Ensign (flag) Facts for Kids

This page is about the flag. For other uses, see Ensign.

An ensign is a special maritime flag that helps identify a ship's country. Think of it like a ship's passport! It's usually the biggest flag on a ship. You'll often see it flying at the stern (the very back) of the ship when it's in port. Sometimes, it might look like a "jack" flag, which is flown at the front of a ship. Jacks are more common on military ships than on regular cargo ships.

The Story Behind the Word
Different Flags for Different Ships
How Ships Use Their Flags
Flags in the Sky: Air Ensigns
Images for kids
See Also

The Story Behind the Word

The word "ensign" comes from an old English word, ensign. This word itself came from the Latin word insignia. Both words mean a sign or a symbol.

Different Flags for Different Ships

People who study flags are called vexillologists. They have identified three main types of ensigns, each for a different kind of ship:

Flags for Government Ships

A state ensign, or government ensign (usage symbol ), is used by ships that belong to the government. These could be vessels from official government agencies or civilian ships that help out the government.

Flags for Military Ships

A naval ensign (usage symbol ) is the flag flown by a country's navy. It acts like a war flag for military ships, even when there isn't a war happening. When a warship is about to go into battle, it might fly a very large version called a battle ensign. This flag is different from a "jack," which is a smaller flag flown at the front of a military ship when it's in port.

Flags for Civilian Ships

A civil ensign (usage symbol ) is the flag for merchant ships (which carry goods) and pleasure boats (like yachts). This flag helps show the nationality of these private vessels. Some countries even have a special yacht ensign just for recreational boats that aren't carrying cargo. These merchant flags are only for private ships, not for military or government vessels. They show the ship's nationality without representing the government itself.

Countries with Special Flags

Some countries, like the United States and France, use the same national flag for all their ships. This flag serves as both an ensign and a jack.

However, many other countries, such as Ukraine, Italy, Russia, South Africa, Australia, New Zealand, and Japan, use different ensigns. These flags are very specific. They tell you right away if a vessel is a warship, a merchant ship, a ship carrying mail, or a yacht.

Did you know that the national flags of several Commonwealth countries, like Australia and New Zealand, were inspired by the ensigns of the United Kingdom? Even the early flag of the United States might have been influenced by British ensigns!

How Ships Use Their Flags

Every boat flies a flag to show which country it belongs to. This flag tells everyone where the ship's owner is from. It also indicates where taxes related to the ship are paid. When a ship flies a certain flag, it means the laws of that country apply to the ship. This includes rules about jobs, safety, and taxes.

In many countries, especially in Europe and the Commonwealth, the ensign often gives extra information. It can show if the flag is for a civilian ship, a government ship, or a military ship.

Ensigns are usually flown from a pole at the back of the ship when it's in port. When the ship is moving, the flag might be moved to a different pole higher up on the mast. Then it's sometimes called a steaming ensign.

A boat's flag is also used as a "guest country flag." This happens when a boat is sailing in foreign waters or visiting another country's port. It's a way to show respect to the host country.

Flags in the Sky: Air Ensigns

Just like ships have flags, so do aircraft! When air forces became common and civil aviation grew in the first half of the 20th century, special flags were created for them. These include air force ensigns, which are often light blue (like the Royal Air Force Ensign), and civil air ensigns for civilian planes.

Images for kids

National civil ensign of New Zealand flown from the stern of Hikitia
The White Ensign as currently used by Royal Navy vessels
The Blue Ensign as currently used for British government vessels
The Red Ensign as currently used for British civilian vessels
Government Ensign of Gibraltar
Civil Ensign of Gibraltar
Royal Air Force Ensign used by the Royal Air Force
Royal Australian Air Force Ensign
Royal New Zealand Air Force Ensign
Royal Canadian Air Force Ensign
Royal Australian Navy Ensign
Royal New Zealand Navy Ensign
Canadian Naval Ensign
The Civil Air Ensign as currently used by UK civil aviation establishments
Australian Civil Aviation Ensign
New Zealand Civil Air Ensign
Australian national Flag and State Ensign
Australian Red Ensign
New Zealand national flag (Māori: Te haki o Aotearoa) and State Ensign
New Zealand Red Ensign
Indian Navy Ensign
Indian Civil Ensign
Civil and Naval ensign of Albania
Belgian Navy Ensign
Ensign of the Royal Danish Navy
Egyptian Navy Ensign
Finnish yacht club ensign. The circled X represents the club emblem
Civil and Naval Ensign of France
Bundesmarine Ensign
Naval Ensign of Italy
Naval ensign of the Imperial Japanese Navy and the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force
Luxembourg Civil Ensign
Myanmar Navy Ensign
Royal Netherlands Navy Reserve ensign
Nigerian Navy ensign
North Korean Navy Ensign
Ensign of the Royal Norwegian Navy
Polish Navy Ensign
Russian Navy Ensign
Naval Ensign of the Royal Saudi Navy
Spanish yacht ensign
Naval ensign of Sri Lanka
Naval ensign of Royal Thai Navy
Ukrainian Navy Ensign
United States Coast Guard ensign
Naval ensign of Vietnam