The system of international maritime signal flags is a way of representing individual letters of the alphabet on ships or in nautical situations.
The flags can also be used to signal other things than alphabetical messages. For example, divers will often raise the flag representing the letter A as a marker to other sea traffic in the area.
The flags are also used, with a different set of special meanings, in yacht racing and dinghy racing, where (for example) the P flag is used as the "preparatory" flag to indicate an imminent start, and the S flag means "shortened course".
| A | | Divers
|
| B | | Loading explosives
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| C | | Yes *
|
| D | | Keep clear
|
| E | | Going to starboard
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| F | | Disabled
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| G | | Need a pilot
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| H | | Have a pilot
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| I | | Going to port
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| J | | About to use semaphore or On fire
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| K | | Stop
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| L | | Stop for communications
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| M | | Doctor on board or Stopped
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| N | | No *
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| O | | Man overboard (often attached to life preservers on ships)
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| P | | The Blue Peter, setting sail
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| Q | | Quarantine
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| R | |
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| S | |
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| T | | Do not go in front
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| U | | You are going into danger
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| V | | Need assistance
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| W | | Need medical assistance
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| X | | Stop and watch for communications
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| Y | | Carrying mail
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| Z | | Hailing someone on land
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* N and C together (No and Yes) is used as a distress signal
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