Need reference to text about wearing a Red Ensign, please.

We occasionally hoist a Roger to the mast as opposed to the ensign staff, it runs to the mobo equivalent of a port spreader to ensure that the pernickety see it as obviously in the most inferior position. We, like many others, hoist it as a signal saying "children on board looking for other children with whom to play."

Unless I forget its not flying when under way as it obstructs the view from the wheel!
 
That's how I see it. It's, as you say, really down to how a Skull and Crossbones would be viewed legally. I wouldn't imagine that flag, or a Forum Burgee, has any legal status.
 
Back in my RNR days, we were sailing Bosun's on a lake in the midlands and for a laugh, our helm, a popular chap, decided to run up a 5' jolly roger on the spinnaker halyard. Just as we got her to the top of the mast we saw, appearing under the bottom edge, the COs car driving accross the damn and into the car park.

He certainly had powers of enforcement that day. Indeed I think "children" was a word he used a lot too although I can't say I remember what was said word for word.
 
The Merchant Shipping Act in regard to colours worn is to prevent ships flying "false colours" or colours to which they are not entitled. However, the qualifying part which most of you appear to have missed is what constitutes a "Ship" under the regulations, and I doubt any on here have one of those. "Small ships" (under 24 metres) maybe but only if they are so registered, which appears to leave out most small craft.

We habitually wear the red duster on the aft jack, and another national ensign on the fore jack, reflecting that the boat is owned by citizen's of two countries, we also fly a Jolly Roger of the aft jack in lieu of the red duster when we've a crowd of kids aboard. This to be fair is inland on the Thames. It usually raises a smile from officialdom. We are NOT a British Registered ship nor on the Small Ships Register but I would still defy any PC Brigade person to object to any of our colours when it is so patently for the benefit of kids. After all, who in his right mind would take seriously the old meaning of a Jolly Roger when applied to a plastic motor cruiser or yacht, I mean, come on, real pirates?
 
Quote: I suspect the anti-terrorist lot would, if you tried to motor past the H of P.


With greatest respect - rubbish, no terrorist relying on stealth and guile would fill up with kids, fly the Jolly Roger, and make a 5 knot high speed attack on the H of P! It would be like taking out an advert on their intentions first! I give the AT erks credit for at least a little bit of sense, or would I be wrong? Even a child would realise the true meaning of such colours, certainly over the Easter Break other kids were quick to spot our "Fake Pirate Ship" for what it was and not run screaming for cover.
 
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Well the bit in Section 4 says you can't fly any "colours" except the ones listed.

[/ QUOTE ] That's not what I read. If you strip out the list of colours you are left with
"If any of the following colours, are hoisted on board any British ship without warrant from Her Majesty or from the Secretary of State, the master of the ship, or the owner of the ship (if on board), and every other person hoisting them shall be guilty of an offence"
Which means Para 4 is a list of ensigns that you cannot fly.

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If you strip out the list you are rather left with:-
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4. If any distinctive national colours except [the ones listed] are hoisted on board any British ship without warrant from Her Majesty or from the Secretary of State, the master of the ship, or the owner of the ship (if on board), and every other person hoisting them shall be guilty of an offence

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Reading it again though the word "national" might make it tricky to catch the skull & crossbones, but would catch the Saltire etc.
 
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The Merchant Shipping Act in regard to colours worn is to prevent ships flying "false colours" or colours to which they are not entitled. However, the qualifying part which most of you appear to have missed is what constitutes a "Ship" under the regulations, and I doubt any on here have one of those. "Small ships" (under 24 metres) maybe but only if they are so registered, which appears to leave out most small craft.

We habitually wear the red duster on the aft jack, and another national ensign on the fore jack, reflecting that the boat is owned by citizen's of two countries, we also fly a Jolly Roger of the aft jack in lieu of the red duster when we've a crowd of kids aboard. This to be fair is inland on the Thames. It usually raises a smile from officialdom. We are NOT a British Registered ship nor on the Small Ships Register but I would still defy any PC Brigade person to object to any of our colours when it is so patently for the benefit of kids. After all, who in his right mind would take seriously the old meaning of a Jolly Roger when applied to a plastic motor cruiser or yacht, I mean, come on, real pirates?

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Hello, your bit about the definition of ships isn't right I'm afraid. The definition of "British Ships" (in S1(1) of the Merchant Shipping Act) includes small craft whether registered or unregistered:-

"A ship is a British ship if—
(a) the ship is registered in the United Kingdom [...]; or
(b) [...]
(c) [...]; or
(d) the ship is a small ship other than a fishing vessel and—
(i) is not registered [...], but
(ii) is wholly owned by qualified owners, and
(iii) is not registered under the law of a country outside the United Kingdom.

So a small craft owned by Brits, provided she isn't registered abroad, is a British ship.

Your flying of two enigns would be highly illegal on the sea, though you can argue that the Merchant Shippping Act doesn't apply to inland, non-tidal waters.
 
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