or carrying dangerous cargo. International Code of Signal Flags have double stitched seams, finished nylon rope distance lines and ash toggles.

What does flying the Union Jack upside down mean?

DISTRESS
To deliberately fly the flag upside down is a signal indicating a situation of ‘DISTRESS’. It is also “lese Majeste” (which means: insulting the Crown), and is theoretically still a crime in the UK and its commonwealth! Examples of the Union flag flying upside down.

Is the Coast Guard a flag?

The flag of the United States Coast Guard is white with a dark blue Great Seal of the United States; the shield on the eagle’s breast has a blue chief over vertical red and white stripes….Flag of the United States Coast Guard.

Proportion 5:4
Adopted January 28, 1964

What do the different flags on a ship mean?

Two-flag Signals – Distress or Maneuvering. Three-Flag Signals – Points of the Compass, Standard-Times, Verbs, Punctuation, Code and Decode Signals. Four-Flag Signals – Geographic, Names of Ships, and Bearings. Five-Flag Signals – To Relate Position and Time.