Nautical Flags & And Their
Meanings
Norman Young
KA4PUV
Alfa
• I have a diver down; keep well clear at slow
speed.
• With three numerals, azimuth or bearing.
Bravo
• I am taking in, or discharging, or carrying dangerous
goods.
• (Originally used by the Royal Navy specifically for
military explosives.)
Charlie
• Affirmative.
• With three numerals, course in degrees
magnetic.
Delta
• Keep clear of me; I am maneuvering with
difficulty.
• With two, four, or six numerals, date.
Echo
• I am altering my course to starboard.
Foxtrot
• I am disabled; communicate with me.
Golf
• I require a pilot.
• When made by fishing vessels operating in close proximity on
the fishing grounds it means: "I am hauling nets".
• With four or five numerals, longitude. (The last two numerals
denote minutes and the rest degrees.)
Hotel
• I have a pilot on board.
India
• I am altering my course to port.
Juliet
• I am on fire and have dangerous cargo on
board: keep well clear of me, or I am leaking
dangerous cargo.
Kilo
• I wish to communicate with you.
• With one numeral, I wish to communicate with you by;
1) Morse signalling by hand-flags or arms; 2) Loud
hailer (megaphone); 3) Morse signaling lamp; 4) Sound
signals.
Lima
• In harbor: The ship is under Quarantine.
• At sea: You should stop your vessel instantly.
• With four numerals, latitude. (The first two denote
degrees and the rest minutes.)
Mike
• My vessel is stopped and making no way
through the water.
November
• Negative.
Oscar
• Man overboard. (often attached to the man
overboard pole on boats).
• With a sinister hoist, the semaphore flag.
Papa
• “The Blue Peter.”
• In harbor: All persons should report on board as the vessel is
about to proceed to sea.
• At sea: It may be used by fishing vessels to mean: "My nets have
come fast upon an obstruction".
Quebec
• My vessel is "healthy" and I request free
pratique (permission to enter and use a
foreign port).
Romeo
• The way is off my ship.
• With one or more numerals, distance in
nautical miles.
Sierra
• I am operating astern propulsion.
• With one or more numerals, speed in knots.
Tango
• Keep clear of me; I am engaged in pair trawling.
• With four numerals, local time. (The first two denote
hours and the rest minutes.)
Uniform
• You are running into danger.
Victor
• I require assistance.
• With one or more numerals, speed in
kilometers per hour.
Whiskey
• I require medical assistance.
X-ray
• Stop carrying out your intentions and
watch for my signals.
Yankee
• I am dragging my anchor.
Zulu
• I require a tug.
• When made by fishing vessels operating in close proximity on
the fishing grounds it means: "I am shooting nets".
• With one or more numerals, time (UTC). (The first two denote
hours and the rest minutes.) (Origin of the phrase 'Zulu Time'.)
First Sub
• Repeat the first character in the
sequence.
Second Sub
• Repeat the second character in the
sequence.
Third Sub
• Repeat the third character in the
sequence.
Fourth Sub
• Repeat the fourth character in the
sequence.
NATO One
NATO Two
NATO Three
NATO Four
NATO Five
NATO Six
NATO Seven
NATO Eight
NATO Niner
NATO Zero
ICS One
ICS Two
ICS Three
ICS Four
ICS Five
ICS Six
ICS Seven
ICS Eight
ICS Niner
ICS Zero
