Importance Of international Code Flags

Posted by Harry Voges on October 10th, 2018

Every adventure enthusiast loves to explore new areas even if it involves a great deal of risk. When you are on a ship, even a small surprise by nature can cause a lot of trouble. It is the responsibility of every sailor to maintain a collection of all the necessary security equipment and devices. Emergencies do not come with any advance notice, so it is better to stay prepared all the time than to bear the consequences of being careless.

Lack of communication is the key reason behind most of the voyage hazards. In case of any accident or emergency, one should have an alternative solution to get in touch with fellow sailors and acquire relevant information. In order to break all communication barriers among the navigators of different nationalities, a universal sign language has been developed. The international system of signs and codes allows navigators to convey important messages in crucial times and discuss important topics. Short messages can be communicated very easily in symbolic forms though the International Code of Signals (ICS).

A standardized alphabet and number scheme has been generated through intelligent use of international code flags. Each flag represents one of the English alphabets and conveys some message. Every flag holds a significant value and can prove to be very useful in case of emergencies. In order to convey a message to fellow sailors, one needs to use an appropriate combination of these flags. The use of multiple flags is generally done to form a code word which can be understood by both the parties.

In case of storms or high speed winds, where every form of communication fails, code flags come to the rescue. When the weather becomes a little rough, it gets very difficult to transmit signals and hence radios and antennas stop working. International code flags are the safest means of communication during unfavorable weather conditions. The sailors often suffer due to reduced visibility and find it hard to share information. Keeping this in mind, the flags used for communicating messages regarding safety and navigation issues are made of those colors which are easy to distinguish even during harsh weather conditions. The international code flags comprise of several combinations of red, blue, yellow, black, and white.

Every sailor should go through a detailed training to familiarize with the essential signs and symbols used for communication purposes. If you want to purchase international code flags, get in touch with a business that supplies such products at affordable prices.

Author’s Bio: The author is an avid writer. This article is about international code flags.