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