International maritime signal flags
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The system of international maritime signal flags is a way of representing individual letters of the alphabet on ships or in nautical situations.
The flags can also be used to signal other things than alphabetical messages. For example, divers will often raise the flag representing the letter A as a marker to other sea traffic in the area.
The flags are also used, with a different set of special meanings, in yacht racing and dinghy racing, where (for example) the P flag is used as the "preparatory" flag to indicate an imminent start, and the S flag means "shortened course".
| (A)lfa | Missing image Nautical_a.png Image:Nautical_a.png | Divers |
| (B)ravo | Missing image Nautical_b.png Image:Nautical_b.png | Loading explosives |
| (C)harlie | Missing image Nautical_c.png Image:Nautical_c.png | Yes * |
| (D)elta | Missing image Nautical_d.png Image:Nautical_d.png | Keep clear |
| (E)cho | Missing image Nautical_e.png Image:Nautical_e.png | Going to starboard |
| (F)oxtrot | Missing image Nautical_f.png Image:Nautical_f.png | Disabled |
| (G)olf |  | Need a pilot |
| (H)otel | Missing image Nautical_h.png Image:Nautical_h.png | Have a pilot |
| (I)ndia | Missing image Nautical_i.png Image:Nautical_i.png | Going to port |
| (J)uliett | Missing image Nautical_j.png Image:Nautical_j.png | About to use semaphore or On fire |
| (K)ilo | Missing image Nautical_k.png Image:Nautical_k.png | Stop |
| (L)ima | Missing image Nautical_l.png Image:Nautical_l.png | Stop for communications |
| (M)ike | Missing image Nautical_m.png Image:Nautical_m.png | Doctor on board or Stopped |
| (N)ovember | Missing image Nautical_n.png Image:Nautical_n.png | No * |
| (O)scar | Missing image Nautical_o.png Image:Nautical_o.png | Man overboard (often attached to the man overboard pole on boats) |
| (P)apa | Missing image Nautical_p.png Image:Nautical_p.png | The Blue Peter, setting sail |
| (Q)uebec | Missing image Nautical_q.png Image:Nautical_q.png | Quarantine |
| (R)omeo | Missing image Nautical_r.png Image:Nautical_r.png | |
| (S)ierra | Missing image Nautical_s.png Image:Nautical_s.png | Engines going astern |
| (T)ango | Missing image Nautical_t.png Image:Nautical_t.png | Do not go in front |
| (U)niform | Missing image Nautical_u.png Image:Nautical_u.png | You are going into danger |
| (V)ictor | Missing image Nautical_v.png Image:Nautical_v.png | Need assistance |
| (W)hiskey | Missing image Nautical_w.png Image:Nautical_w.png | Need medical assistance |
| (X)-ray | Missing image Nautical_x.png Image:Nautical_x.png | Stop and watch for communications |
| (Y)ankee | Missing image Nautical_y.png Image:Nautical_y.png | Carrying mail |
| (Z)ulu | Missing image Nautical_z.png Image:Nautical_z.png | Hailing someone on land |
* N and C together (No and Yes) is used as a distress signal
External links
- Source for these flag images (http://edeca.net/graphics.xml)
- The flags and their meanings (http://www.anbg.gov.au/flags/signal-meaning.html)
- Flags Fantastic - Nautical flags (A - Z & Pennant) (http://www.flagsfantastic.com.au/html/nautical.html)
- La flag-alfabeto (http://lingvo.org/flagoj/) - signal flags used for the Esperanto language.cs:Námořní vlajková abeceda
da:Signalflag de:Flaggenalphabet eo:Alfabetaj_flagoj it:Codice Internazionale Nautico nl:seinvlag