Nautical flags are intriguing! Seafarers have used nautical flags to communicate for generations.
Each flag represents a letter or message.
These flags transmit distress signals, identification, and directions in marine communication. Learning about maritime flags is fun for sailors and landlubbers alike.
To help you decipher the sea’s hidden language, we’ll introduce you to some of the most essential and widely used nautical flags.
A: Alpha –
Diver down (Small diving vessel); keep clear
B: Bravo –
Carrying dangerous cargo
C: Charlie –
Yes (affirmative)
D: Delta –
Keep clear of me, I am maneuvering with difficulty
E: Echo –
Altering course to starboard
F: Foxtrot –
I am disabled, communicate with me
H: Hotel –
A pilot on board
I: India
I am altering my course to port
J: Juliet –
A vessel on fire, keep clear
K: Kilo –
I want to communicate with you
L: Lima –
Sop your vessel instantly, I have something important to communicate;
Come Within Hail or Follow Me (Sailing Regatta)
M: Mike –
My vessel is stopped
N: November –
No (negative)
O: Oscar –
Man overboard
P: Papa –
In port: All personnel return to the ship;
the vessel is about to sail;
At sea: It may be used by fishing vessels to mean: “My nets have come fast upon an obstruction”
Q: Quebec –
I request free pratique
R: Romeo –
Reverse Course
S: Sierra –
Engines are going astern
T: Tango –
Keep clear; engaged in trawling (International); Do not pass ahead of me (Navy)
U: Uniform –
You are heading into danger
V: Victor –
Require assistance
W: Whiskey –
Require medical assistance
X: X-ray –
Stop your intention
Y: Yankee –
Am dragging anchor
