Sandpiper565.com Signal Code Flags

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Signal Code Flags

"What are those flags that I see on Ships from time to time?" Well read on.

Signal Code flags provides a means of communication regardless of language spoken for marine safety and navigation. Signal Code flags where used in the old days before they were replaced by modern communication technology. Today Code flags are mostly used for special occasions to dress up the Ship when at anchor or at port.

The Flags

A set of signal flags consists of 26 alphabetical flags, 10 numeral pennants, 3 substitutes, and the answering pennant.

Flag Meaning

	Each flag has a meaning by itself that has been invented to communicate very quickly important messages that would be too long to spell. For example, the flag “L” communicates “Stop Now”.
	When two or three code flags are displayed, a different message is being sent. E.g. flag A with flag N mean, “I need a doctor”.
	And with 3 flags: flag Z, flag A with flag 1 mean “I wish to communicate with you in English” English is the flag 1. The major languages have a flag assign to them.

Rules

	The flags must be hoisted on a staff located where they can be seen easily by the receiver, the first letter or number at the top.
	A single flag may be hoisted. When a word is spelled, the flags Y and Z are used first, meaning that the following flags hoisted will spell a word.
	Each group of flags must be hoisted one at the time to avoid confusion.
	The substitute flag takes the place of a letter that is already in use in the same group. For example, to spell “call”, the third substitute flag would replace the second L because the third letter is repeated in the group.
	To signify that the group of signals ends, the transmitter hoists the answering pennant.
	The receiver also hoists the answering pennant at midway on the staff after each group of symbols to signify that s/he has understood it, and then it is hoisted to the top when the message is understood in total at the end. These answering actions are called “at the dip” and “close up”.

Signal Code Flag List


A	B	C	D	E	F	G	H
alpha	Bravo	Charlie	Delta	Echo	Foxtrot	Golf	Hotel
Diver down, keep clear.	Dangerous cargo aboard.	Yes	Keep Clear.	I am changing course to starboard.	Disabled.	Pilot needed.	Pilot on board.

I	J	K	L	M	N	O	P
India	Juliette	Kilo	Lima	Mike	November	Oscar	Papa
I am changing course to port.	Keep clear, on fire and have dangerous cargo.	Desire to communicate	Stop immediately	Stopped.	No.	Man overboard.	About to sail.

Q	R	S	T	U	V	W	X
Quebec	Romeo	Sierra	Tango	Uniform	Victor	Whiskey	X-ray
Request permission to enter and use a foreign port.	The way is off my ship; you may feel your way past me.	I am moving backward.	Keep clear; engaged in trawling.	You are moving into danger.	Require assistance.	Require medical assistance.	Stop your intention.

Y	Z	1st Repeater	2nd Repeater	3rd Repeater	Answering Pennant	1	2
Yankee	Zulu
Am dragging anchor.	Require a tug.	Or called First Substitute	Or called Second Substitute	Or called Third Substitute

3	4	5	6	7	8	9	0

More Signal Codes

NC	AC	BR	CD	DV	EF	FA	GW
I am in distress	I am abandoning my vessel	I need a doctor	I require a helicopter	I require immediate assistance	I am drifting	Will you give me my position?	Man overboard. Please take action to pick him up
JL	LO	PD	PP	RU	QD	QQ	QT
You are running the risk of going aground	I am not in my correct position: used by a light vessel	Your navigation lights are not visible	Keep well clear of me	Keep clear of me; I am maneuvering with difficulty	I am going ahead	I require health clearance	I am going astern
QU	QX	SO	UM	UP	YU	ZL
Anchoring is prohibited	I request permission to anchor	You should stop your vessel instantly	The Harbor is closed to traffic	Permission to enter Harbor is urgently requested. I have an emergency	I am going to communicate with your station by means of the International Code of Signals	Your signal has been received but not understood.