A civil ensign is an ensign (maritime flag) used by civilian vessels to denote their nationality. It can be the same or different from the state ensign and the naval ensign (or war ensign). It is also known as the merchant ensign or merchant flag. Some countries have special civil ensigns for yachts, and even for specific yacht clubs, known as yacht ensigns.
Most countries have only one national flag and ensign for all purposes. In other countries, a distinction is made between the land flag and the civil, state and naval ensigns. The British ensigns, for example, differ from the flag used on land (the Union Flag) and have different versions of plain and defacedRed and Blue ensigns for civilian and state use, as well as the naval ensign (White Ensign) that can also be used by yachts of the Royal Yacht Squadron.
The civil ensigns that are different from the general national flag can be grouped into a number of categories.
Civil ensigns with the national flag in the canton
Several countries use red flags with, in most cases, either the respective national flag or the Union Flag in the canton, patterned after the Red Ensign. British overseas territories fly the plain Red Ensign or a Red Ensign with the respective colonial arms in the fly. Saudi Arabia puts its national flag in the canton of an otherwise-green flag (the Saudi Arabian flag is hoisted with the flagpole to its right so the canton is in the upper right corner of the flag). Ghana stopped using its Red Ensign in 2003 with the adoption of a new merchant shipping act, which made the Ghanaian flag the proper national colors for Ghanaian ships. Similarly, Sri Lanka stopped using its Red Ensign in 1969 and uses the Sri Lankan flag as the civil ensign. Under the relevant shipping law for the Solomon Islands, the Shipping Act 1998, (No. 5 of 1998), the national flag of the Solomon Islands and not a Red Ensign is the appropriate flag: "The National Flag of Solomon Islands shall be the national colours for a vessel registered under this Act."
Civil ensigns consisting of the national flag with an additional emblem
Well-known examples are the Italian civil ensign showing the shield with the arms of the sea republics, and the Polish civil ensign with the arms of Poland. Most of these emblems were added to distinguish the ensign from similar flags of other countries (e.g. Colombia/Ecuador) or from other signal flags (e.g. Malta/ H signal flag).
Civil ensigns that are simplified national flags with coat of arms removed
In several countries (such as Spain and much of Hispanic America, and some European countries), there are two main versions of the flag, a simpler one (usually a striped flag) and a more elaborate one with the national arms. The simpler one is used as a civil ensign (and in most cases also as a civil flag), whereas the version with the arms is mainly used by the government and the military. In El Salvador, the civil ensign also differs from the national flag in the proportions.
Civil ensigns differing from the national flag in the proportions
Several former British colonies use 1:2 as a proportion for their ensigns and 3:5 for flags ashore, whereas Slovenia, Croatia and Hungary have it the other way around, with ensigns at 2:3 and flags ashore at 1:2. France is a special case: the overall proportion is the same, but the bands on the ensign differ in width slightly.
^The red ensign, also the national flag, is an appropriate civil ensign for vessels registered on the Bermuda portion of the British Register, by virtue of the Bermuda Merchant Shipping Act of 2002.
^The square flag is used on most rivers and lakes.
May 05, 2023
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A civil ensign is an ensign maritime flag used by civilian vessels to denote their nationality It can be the same or different from the state ensign and the naval ensign or war ensign It is also known as the merchant ensign or merchant flag Some countries have special civil ensigns for yachts and even for specific yacht clubs known as yacht ensigns Most countries have only one national flag and ensign for all purposes In other countries a distinction is made between the land flag and the civil state and naval ensigns The British ensigns for example differ from the flag used on land the Union Flag and have different versions of plain and defaced Red and Blue ensigns for civilian and state use as well as the naval ensign White Ensign that can also be used by yachts of the Royal Yacht Squadron Contents 1 Countries having specific civil ensigns 1 1 Civil ensigns with the national flag in the canton 1 1 1 Sovereign states 1 1 2 British overseas territories and crown dependencies 1 2 Civil ensigns that vary greatly from the national flag 1 3 Civil ensigns consisting of the national flag with an additional emblem 1 4 Civil ensigns that are simplified national flags with coat of arms removed 1 5 Civil ensigns differing from the national flag in the proportions 1 6 Former civil ensigns no longer in current use or obsolete 2 See also 3 RemarksCountries having specific civil ensigns EditThe civil ensigns that are different from the general national flag can be grouped into a number of categories Civil ensigns with the national flag in the canton Edit Several countries use red flags with in most cases either the respective national flag or the Union Flag in the canton patterned after the Red Ensign British overseas territories fly the plain Red Ensign or a Red Ensign with the respective colonial arms in the fly Saudi Arabia puts its national flag in the canton of an otherwise green flag the Saudi Arabian flag is hoisted with the flagpole to its right so the canton is in the upper right corner of the flag Ghana stopped using its Red Ensign in 2003 with the adoption of a new merchant shipping act which made the Ghanaian flag the proper national colors for Ghanaian ships Similarly Sri Lanka stopped using its Red Ensign in 1969 and uses the Sri Lankan flag as the civil ensign Under the relevant shipping law for the Solomon Islands the Shipping Act 1998 No 5 of 1998 the national flag of the Solomon Islands and not a Red Ensign is the appropriate flag The National Flag of Solomon Islands shall be the national colours for a vessel registered under this Act Sovereign states Edit Australia 1 Bangladesh Bahamas Fiji Ghana India Malaysia Mauritius New Zealand Nigeria Pakistan Saudi Arabia Solomon Islands 1978 1998 Sri Lanka United Arab Emirates 2 United Kingdom British overseas territories and crown dependencies Edit Plain Red Ensign 3 Bermuda 4 British Virgin Islands Cayman Islands Falkland Islands Gibraltar Guernsey Isle of Man Jersey Turks and Caicos Islands Civil ensigns that vary greatly from the national flag Edit Several countries have civil ensigns that are very different from the national flag Albania Israel Luxembourg Malta Philippines domestic waters only Singapore TongaCivil ensigns consisting of the national flag with an additional emblem Edit Well known examples are the Italian civil ensign showing the shield with the arms of the sea republics and the Polish civil ensign with the arms of Poland Most of these emblems were added to distinguish the ensign from similar flags of other countries e g Colombia Ecuador or from other signal flags e g Malta H signal flag Colombia El Salvador Italy Morocco 5 Poland Republic of China Taiwan 6 United States domestic waters only unofficial Finland Yacht ensign 7 Spain Yacht ensign Civil ensigns that are simplified national flags with coat of arms removed Edit In several countries such as Spain and much of Hispanic America and some European countries there are two main versions of the flag a simpler one usually a striped flag and a more elaborate one with the national arms The simpler one is used as a civil ensign and in most cases also as a civil flag whereas the version with the arms is mainly used by the government and the military In El Salvador the civil ensign also differs from the national flag in the proportions Andorra Argentina Austria Bolivia Costa Rica Czech Republic Dominican Republic Ecuador Egypt El Salvador Ethiopia Finland Germany Guatemala Haiti Hungary Iran Jordan Liechtenstein Moldova Mozambique Nicaragua Oman People s Republic of China Peru San Marino Serbia Slovakia Somaliland Spain Tajikistan Transnistria VenezuelaCivil ensigns differing from the national flag in the proportions Edit Several former British colonies use 1 2 as a proportion for their ensigns and 3 5 for flags ashore whereas Slovenia Croatia and Hungary have it the other way around with ensigns at 2 3 and flags ashore at 1 2 France is a special case the overall proportion is the same but the bands on the ensign differ in width slightly Belgium Croatia Grenada Hungary Slovenia Switzerland 8 Trinidad and TobagoFormer civil ensigns no longer in current use or obsolete Edit Albania 1945 1992 Austria Hungary 1869 1918 East Germany 1959 1973 Germany 1919 1933 Greece 1822 1828 Haiti 1964 1986 Hungary 1921 1946 Hungary 1950 1957 Italy 1861 1946 Russia 1858 1896 Spain 1785 1927 Spain 1931 1939 Burma 1952 1974 Burma 1974 2010 Venezuela 1930 2006 Yugoslavia 1950 1992 See also EditCivil and merchant ensigns Civil flag Civil air ensignRemarks Edit The Australian national flag is also used for smaller ships The UAE national flag is also reported as civil ensign The plain red ensign is used in Anguilla the British Indian Ocean Territory Montserrat the Pitcairn Islands and Saint Helena The red ensign also the national flag is an appropriate civil ensign for vessels registered on the Bermuda portion of the British Register by virtue of the Bermuda Merchant Shipping Act of 2002 The Moroccan national flag is also reported as civil ensign Abolished in 1966 Present civil ensign is the national flag of the ROC The circled X is replaced with the club emblem The square flag is used on most rivers and lakes Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Civil ensign amp oldid 1151409560, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
