26/10/2024
The Nautical Flag Alphabet
The international code of signals for the letters of the alphabet are as follow:
A: Alpha – diver down; 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
G: Golf – I want a pilot
H: Hotel – a pilot on board
I: India – I am altering my course to port
J: Juliet – vessel on fire keep clear
K: Kilo – I want to communicate with you
L: Lima – stop your vessel instantly, I have something important to communicate; Come Within Hail or Follow Me (Sailing Regatta)
M: Mike – my vessel is stopped and making no way through the water; Mark Missing (Sailing Regatta)
N: November – no (negative); Abandonment and Re-sail (Sailing Regatta)
O: Oscar – Man overboard
P: Papa – In port: All personnel return to ship; 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
Z: Zulu – I require a tug
Combined or individual flags convey meaning
Depending on the message, boats fly one flag or up to seven flags in a row. Besides the solo meaning seen above, combination of flags mean different things as:
Combining the D (Delta) and V (Victor) flags mean “I’m maneuvering with difficulty and require assistance”.
The J (Juliet) and L (Lima) flags mean “you’re running the risk of going aground”.
