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Maritime & Signal flags

Nautical signal flags and the maritime code they spell out. 27 flags, each with its story.

Alpha (A)

Blue-and-white swallowtail. Flown alone it means 'I have a diver down; keep well clear at slow speed' — also the international diver-down flag.

Bravo (B)

A red swallowtail. Alone: 'I am taking in, discharging, or carrying dangerous goods.'

Charlie (C)

Blue-white-red-white-blue horizontal bands. Alone it means 'Affirmative — Yes.'

Delta (D)

Yellow-blue-yellow. Alone: 'Keep clear of me; I am manoeuvring with difficulty.'

Diver Down (North America)

A red flag with a white diagonal stripe, used in North American waters to mark a diver below — the regional counterpart to the international Alpha flag.

Echo (E)

Blue over red. Alone: 'I am altering my course to starboard.'

Foxtrot (F)

A red diamond on white. Alone: 'I am disabled; communicate with me.'

Golf (G)

Yellow and blue vertical stripes. Alone: 'I require a pilot.'

Hotel (H)

White and red halves. Alone: 'I have a pilot on board.'

India (I)

A black disc on yellow. Alone: 'I am altering my course to port.'

Juliet (J)

Blue-white-blue. Alone: 'I am on fire and have dangerous cargo — keep clear.'

Kilo (K)

Yellow and blue halves. Alone: 'I wish to communicate with you.'

Lima (L)

A yellow-and-black checkerboard. Alone: 'You should stop your vessel instantly.'

Mike (M)

A white saltire (X) on blue. Alone: 'My vessel is stopped and making no way.'

November (N)

A blue-and-white checkerboard. Alone: 'Negative — No.'

Oscar (O)

Red and yellow diagonal halves. Alone: 'Man overboard.'

Papa (P)

The 'Blue Peter' — a white square on blue. In harbor: 'All aboard; the vessel is about to sail.'

Quebec (Q)

A solid yellow flag. Alone: 'My vessel is healthy and I request free pratique (clearance to enter port).'

Romeo (R)

A yellow cross on red. Used mainly in coded groups and to acknowledge signals.

Sierra (S)

A blue square on white. Alone: 'I am operating astern propulsion' (engines going backward).

Tango (T)

Red-white-blue vertical bands. Alone: 'Keep clear of me; I am engaged in pair trawling.'

Uniform (U)

A red-and-white checkerboard. Alone it is an urgent warning: 'You are running into danger.'

Victor (V)

A red saltire (X) on white. Alone: 'I require assistance.'

Whiskey (W)

Blue-white-red nested squares. Alone: 'I require medical assistance.'

X-ray (X)

A blue cross on white. Alone: 'Stop carrying out your intentions and watch for my signals.'

Yankee (Y)

Yellow and red diagonal stripes. Alone: 'I am dragging my anchor.'

Zulu (Z)

Black, blue, red, and yellow triangles meeting at the center. Alone: 'I require a tug.'

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