Signal flags are used in marine navigation to transmit messages, either between two or more ships, or between a ship and land or port, and racing sails under the Rules of sailing regatta. For this purpose flags are different shapes and colors, each of which represents a letter of the alphabet international, and numbers 1 al 0.
When a ship needs to convey a consistent message in one or more words, the numbers, Iza on the front mast flags representing letters and numbers from the message, aligned from top to bottom. If the message is longer, the operation is repeated with further flags.
flags are also used individually or in combinations of two, in which case they have a particular significance as an internationally valid code.
Since there is radio, the use of signal flags to transmit messages has decreased significantly. Nevertheless, They are still used widely individual flags or in combinations of two, to signal a certain notice.
|ALFA||I have a diver underwater. Stay away and reduce speed.|
|BRAVO||I'm loading, unloading or transporting dangerous goods.|
|DELTA||Difficulty maneuvered. Stay away.|
|ECHO||I am turning to starboard.|
|Foxtrot||I fault. Contact me.|
|GOLF||I need a practical.|
|HOTEL||I have a pilot on board.|
|INDIA||I'm veering to port.|
|JULIET||I have a fire and carry dangerous goods. Stay away.|
|KILO||I want to communicate with you.|
|LIMA||Stop your boat immediately.|
|MIKE||My boat is stopped and no starts.|
|OSCAR||Man to water.|
|PAPA||In Port: All men on board. The boat sets sail.|
|Quebec||My boat is “healthy”. Request free navigation.|
|Tango||Fishing boats: I'm fishing the pair trawling. Stay away.|
|Uniform||You are running into danger.|
|Victor||I need help.|
|Whiskey||I need medical care.|
|Xray||Suspend its maneuvers and pay attention to my signals.|
|Yankee||I am maneuvering backwards to set the anchor.|
|Zulu||I need a tugboat.|