Heritage Structure | Section 3 – Flag usage at sea

INTRODUCTION

1. This section describes flags and their usage in ships and boats. Usage on land is described in Section 2.
2. The "superior position" for flags worn by ships means the precedence, in decreasing order, of their position at the main, fore, mizzen, starboard yard and port yard. Destroyers and smaller vessels are single-masted ships. See Figure 4-3-1.

Figure 4-3-1 Superior Positions on Ship Masts

SHIP'S ENSIGN

3. The Ship's Ensign of HMC ships and Canadian Forces (CF) auxiliary vessels is the National Flag.
4. HMC ships in commission shall wear the Ship's Ensign:
   1. when in a Canadian port, from colours to sunset;
   2. when underway, at all times by day and by night;
   3. when in foreign ports, according to local regulations; and
   4. during the periods between morning civil twilight and the hoisting of the preparative pennant for colours, and between five minutes after sunset to evening civil twilight, ships lying at anchor, moored or alongside in a port of roadstead shall, on seeing another warship underway, irrespective of nationality, hoist the Ships's Ensign. It shall be hauled down when any of the following occurs:
      1. the warship is no longer in sight or anchors, moors or goes alongside (i.e., ceases to be underway),
      2. the preparative pennant is hoisted for colours, or
      3. evening civil twilight.
5. Ships' Ensigns worn in accordance with subparagraphs 4b and 4d shall be hauled down when the preparative pennant is hoisted for the ceremony of colours. Such ships shall hoist their ensigns five minutes after sunset if a ship is underway.
6. The Ship's Ensign shall be worn at the ensign staff when at anchor, moored or alongside unless circumstances dictate that the ensign staff be struck (e.g., for helicopter flight operations). It shall be shifted between the harbour and sea positions simultaneously with the last and first lines, and with the lowering/hoisting of the Naval Jack. In the sea position, it shall be worn in the following order:
   1. in ships with more than one mast, at a small gaff fitted on the main mast;
   2. in ships with one mast, at a suitable position on that mast or at a staff on the after-superstructure;
   3. in replenishment vessels (AORs), at a small gaff fitted on the mast on the forward superstructure; and
   4. in special circumstances, at the discretion of a ship's commanding officer or the senior officer of ships in company.
7. Commanders shall ensure uniformity in the wearing of colours, particularly among ships of the same class.
8. The Ship's Ensign shall be worn at half-mast on all occasions and in any waters when:
   1. a body is being conveyed in a boat; or
   2. ship's colours are at half-mast.
9. Wearing Ship's Ensign in Boats.
   1. Boats belonging to HMC ships shall wear the Ship's Ensign:
      1. from colours to sunset when ships are dressed either overall or with mast-head flags only,
      2. in territorial waters of other nations at all times when away from their ships, and
      3. on all occasions when going alongside a warship of another nation.
   2. Boats under sail shall wear an Ensign in accordance with sub-paragraph a. or when conveying a body. The Ensign is to be flown in a prominent position, and, in the case of a service whaler, the Ensign shall be lashed to the top of the mizzen mast.
10. Salutes.
    1. It is customary for the National Flag, if available, to be broken at the appropriate masthead by other Commonwealth and foreign ships of war when:
       1. salutes are exchanged with Canadian ships of war, forts or batteries, and
       2. salutes to senior Canadian officers and personal salutes are fired.
    2. HMC ships shall not dip their Ship's Ensign to any vessel unless the vessel first dips her ensign to them. As there is no regulation whereby a merchant vessel is required to dip her ensign to a man-of-war, this practice is an act of custom and courtesy rather than a rule. Ships shall return all salutes promptly.
11. Dressing. The National Flag (as a flag, in addition to the Ship's Ensign) shall be worn when HMC ships are dressed, except that it shall not displace a distinguishing flag or commissioning pennant.

CANADIAN FORCES JACKS

12. Two jacks are authorized for use within the CF:
    1. the Canadian Naval Jack, which is also the Maritime Command Flag (see Figure 4-3-2); and
    2. the CF Auxiliary Vessels Jack (see Figure 4-3-3).
13. They shall be worn at the jack staff or bow of a vessel; the Naval Jack on HMC ships, and the Auxiliary Vessels Jack on auxiliary vessels of the CF.
14. A jack shall be worn by HMC ships and vessels:
    1. at anchor or alongside, from colours until sunset;
    2. when underway and dressed with masthead flags;
    3. both day and night when underway while wearing, or escorting another ship of war or merchant vessel wearing:
       1. the Queen's Personal Canadian Flag or a Royal Standard,
       2. a foreign Royal or Imperial Standard,
       3. the flag of a head of state, or
       4. the personal flag of the Governor-General of Canada, and
    4. at all ship launchings (see paragraphs 43 to 46).
15. A jack shall not be worn by ships or vessels in dock, refit or out of routine, except on the occasion of "dressing ship" (see paragraphs 26 and 34); nor by ships and vessels which have been commissioned, but have not been officially accepted.
16. The Naval Jack, as the Maritime Command Flag, may be paraded ashore within the guidelines established for command flags in Sections 2 and 6.
17. Compliments shall not be paid to a jack.

Figure 4-3-2 CF Naval Jack (Maritime Command Camp Flag)

Figure 4-3-3 CF Auxiliary Vessels Jack

THE QUEEN'S PERSONAL CANADIAN FLAG

18. When the Sovereign embarks in a ship, the Queen's Personal Canadian Flag (see Chapter 14, Section 2) shall be broken, with other flags, as follows:
    1. the Queen's Personal Canadian Flag at the main, the National Flag at the fore, and the Royal Union Flag at the mizzen;
    2. in ships with two masts, the Queen's Personal Canadian Flag at the main, the National Flag at the fore, and the Royal Union Flag at the foremast starboard yard; and
    3. in single-masted ships, the Queen's Personal Canadian Flag at the masthead, the National Flag at the starboard yard, and the Royal Union Flag at the port yard.
19. When the Sovereign goes on board a ship for a short visit, the Queen's Personal Canadian Flag shall be broken at the masthead (the National Flag and Royal Union Flag are not broken).
20. When the Sovereign is being transported by boat, her Personal Canadian Flag shall be flown as prescribed in Chapter 14.

THE GOVERNOR GENERAL'S FLAG AND A LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR'S FLAG

21. Unless the Sovereign is also present at the same time, when the Governor-General embarks in a ship, the Governor-General's Flag (see Chapter 14) shall be displayed at the main and the National Flag at the fore; in single-masted ships the Governor-General's Flag only shall be displayed at the masthead. In similar circumstances, the flag of a Lieutenant-Governor, within his or her sphere of jurisdiction, shall be similarly displayed.
22. When the Governor-General is being transported by boat, the Governor-General's Flag shall be flown as prescribed in Chapter 14. The flag of a Lieutenant-Governor shall be similarly displayed.

DISTINGUISHING FLAGS AND PENNANTS

23. In ships, distinguishing flags and pennants (see Chapter 14) shall be flown by day and by night and be illuminated.
    1. The Chief of the Defence Staff's (CDS) distinguishing flag, when he is embarked in his official capacity, shall be worn at the main or only mast, and displaces all other military distinguishing flags and pennants.
    2. The distinguishing flag of a vice-admiral or lieutenant-general at National Defence Headquarters shall, when he is embarked in an official capacity, be worn at the main mast, and displaces all other military distinguishing flags and pennants except that of the CDS and those denoting command.
    3. Other distinguishing flags and pennants shall be worn:
       1. for a vice-admiral or lieutenant-general in command of a command, at the main,
       2. for all other general and flag officers, including vice-admirals and lieutenant-generals not commanding a command, at the fore, and
       3. for a distinguishing pennant, at the main or other suitable position where it will fly clear.
24. The commissioning pennant (sometimes called a captain's pennant or masthead pennant) worn by HMC ships in commission is considered a pennant-of-command and is noted as a distinguishing pennant in Chapter 14.
25. The long "paying-off" pennant is not an official flag, but, by long tradition, may be flown on HMC ships in accordance with established custom. It is a longer and locally-made version of the commissioning pennant.

DRESSING SHIPS

26. Except as prescribed in paragraphs 27 and 28, and unless otherwise directed, ships in port shall dress overall from colours to sunset, on the anniversaries of:
    1. the accession of the reigning Sovereign (6 February);
    2. Flag Day (15 February);
    3. the actual birthday of the reigning Sovereign (21 April);
    4. Battle of Atlantic Sunday (First Sunday in May);
    5. ChAnniversary of Royal Assent to the Naval Service act of Canada, (04 May);
    6. the official birthday of the reigning Sovereign (celebrated in Canada on the Monday immediately preceding 25 May);
    7. the coronation of the reigning Sovereign (2 June);
    8. the birthday of the consort of the reigning Sovereign (10 June);
    9. Canada Day (1 July); and
    10. the birthday of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth, the Queen Mother (4 August).
27. Ships in Commonwealth ports, other than Canadian ports, on the anniversary of the actual birthday of the Sovereign, where official celebrations are not held ashore, shall dress with masthead flags only, and only while the Royal Salute is being fired.
28. On the day proclaimed in Canada as the official birthday of the Sovereign, ships:
    1. in Canadian ports shall dress overall;
    2. in other Commonwealth ports shall dress only if the date coincides with that proclaimed by the Commonwealth country, territory or protectorate; and
    3. in ports of nations outside the Commonwealth where an official celebration is to be held on shore, shall dress overall, if a celebration is not held on shore, they shall neither dress overall nor dress with masthead flags.
29. In Commonwealth ports where the official celebration of the birthday of the Sovereign is held on a date other than that proclaimed, ships shall dress overall on the date adopted for the celebration.
30. The senior officer present may order ships to dress overall on the occasion of important military or civil functions when it is considered in the best interest of the CF.
31. On the Anniversary of the Statute of Westminster (11 December), ships within Canadian waters shall dress from colours to sunset with masthead flags only.
32. When an anniversary for dressing ships falls on a Sunday, ships shall be dressed on that day. If the salute is deferred to the following day, ships shall dress with appropriate masthead flags while the salute is being fired.
33. On the occasions listed in paragraph 26, ships underway in the vicinity of an anchorage or port shall dress with masthead flags and jack.
34. On all occasions when ships are dressed, ships in dock, in refit or out of routine shall dress with masthead flags only (with the jack at the jackstaff) unless otherwise ordered.
35. Ships proceeding to sea prior to 1000 hours and entering or returning to harbour after 1500 hours shall dress with masthead flags only.
36. Ships proceeding to sea or entering or returning to harbour other than those referred to in paragraph 35 shall, unless otherwise ordered, undress one hour before departure and dress overall one-half hour after arrival.
37. Ships shall dress with masthead flags when the senior officer present considers it inexpedient to dress overall due to weather or other reasons. A ship having the radio guard and ships not fitted with dressing lines shall dress with masthead flags only.
38. Ships shall be dressed with masthead flags when escorting a ship of war or merchant vessel wearing:
    1. the Queen's Personal Canadian Flag or a Royal Standard,
    2. a foreign Royal or Imperial Standard (see Note below),
    3. the flag of a Head of State (see Note below),
    4. the flag of the Governor-General of Canada, or
    5. the flag of a Lieutenant-Governor of a Province.

39. Ships shall be dressed in harbour by order of the senior officer present:
    1. when in the presence of any ship on which the flags listed in paragraph 38 are flying, on occasions of visits from the personages concerned; and
    2. when in the presence of ships of war of another nation or in the waters of another nation, on ceremonial occasions of the nation concerned.
40. When a ship is dressed in honour of a personage or on a ceremonial anniversary, the National Flag shall be worn as follows:
    1. ships wearing a distinguishing flag:
       1. ships with two or more masts shall wear the National Flag at the unoccupied masts, and
       2. single-masted ships shall not wear the National Flag; and
    2. ships not wearing a distinguishing flag shall wear the National Flag at each mast.
41. When a ship is dressed in honour of an another nation, the National Flag shall be worn as follows.
    1. Single-masted ships wearing a Royal Standard, or Governor-General's Flag or distinguishing flag or pennant, shall wear the ensign of the other nation alongside the standard or flag. Other single-masted ships shall wear the ensign of the other nation alone.
    2. Two-masted ships wearing a Royal Standard, or Governor-General's Flag or distinguishing flag or pennant, shall wear the ensign of the other nation at the fore. Other two-masted ships shall wear the ensign of the other nation at the main and the National Flag at the fore.
42. Ships that do not possess the appropriate foreign ensign shall wear the Canadian National Flag on the occasions listed in paragraph 41.

LAUNCHING, NAMING AND COMMISSIONING SHIPS

43. When a ship is to be launched and there is no naming ceremony, the Ship's Ensign and Jack together with a separate National Flag at the masthead shall be worn between 0800 hours and sunset.
44. At launching of ships at which there is a naming ceremony, the Ship's Ensign and Jack shall be hoisted simultaneously and the National Flag broken at the masthead at the moment of naming. These flags shall be lowered at sunset.
45. At a commissioning, or a naming and commissioning ceremony, the Ship's Ensign and Jack shall be hoisted and the masthead pennant broken at the moment of commissioning or naming.
46. Where a ship is commissioned before the official acceptance, the normal procedure as prescribed in paragraph 43 shall be followed on the day of commissioning, but on subsequent days until the ship has become officially accepted, only the Ship's Ensign and masthead pennant shall be worn.

SIGNAL FLAGS

47. All visual signals with flags on HMC ships while at sea are to follow NATO Publication ATP 1, Vol. II, Allied Maritime Tactical Signal and Manoeuvring Book (NATO Restricted). The signal flags or pennants noted in that publication are to be used by the CF while on allied maritime operations.

SPECIAL FLAGS

48. Maritime Operations Group Command Indicator.
    1. The Maritime Operations Group Command Indicator is not a distinguishing flag or a personal flag; it is used solely for the purpose of indicating the location of the Maritime Operations Group commander. The Maritime Operations Group Command Indicator is flown:
       1. in harbour, in the ship in which the Maritime Operations Group commander is borne, at all times day and night, and
       2. at sea, when meeting or joining other warships. It may be hauled down when sufficient time has elapsed for visual identification.
    2. The Maritime Operations Group Command indicator shall not:
       1. displace the Commissioning pennant,
       2. be hoisted in a ship wearing a standard, other distinguishing flag or pennant, or
       3. be displayed in the bow of a boat or on a vehicle.
    3. The design of the Maritime Operations Group Command Indicator is the "flotilla" flag noted in ATP 1, Vol. II, with the number of the Maritime Operations Group on the flag (see Figure 4-3-4).
49. Senior Canadian Officer Present Afloat (SCOPA) Pennant. The SCOPA flag is the Starboard Pennant noted in ATP 1, Vol. II (Figure 4-3-5). When two or more HMC ships not wearing a command flag are present in a port or roadstead, the senior Canadian ship is to hoist the Starboard Pennant at the starboard yard to indicate that the duties assigned to the SCOPA have been undertaken by that ship. When in company with ships from other nations, the Starboard Pennant is to be flown by the senior Canadian ship in addition to a command flag.
50. Queen's Harbour Master (QHM) Flag. This flag, through custom and common usage of Commonwealth Navies, denotes the headquarters of the Queen's Harbour Master of HMC Dockyards (Figure 4-3-6).
    1. The QHM flag may be displayed continuously on a gaff or flagpole outside or on the building housing the offices of the QHM.
    2. The QHM or his deputy may fly this flag in the bow of a boat or vessel when proceeding in the execution of duty.
    3. The QHM flag shall not:
       1. displace any distinguishing flag or pennant,
       2. be accorded any salute or ceremonial, or
       3. be displayed for any other purpose than denoting the presence of the QHM or his deputy.
51. Church Pennant (for HMC Ships).
    1. The church pennant (Figure 4-3-7) will be hoisted in harbour at the peak if fitted and not occupied, or at the yardarm, when ships' companies are:
       1. holding divine service, or
       2. at prayers.
    2. During divine service or prayers, the church pennant may be used to drape a podium or altar.
    3. The church pennant shall not be used in any manner other than as prescribed above and for the construction of dressing lines.
    4. Whenever the church pennant is used, it shall be hosted and lowered with dignity.
52. International Fishery Flag (The ICNAF Inspection Pennant). Canada is a signatory to the International Commission for Northwest Atlantic Fisheries (ICNAF), and vessels, including HMC ships, advised as Inspection Vessels of Canada will fly the special ICNAF Inspection Pennant (Figure 4-3-8) to signify this, and to advise that an inspector is on board. This pennant will be flown in international waters and as ordered by NDHQ.
53. The Royal Union Flag (Union Jack).
    1. The Royal Union Flag shall, where physical arrangement makes it possible, be worn in addition to the Ship's Ensign and Jack in HMC ships within Canada or Canadian waters as noted in Section 8, paragraphs 3 and 4.
    2. The Royal Union Flag shall be worn in HMC ships as follows:
       1. ships with two or more masts shall wear it at the masthead, and the National Flag at all other positions,
       2. ships having one mast with gaff shall wear it at the masthead,
       3. ships having one mast with no gaff will not wear it as the National Flag shall not be displaced,
       4. on the Anniversary of the Statute of Westminster, ships shall dress with masthead flags only and gun salutes shall not be fired, and
       5. in ships with one or more masts, the Royal Union Flag shall not displace distinguishing flag or pennant already flying.
54. Canadian Forces Unit Commendation Pennant. The CF Unit Commendation pennant shall be flown and displayed as noted in Chapter 3, Section 3.

Figure 4-3-4 Formations de gardes d’honneur

Figure 4-3-5 SCOPA Pennant

Figure 4-3-6 Queen’s Harbour Master Flag

Figure 4-3-7 Church Pennant (HMC Ships)

Figure 4-3-8 ICNAF Inspection Pennant

HOISTING AND LOWERING

55. In HMC ships not underway, the Ship's Ensign and Jack shall be flown as noted in Section 2, paragraphs 20 to 22.
56. When the National Flag is flown or displayed at night on special occasions, it should be properly illuminated.

HALF-MASTING

57. The Ship's Ensign and Jack shall be half-masted in accordance with the basic protocol established in Section 2, paragraphs 23 to 33. This article contains additional protocol for the half-masting of flags worn by HMC ships and CF auxiliary vessels.
58. For a funeral at sea, flags shall be half-masted when the remains are removed from where they have been lying and rehoisted when the funeral service is ended.
59. In HMC ships, when the Ship's Ensign is worn at half-mast, the jack, if worn, shall also be half-masted.
60. HMC ships whose colours are at half-mast should acknowledge salutes by merchant vessels; the Ship's Ensign shall be hoisted close-up, dipped, re-hoisted closeup, and then half-masted.
61. HMC ships approaching or leaving a port or an anchorage where any other ship of war has its colours at half-mast shall, while within sight of that ship, half-mast their own colours. When in a foreign port, HMC ships shall half-mast their colours in accordance with local ceremonies.