'EU' Ensigns?

[IanJackson]

In the Med, it seems to be common for vessels to fly an 'EU' Ensign (blue flag with ring of yellow stars) with a national flag in the top right corner. Whilst they maybe commonplace ashore, are they strictly legal afloat?

 

[little_roundtop]

No they're not. The EU flag is not a national flag because the EU is not a nation. Thus no vessel can be registered as an EU vessel, they must be registered to the member country and so you must wear the ensign of your registered country.

 

[quimby]

No they're not. The EU flag is not a national flag because the EU is not a nation. Thus no vessel can be registered as an EU vessel, they must be registered to the member country and so you must wear the ensign of your registered country.

Ideal for mopping up oil spillage in the bilges they are super absorbent! Well they do soak up lots of euros!

 

[NornaBiron]

must be a Western Med thing, haven't seen any of them since we got to the eastern end.

 

[vyv_cox]

In the case of UK apparently they can be construed as a 'defaced blue ensign', for which no permit is available. There was a tale a few years ago of one being confiscated by a UK consul somewhere in Spain.

 

[ccscott49]

why would anyone want to be associated with a failed, corrupt, bankrupt organisation.
I like my British ensign, it has meaning!

 

[pmyatt]

In the Med, it seems to be common for vessels to fly an 'EU' Ensign (blue flag with ring of yellow stars) with a national flag in the top right corner. Whilst they maybe commonplace ashore, are they strictly legal afloat?

A blue ensign with the Union Flag in the corner and a circle of white stars is the Cook Islands ensign.

 

[Grehan]

 

[wazza]

I have a Swedish registered boat, I'm English, so I have a Swedish ensign and A RED ENSIGN flying proudly from the port spreaders... Never a euro cräp flag onboard arrggg...