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International Signalling flags
International signalling flags are a method of visual communication between vessels at sea. They can be used to quickly convey an instruction, warning or intention to anybody within visual range.
Many flags can be hoisted at once to produce a message as is most commonly seen these days when dressing ship.
Phonetic alphabet
Each letter of the alphabet is represented by an individual signal flag. But instead of using the common alphabet, the letter is represented in phonetics as used in radio communications for effective clarification of transmitted characters.
The UK (NATO) version of the phonetic alphabet is shown below:
| A LPHA
B RAVO C HARLIE D ELTA E CHO F OXTROT G OLF H OTEL I NDIA J ULIET K ILO L IMA M IKE |
N OVEMBER
O SCAR P APA Q UEBEC R OMEO S IERRA T ANGO U NIFORM V ICTOR W HISKEY X -RAY Y ANKEE Z ULU |
The signalling flags, along with their corresponding meanings, are shown below:
Alpha . - |
I have a diver down |
Bravo - . . . |
I am taking in, discharging or carrying explosives |
Charlie - . - . |
Yes (affirmative) |
Delta - . . |
Keep clear- I am manoeuvring with difficulty |
Echo . |
I am altering my course to starboard |
Foxtrot . . - . |
I am disabled |
Golf - - . |
I require a pilot |
Hotel . . . . |
I have a pilot onboard |
India . . |
I am altering my course to port |
Juliet . - - - |
I am on fire and have dangerous cargo onboard- keep well clear |
Kilo - . - |
I wish to communicate with you |
Lima . - . . |
You should stop your vessel instantly |
Mike - - |
My vessel is stopped and making no way through the water |
November - . |
No (negative) |
Oscar - - - |
Man overboard |
Papa . - - . |
(Blue Peter)- all to report onboard as vessel is about to put to sea |
Quebec - - . - |
My vessel is healthy- I request free pratique |
Romeo . - . |
[no signal allocated] |
Sierra . . . |
My engines are going astern |
Tango - |
Keep clear of me- I am engaged in pair trawling |
Uniform . . - |
You are running into danger |
Victor . . . - |
I require assistance |
Whiskey . - - |
I require medical assistance |
X-ray - . . - |
Stop carrying out your intentions and wait for my signals |
Yankee - . - - |
I am dragging my anchor |
Zulu - - . . |
I require a tug |
Morse code
International Morse Code is a system of dots and dashes that can be used to send messages by an Aldis lamp or telegraph key. It has largely been phased out in favour of newer technologies, remaining in use by some armed forces and ham radio operators
In Morse Code, each letter or number is represented by a combination of dashes and dots, where a dash is equal to three dots in duration.
The Morse equivalent of each letter in the alphabet is shown above along side its corresponding signalling flag.
Semaphore
This method of signalling involves the waving of a pair of flags in various positions, each representing a letter of the alphabet (shown below). Semaphore flags provide a simple method of secure, short range, ship-to-ship communications.
