{"id":4280,"date":"2017-01-07T09:50:53","date_gmt":"2017-01-07T09:50:53","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/lovesail.com\/ls-news\/?p=4280"},"modified":"2025-10-05T13:37:11","modified_gmt":"2025-10-05T12:37:11","slug":"ensign-etiquette","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.lovesail.com\/ls-news\/ensign-etiquette\/","title":{"rendered":"Ensign Etiquette"},"content":{"rendered":"

Ensign etiquette is derived from UK flag etiquette. It combines both law, <\/strong>what you must<\/em> do, and maritime tradition<\/strong>, which covers the expected standards of behaviour within the seafaring community.<\/p>\n

On a vessel, the most senior position for any flag is reserved for the ensign<\/strong>, flown as close to the stern<\/strong> as possible. It is usually the largest flag on board and indicates the vessel\u2019s nationality.<\/p>\n

In British maritime law, an ensign must be flown to designate a British vessel, whether military or civilian. The Red Ensign<\/strong> (or \u201cRed Duster\u201d) has represented British civil and merchant shipping since 1707. It features a red field with the Union Flag in the upper left corner (the \u201ccanton\u201d).<\/p>\n

Before flag conventions were standardised, a wide variety of ensigns existed, differing in colour and design, for vessels from England, Scotland, Wales, Ireland, the United States, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and other territories.
In the UK:<\/p>\n

The White Ensign<\/strong> is flown by Royal Navy ships.<\/p>\n

\"white<\/a><\/p>\n

The Blue Ensign<\/strong> is flown by certain military, government, or affiliated vessels and yacht clubs.<\/p>\n

\"ensign<\/a><\/p>\n

Permission may be granted for an ensign to be \u201cdefaced\u201d – <\/strong>that is, to display an approved emblem or badge on the right-hand side of the flag, known as the fly<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

Maritime tradition also dictates that the Union Flag – <\/strong>primarily a land flag – must not be used as an ensign on civilian craft. Only military vessels are permitted to do so, and even then, only under strict rules and conventions.
In the 17th century, King Charles I ordered that the Union Flag be restricted to His Majesty\u2019s ships \u201cupon pain of Our high displeasure.\u201d<\/em> This decree was issued after merchant mariners falsely flew the flag to avoid paying harbour duties by masquerading as Royal Navy vessels.<\/p>\n

A UK-registered vessel should therefore fly the national maritime flag, the Red Ensign, <\/strong>unless entitled to wear a special ensign. Displaying any unauthorised flag is a violation of British and international law.
Under the Merchant Shipping Act<\/strong>, a UK-flagged vessel must wear her ensign:<\/p>\n