Dressing overall consists of stringing international maritime signal flags on a ship from stemhead to masthead, from masthead to masthead (if the vessel has more than one mast) and then down to the taffrail. It is a sign of celebration, and is done for celebratory occasions, anniversaries and events, whether national, local or personal.
Practice varies from country to country as to the order in which the signal flags are placed on the "dressing lines": in some places a specific order is laid down,[1] in others there is no such provision; either way, the intention is to produce a random succession of flags (i.e. not conveying any words or other messages), with the numerical and other pennants spaced equally and regularly along the line. Custom and regulations require that national or other flags not be mixed in with the signal flags when dressing a ship overall.
When a ship is properly dressed overall in harbor, ensigns (in addition to the one flown in the usual position at the stern) should fly at each masthead, unless displaced by another flag, e.g., that of a flag officer. A ship underway does not array herself with signal flags, but the masthead ensign(s) would still signify that she is dressed while underway.[2]
Referencesedit
^For the U.S. Navy the order of the flags, and the details of how and when the flags are displayed, is prescribed in Naval Computer and Telecommunications Command (August 1986), NTP 13 (B): Flags, Pennants, & Customs(PDF).
^'Flags and Signals' by Cdr R.L. Hewitt, Royal Yachting Association 1969, 1984
External linksedit
Gettysburg Flag Works has additional information, including a recommended ordering of flags.
Media related to Ship dressing at Wikimedia Commons
January 01, 1970
dressing, overall, consists, stringing, international, maritime, signal, flags, ship, from, stemhead, masthead, from, masthead, masthead, vessel, more, than, mast, then, down, taffrail, sign, celebration, done, celebratory, occasions, anniversaries, events, wh. Dressing overall consists of stringing international maritime signal flags on a ship from stemhead to masthead from masthead to masthead if the vessel has more than one mast and then down to the taffrail It is a sign of celebration and is done for celebratory occasions anniversaries and events whether national local or personal HMY Britannia with rear admiral aboard dressed overall on the River Mersey Liverpool USS Constitution dressed overall fires a seventeen gun salute in Boston Harbor 4 July 2014 Practice varies from country to country as to the order in which the signal flags are placed on the dressing lines in some places a specific order is laid down 1 in others there is no such provision either way the intention is to produce a random succession of flags i e not conveying any words or other messages with the numerical and other pennants spaced equally and regularly along the line Custom and regulations require that national or other flags not be mixed in with the signal flags when dressing a ship overall When a ship is properly dressed overall in harbor ensigns in addition to the one flown in the usual position at the stern should fly at each masthead unless displaced by another flag e g that of a flag officer A ship underway does not array herself with signal flags but the masthead ensign s would still signify that she is dressed while underway 2 References edit For the U S Navy the order of the flags and the details of how and when the flags are displayed is prescribed in Naval Computer and Telecommunications Command August 1986 NTP 13 B Flags Pennants amp Customs PDF Flags and Signals by Cdr R L Hewitt Royal Yachting Association 1969 1984External links editGettysburg Flag Works has additional information including a recommended ordering of flags nbsp Media related to Ship dressing at Wikimedia Commons Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Dressing overall amp oldid 1141513726, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
