Flag question.

[mdcw]

I've heard from people that boats are meant to fly a flag of each nationality on board the ship?
I know you have to fly the flag of the country in which your boat is registered, and that its courtesy to fly the flag of the country you are visiting or birth in.
however I've never heard anything about having to fly a flag for each nationality on board of your ship.

if this is true, what would those flags be called?

As a friend of mine has a boat out in Spain, and as he's a bit of a European Mongrel I think it would be nice to get him a set of nationality flags for his birthday.

thanks for your time.

 

[alahol2]

Bump for a new user.

 

[mcframe]

It can be done, not so much "meant to fly a flag of each nationality on board the ship", but it's fun, when flown in the right place on board.

Boat registration flag worn at the stern.

Courtesy ensign of country visiting at starboard spreaders (if different)

Port spreaders are fair game for flag flown as house flags for the crew - I was once on a Greek-flagged charter boat where I flew the the Scots ensign above the Manx ensign above the red ensign from the spreaders to show nationality of skipper, mate and crew ;-)

I would not mess with displaying the registration flag in the superior position, 'tho.

 

[nigelmercier]

I've never heard anything about having to fly a flag for each nationality on board of your ship.

You don't. I think it's a bit naff, perhaps because I'm English

One of these should do: http://www.mailspeedmarine.com/general-chandlery/mailspeed-marine/courtesy-flags13.bhtml

 

[macd]

its courtesy to fly the flag of the country you are visiting or birth in.

Despite the name, it is not a 'courtesy' but a requirement. It actually means something along the lines of "I undertake to abide by the regulations of the country visited".
The 'birth' bit probably warrants a facetious comment, but I'll resist

 

[LittleShip]

Birth......Berth

Tom.

 

[solent_swan]

Quite right, in commercial usage you display the flags to denote port and flag state controls are being met and are understood. Poor usage of signals only attracts the attention of the very worst officials!

 

[Woodlouse]

I've heard from people that boats are meant to fly a flag of each nationality on board the ship?
I know you have to fly the flag of the country in which your boat is registered, and that its courtesy to fly the flag of the country you are visiting or birth in.
however I've never heard anything about having to fly a flag for each nationality on board of your ship.

if this is true, what would those flags be called?

As a friend of mine has a boat out in Spain, and as he's a bit of a European Mongrel I think it would be nice to get him a set of nationality flags for his birthday.

thanks for your time.

Basically you can do if you fancy. Not much point if your ensign is your nations flag. Charter yachts often fly the flag of their guests from the port spreader but only because it makes them feel appreciated.

It's worth not going too overboard with flags though. I find few things more annoying than the sound of flapping flags as I keep thinking one of the sails is flogging.

 

[KellysEye]

>that its courtesy to fly the flag of the country you are visiting or birth in.

As said it is mandatory to fly the ensign of the country you are visiting on the starboard spreader. As you enter territorial waters you must also be flying a yellow Q flag under the country ensign to indicate that you haven't cleared customs or immigration but intend to do so.

You can fly any flag you like on the port spreader, country of crew, club flag, invitation for drinks flag, pirate flag etc.

 

[Tony Cross]

This is just my personal view, but flying flags indicating the nationality of everyone on board will make you look like a charter boat. That's what they do. It's not required but if it "floats your boat" then clap on all sail and stand on!

 

[nigelmercier]

This is just my personal view, but flying flags indicating the nationality of everyone on board will make you look like a charter boat. That's what they do. It's not required but if it "floats your boat" then clap on all sail and stand on!

Hence my comment about it being "naff"

 

[Stemar]

SWMBO's French, so we used to fly the a French flag on the Port spreader. We quickly lost count of the number of people who, more or less politely suggested that, as we're no longer in French waters, we should remove the courtesy flag.