Flags & Signals
All 26 flags of the International Code of Signals, with phonetic names, colours and meanings.
A — Alpha
AL-FAH
White & Blue (diagonal)
I have a diver down; keep well clear at slow speed
B — Bravo
BRAH-VOH
Red (solid)
I am taking in, discharging, or carrying dangerous goods
C — Charlie
CHAR-LEE
Blue/White/Red horizontal stripes
Yes (affirmative)
D — Delta
DELL-TAH
Yellow/Blue/Yellow vertical
Keep clear of me; I am manoeuvring with difficulty
E — Echo
ECK-OH
Blue & Red vertical halves
I am altering my course to starboard
F — Foxtrot
FOKS-TROT
White with red diamond
I am disabled; communicate with me
G — Golf
GOLF
Yellow & Blue vertical stripes
I require a pilot
H — Hotel
HOH-TEL
White & Red vertical halves
I have a pilot on board
I — India
IN-DEE-AH
Yellow with black circle
I am altering my course to port
J — Juliet
JEW-LEE-ETT
Blue/White/Blue horizontal
I am on fire and have dangerous cargo; keep clear
K — Kilo
KEY-LOH
Yellow & Blue vertical
I wish to communicate with you
L — Lima
LEE-MAH
Black & Yellow chequered
You should stop your vessel instantly
M — Mike
MIKE
White with blue X
My vessel is stopped and making no way through the water
N — November
NO-VEM-BER
Blue & White chequered
No (negative)
O — Oscar
OSS-CAH
Red & Yellow diagonal
Man overboard
P — Papa
PAH-PAH
Blue with white rectangle
In harbour: all persons report on board. At sea: nets caught on obstruction
Q — Quebec
KEH-BECK
Yellow (solid)
My vessel is healthy; I request free pratique (quarantine flag)
R — Romeo
ROW-ME-OH
Red/White/Red vertical
(No ICS single-letter meaning; used in Morse)
S — Sierra
SEE-AIR-RAH
White with blue rectangle
My engines are going astern
T — Tango
TANG-GO
Red/White/Blue vertical
Keep clear of me; I am engaged in pair trawling
U — Uniform
YOU-NEE-FORM
Red & White chequered
You are running into danger
V — Victor
VIK-TAH
White with red X
I require assistance
W — Whiskey
WISS-KEY
Red/White/Red horizontal
I require medical assistance
X — X-ray
ECKS-RAY
White with blue cross
Stop carrying out your intentions and watch for my signals
Y — Yankee
YANG-KEY
Yellow & Red diagonal
I am dragging my anchor
Z — Zulu
ZOO-LOO
Black/Yellow/Red/Blue quadrants
I require a tug
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