Due to some reasons, the radio needs to be silenced for a while. This is where the use of nautical flags come in. Nautical signal flags are used to communicate message either with the fellow ships or the port where the ships will be arriving. With different meanings and such vast applications of signal flags, the study of all of them can be counted as a subject. Navy also uses these signal system which is known as semaphore. For example if we say that a navy ship is showing an “S” flag, it means that the course has been shortened. Letter q flag is shown with complete yellow color, these alphabet coveys they message that the vessel is all healthy and free to sail. It has become more important for the navy to use such flags that help in the communication with other ships and boats. Earlier when this method was not present, it would create a lot of trouble for fellow ship sailors and boats.
Unclassified messages are also conveyed by
NATO through the usage of these flags. They can convey certain set of meaning with
the help of these flags. Certain type of flags are also used which convey
numeric messages from 0 to 9.
Meaning with relevance to the color-
different flags convey different meanings. There are total 26 flags which
represent alphabet and ten flags for numbers. Within the oceanic environment,
these flags can be distinguished very easily. With technology and science
taking in, more and more inventions are coming everyday to increase the
visibility of these flags. It will be much easier if a flag can be seen from
very far distance. The colors which are picked in the making of these flags are
white, yellow, blue and red.
Name of the place and geographical signals
can also be communicated. Four flags are used to convey time and location. The
longitude and latitude of a position is indicated b using around six flags.
Decode signal flags are also present which convey general code, verbs, relative
bearings and even the points of the compass.
