Nautical Flags & And Their Nautical Flags & And Their MeaningsMeanings

Norman YoungNorman Young

KA4PUVKA4PUV

AlfaAlfa

• I have a diver down; keep well clear at I have a diver down; keep well clear at slow speed.slow speed.

• With three numerals, azimuth or bearing.With three numerals, azimuth or bearing.

BravoBravo

• I am taking in, or discharging, or carrying I am taking in, or discharging, or carrying dangerous goods. dangerous goods.

• (Originally used by the Royal Navy specifically for (Originally used by the Royal Navy specifically for military explosives.)military explosives.)

CharlieCharlie

• Affirmative. Affirmative. • With three numerals, course in degrees With three numerals, course in degrees

magnetic.magnetic.

DeltaDelta

• Keep clear of me; I am maneuvering with Keep clear of me; I am maneuvering with difficulty. difficulty.

• With two, four, or six numerals, date.With two, four, or six numerals, date.

EchoEcho

• I am altering my course to starboard.I am altering my course to starboard.

FoxtrotFoxtrot

• I am disabled; communicate with me.I am disabled; communicate with me.

GolfGolf

• I require a pilot. I require a pilot. • When made by fishing vessels operating in close proximity When made by fishing vessels operating in close proximity

on the fishing grounds it means: "I am hauling nets". on the fishing grounds it means: "I am hauling nets". • With four or five numerals, longitude. (The last two With four or five numerals, longitude. (The last two

numerals denote minutes and the rest degrees.)numerals denote minutes and the rest degrees.)

HotelHotel

• I have a pilot on board.I have a pilot on board.

IndiaIndia

• I am altering my course to port.I am altering my course to port.

JulietJuliet

• I am on fire and have dangerous cargo on I am on fire and have dangerous cargo on board: keep well clear of me, or I am board: keep well clear of me, or I am leaking dangerous cargo.leaking dangerous cargo.

KiloKilo

• I wish to communicate with you. I wish to communicate with you. • With one numeral, I wish to communicate with With one numeral, I wish to communicate with

you by; 1) Morse signalling by hand-flags or arms; you by; 1) Morse signalling by hand-flags or arms; 2) Loud hailer (megaphone); 3) Morse signaling 2) Loud hailer (megaphone); 3) Morse signaling lamp; 4) Sound signals.lamp; 4) Sound signals.

LimaLima

• In harbor: The ship is under Quarantine.In harbor: The ship is under Quarantine.• At sea: You should stop your vessel instantly. At sea: You should stop your vessel instantly. • With four numerals, latitude. (The first two denote With four numerals, latitude. (The first two denote

degrees and the rest minutes.)degrees and the rest minutes.)

MikeMike

• My vessel is stopped and making no My vessel is stopped and making no way through the water.way through the water.

NovemberNovember

• Negative.Negative.

OscarOscar

• Man overboard. (often attached to the Man overboard. (often attached to the man overboard pole on boats). man overboard pole on boats).

• With a sinister hoist, the semaphore flag.With a sinister hoist, the semaphore flag.

PapaPapa

• ““The Blue Peter.”The Blue Peter.”• In harbor: All persons should report on board as the vessel In harbor: All persons should report on board as the vessel

is about to proceed to sea.is about to proceed to sea.• At sea: It may be used by fishing vessels to mean: "My nets At sea: It may be used by fishing vessels to mean: "My nets

have come fast upon an obstruction".have come fast upon an obstruction".

QuebecQuebec

• My vessel is "healthy" and I request free My vessel is "healthy" and I request free pratique (permission to enter and use a pratique (permission to enter and use a foreign port).foreign port).

RomeoRomeo

• The way is off my ship. The way is off my ship. • With one or more numerals, distance in With one or more numerals, distance in

nautical miles.nautical miles.

SierraSierra

• I am operating astern propulsion.I am operating astern propulsion.• With one or more numerals, speed in knots.With one or more numerals, speed in knots.

TangoTango

• Keep clear of me; I am engaged in pair trawling.Keep clear of me; I am engaged in pair trawling.• With four numerals, local time. (The first two With four numerals, local time. (The first two

denote hours and the rest minutes.)denote hours and the rest minutes.)

UniformUniform

• You are running into danger.You are running into danger.

VictorVictor

• I require assistance. I require assistance. • With one or more numerals, speed in With one or more numerals, speed in

kilometers per hour.kilometers per hour.

WhiskeyWhiskey

• I require medical assistance.I require medical assistance.

X-rayX-ray

• Stop carrying out your intentions and Stop carrying out your intentions and watch for my signals.watch for my signals.

YankeeYankee

• I am dragging my anchor.I am dragging my anchor.

ZuluZulu

• I require a tug. I require a tug. • When made by fishing vessels operating in close proximity When made by fishing vessels operating in close proximity

on the fishing grounds it means: "I am shooting nets". on the fishing grounds it means: "I am shooting nets". • With one or more numerals, time (UTC). (The first two With one or more numerals, time (UTC). (The first two

denote hours and the rest minutes.) (Origin of the phrase denote hours and the rest minutes.) (Origin of the phrase 'Zulu Time'.)'Zulu Time'.)

First SubFirst Sub

• Repeat the first character in the Repeat the first character in the sequence.sequence.

Second SubSecond Sub

• Repeat the second character in the Repeat the second character in the sequence.sequence.

Third SubThird Sub

• Repeat the third character in the Repeat the third character in the sequence.sequence.

Fourth SubFourth Sub

• Repeat the fourth character in the Repeat the fourth character in the sequence.sequence.

NATO OneNATO One

NATO TwoNATO Two

NATO ThreeNATO Three

NATO FourNATO Four

NATO FiveNATO Five

NATO SixNATO Six

NATO SevenNATO Seven

NATO EightNATO Eight

NATO NinerNATO Niner

NATO ZeroNATO Zero

ICS OneICS One

ICS TwoICS Two

ICS ThreeICS Three

ICS FourICS Four

ICS FiveICS Five

ICS SixICS Six

ICS SevenICS Seven

ICS EightICS Eight

ICS NinerICS Niner

ICS ZeroICS Zero