How do you read a maritime flag?

The Nautical Flag Alphabet

1. A: Alpha – diver down; I am undergoing a speed trial.
2. B: Bravo – carrying dangerous cargo.
3. C: Charlie – yes (affirmative)
4. D: ...
5. E: Echo – altering course to starboard.
6. F: Foxtrot – I am disabled, communicate with me.
7. G: Golf – I want a pilot.
8. H: Hotel – a pilot on board.

What do the maritime flags mean?

A - Diver below (when stationary); I am undergoing a speed trial. B - I am taking on or discharging explosives. C - (affirmative) D - keep clear of me, I am manoevering with difficulty.

How do you use a maritime signal flag?

Solo or combined, nautical flags convey meaning.

Depending on the intended message, boats fly one flag or up to seven flags in a row. For example, if you see the A (Alpha) flag, this means “diver down, keep clear.” If you see the W (Whiskey) flag, the boat has a medical emergency and needs help.

What is nautical flag alphabet?

Nautical Flags Alphabet: a (alpha) = Diver Down; Keep Clear. b (bravo) = Dangerous Cargo. c (charlie) = Yes. d (delta) = Keep Clear.

What does R over Y flag mean?

Romeo-Yankee (R over Y) proceed at slow speed when passing.

What is the maritime flag for quarantine?

noun Nautical. a yellow flag, designating the letter Q in the International Code of Signals: flown by itself to signify that a ship has no disease on board and requests a pratique, or flown with another flag to signify that there is disease on board ship.

What does a white flag on a boat mean?

COMMON ONE FLAG SIGNALS. The red-and-white flag and 'Alpha' or 'Alfa' flag both mean 'I have a diver. down; keep well clear at slow speed' Image: Michael Harpur. The diver down flag, or scuba flag, is used on the water to indicate that there is a diver below.

What does a blue and white flag on a boat mean?

A blue-and-white International Code Flag A (or Alpha flag) must be displayed on boats involved in a diving activity.

What does orange flag on boat mean?

Used to show where committee boat end of the start line is. Orange start flag. Shows where the start line ends.

What does a black and yellow checkered flag mean on a boat?

In years gone by, editions of the International Code of Signals (ICOS) did contain signals for vessels that suspected they harbored, or could be harboring, contagious diseases. In Brown's 1916 edition the L (Lima) flag (black and yellow squares) signified 'I have or had some dangerous, infectious disease on board.

What is code flag A?

Individual flags have specific and standard meanings; for example, diving support vessels raise the "A" flag indicating their inability to move from their current location because they have a diver underwater and to warn other vessels to keep clear to avoid endangering the diver(s) with their propellers.

Why is the flag called Blue Peter?

The Blue Peter was originally a blue maritime signal flag meaning "P" or "outward bound", flown to warn a ship's crew in port of an imminent sailing. Blue Peter also may refer to: Blue Peter, a British television programme.

What does a red flag on a cruise ship mean?

A Red Flag generally means that the cruise reservation for the cruise is temporarily frozen. There are many reasons for this and run the gamut of the cruise line canceling the sailing or as minor as getting caught up with a large number of bookings.

What does a black Marine flag mean?

Black. 90 and Above. Physical training and strenuous exercise suspended for all personnel (excludes operational commitment not for training purposes). Note: Wearing of body armor or NBC uniform adds approximately 10 points to the measured WBGT index. Exposure limits should be adjusted accordingly.

What does a red and yellow flag mean on a boat?

DESIGNATED SWIMMING AREA in a surf zone is defined as the area extending 400 metres out from shore between the red and yellow surf patrol flags.

What does flying a yellow flag mean?

Medical Definition of quarantine flag

: a yellow flag hoisted by all ships to request pratique on entering a harbor, by a ship to show that it has contagious or infectious disease aboard, or by a ship that has been quarantined. — called also yellow flag, yellow jack.

What dies a yellow flag mean?

Yellow flag (contagion), historically displayed on ships to indicate the presence of disease or quarantine (obsolete); also used in some cities to mark a recent death in a neighborhood, regardless of cause. Racing flags, used in motor sports to indicate hazardous conditions.

What do yellow flags mean in my yard?

YELLOW – Gas, Oil, Steam Petroleum or Gaseous Materials. ORANGE – Communication, Cable TV, Alarm or Signal Lines, Cables or Conduit.

What does a plain red flag mean?

In politics, a red flag is predominantly a symbol of socialism, communism, Marxism, trade unions, left-wing politics, and historically of anarchism. It has been associated with left-wing politics since the French Revolution (1789–1799).

What does dropping red flags mean?

: to identify or draw attention to (a problem or issue to be dealt with) Those who voice the most displeasure in their marriage, are more likely to complain about their partner's weight, Newport adds, which may help counselors red-flag weakening relationships before it's too late.—

Is Blue Peter a flag?

For “Blue Peter” is actually the name of a simple naval signal flag, flown by ships as they prepare to leave port. The sight of a blue square around a white square being hoisted up the masthead alerted crew and passengers that the ship was ready to make sail.

What is a Bravo flag?

The B flag, or Bravo flag, is used to represent the alphabetic character B for use in a message between boats It also means ' I am taking in, discharging, or carrying dangerous cargo'. From the International Code of Signals, this long-lasting nautical flag is made.

Is the Blue Peter flag still used?

Often said to be a corruption of “blue repeater”, there is actually no signal flag that goes by that designation. The use of the flag to spell the letter “P” dates from 1857 and so cannot have played a role in the origin of the term.