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International Code of Signals

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How to say "Communicate with me!" in nine languages.

The International Code of Signals (ICS) is an international system of signals and

codes for use by vessels to communicate important messages regarding safety of
navigation and related matters. Signals can be sent by flaghoist, signal
lamp ("blinker"), flag semaphore, radiotelegraphy, and radiotelephony. The International
Code is the most recent evolution of a wide variety of maritime flag signalling systems.

Contents

 1Standards
 2Signals
 3Medical Signal Code
 4History
 5Single-flag signals
 6Examples of multiple-flag signals
 7See also
 8Notes
 9Sources
 10External links

Standards[edit]
"The purpose of the International Code of Signals is to provide ways and means of
communication in situations related essentially to safety of navigation and persons,
especially when language difficulties arise." [1] It has done this by first establishing a
standardized alphabet (the letters A to Z and the ten digits), along with a spoken form of
each letter (to avoid confusing similar-sounding letters, such as 'b', 'p', and 'v'), and
associating this alphabet with standardized flags. (See chart to the right.)
Combinations of these alphanumeric characters are assigned as codes for various
standardized messages. For instance, the master of a ship may wish to communicate
with another ship, where their own radio may not be working or the other ship's call sign
is not known or the other ship may not be maintaining a radio watch. One simply raises
the Kilo flag (see diagram at the top), or sends the Morse Code equivalent (dash-dot-
dash) by flashing light; this has the assigned message of "I wish to communicate with
you."
One practical application of the ICS is that all of the standardized messages come in
nine languages (English, French, Italian, German, Japanese, Spanish, Norwegian, and,
since 1969, Russian and Greek). This fact is immaterial if the sender and receiver(s) are
using different languages; each language has a book with equivalent messages keyed
to the same code. This is also useful in radiotelephony, or even when ships are within
hailing distance, if there is no common language: a crew member on a burning ship
yells "yuliett alfa vour", and a vessel coming to their aid knows exactly what they need
— "material for foam fire extinguishers" (that is, the foaming agent).
(See de:Flaggenalphabet for the German version of single-letter signals.)
The code also covers procedural aspects (how to initiate a call, the format of a
message, how to format date and time, etc.), how naval ships (which usually use their
own codes) indicate that they are using the ICS (by flying the code pennant), use in
radiotelephony (use of the spoken word "Interco"), and various other matters (such as
how an aircraft directs a vessel to another vessel in distress and how to order
unidentified submarines to surface).

Signals[edit]

A sailor on board a US Navy ship preparing a signal hoist

Prior to 1969, the code was much more extensive, covering a wider range of messages
and including a list of five-letter codes for every prominent maritime location in the
world. Since 1969, it has been reduced to focus on navigation and safety, including a
medical section. Signals can be sorted into three groups:

 Single-letter signals which are very urgent,

important, or common.
 Two-letter signals for other messages, sometimes
followed with a numerical "complement" which
supplements or modifies the message.
 Three-letter signals beginning with "M"; these are
the Medical Signal Codes.
In some cases, additional characters are added to indicate quantities, bearing, course,
distance, date, time, latitude, or longitude. There is also provision for spelling words and
for indicating use of other codes. Several of the more common single-letter signals are
shown at the right. Two-letter signals cover a broad gamut of situations.
Repeated characters can be a problem in flaghoist. To avoid having to carry multiple
sets of signal flags, the Code uses three "substitute" (or "repeater") flags. These repeat
the flag at the indicated position. For instance, to signal MAA ("I request urgent medical
advice" the Mike, Alfa, and 2nd substitute flags would be flown, the substitute indicating
a repeat of the second character.
Medical Signal Code[edit]
A hoist of three flags

Flag
Code Meaning
hoist

I request urgent
MAA
medical advice.

The pennant at the bottom indicates a

repeat of the second letter.

The Medical Signal Code[2] (incorporated in the International Code of Signals since

1930) is a means of providing assistance when medical personnel are not present. Plain
language is generally preferred in such cases (presumably via radiotelephone), but the
various codes provide a succinct method of communicating to a doctor the nature of the
problem where there are language or communication difficulties, and in return the
recommended treatment. Even where there are no language problems, the Medical
Signal Code is useful in providing a standard method of case description and treatment.
There is also a standard list of medicaments (medicines), keyed to a standard ships
medicine chest carried by all merchant ships. The Medical signals all begin with the
letter "M" (Mike) followed by two more letters, and sometimes with additional numerals
or letters.

History[edit]
The International Code of Signals was preceded by a variety of naval signals and
private signals, most notably Marryat's Code, the most widely used code flags prior to
1857. What is now the International Code of Signals was drafted in 1855 by the
British Board of Trade and published in 1857 as the Commercial Code. It came in two
parts: the first containing universal and international signals, and the second British
signals only. Eighteen separate signal flags (see chart) were used to make over 70,000
possible messages. Vowels were omitted from the set to avoid spelling out any word
that might be objectionable in any language, and some little-used letters were also
omitted. It was revised by the Board of Trade in 1887, and was modified at the
International Conference of 1889 in Washington, D.C. [3] The new international code of
signals officially came into worldwide operation on 1 January 1901. At first it was used
concurrently with the old system until 1 January 1902, and then used exclusively after 1
January 1903. In this new edition, the number of flags was increased from 18 flags plus
a code pennant to 26 flags and a code pennant. The eight new flags represented the
vowels A E I O U and the letters X Y Z.[4]
A slightly different version was published in Brown's Signalling, 18th Edition, February,
1916, pages 9-28. Charlie, Delta, Echo, Foxtrot and Golf were pennants corresponding
to more modern numeral pennants 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5. Otherwise the letters appear to
correspond to the more modern formats. [5]
The code was severely tested during World War I, and it was found that, "when coding
signals, word by word, the occasions upon which signaling failed were more numerous
than those when the result was successful."[6] A 1920 meeting of the five Principal Allied
and Associated Powers met in Paris and proposed forming the Universal Electrical
Communications Union on October 8, 1920 in Washington, D.C. [7] The group suggested
revisions to the International Code of Signals, and adopted a phonetic spelling alphabet,
but the creation of the organization was not agreed upon.
The International Radiotelegraph Conference at Washington in 1927 considered
proposals for a new revision of the Code, including preparation in seven languages:
English, French, Italian, German, Japanese, Spanish, and Norwegian. This new edition
was completed in 1930 and was adopted by the International Radiotelegraph
Conference held in Madrid in 1932. The Madrid Conference also set up a standing
committee for continual revision of the code. The new version introduced vocabulary for
aviation and a complete medical section with the assistance and by the advice of
the Office International d'Hygiène Publique. A certain number of signals were also
inserted for communications between vessels and shipowners, agents, repair yards,
and other maritime stakeholders. The new international code of signals was officially
brought into force worldwide on 1 January 1934. Thirteen new flags were introduced,
whereby the triangular pennants used for letters, C, D, E, F, and G were replaced with
new square flags, and became the numerals 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5. The numerals 6, 7, 8, 9,
and 0 were introduced by five new flags, and there were three new substitute flags
added.[8]
After World War II, the Administrative Radio Conference of the International
Telecommunication Union suggested in 1947 that the International Code of Signals
should fall within the competence of the Inter-Governmental Maritime Consultative
Organization (IMCO), which became the IMO. In January 1959, the First Assembly of
IMCO decided that the organization should assume all the functions then being
performed by the Standing Committee of the International Code of Signals.
The Second Assembly of IMCO 1961 endorsed plans for a comprehensive review of the
International Code of Signals to meet the needs of mariners. The revisions were
prepared in the previous seven languages plus Russian and Greek.
The code was revised in 1964 taking into account recommendations from the
1960 Conference on Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS) and the 1959 Administrative Radio
Conference. Changes included a shift in focus from general communications to safety of
navigation, abandonment of the "vocabulary" method of spelling out messages word by
word, adaptation to all forms of communication, and elimination of the separate
radiotelegraph and geographical sections. It was adopted in 1965. The 1969 English-
language version of the code (United States edition, revised 2003) is available online
through the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency (NGA, formerly the National
Imagery and Mapping Agency) as Publication 102.
The International Code of Signals is currently maintained by the International Maritime
Organization, which published a new print edition in 2005. [9]

Single-flag signals[edit]
Letter, Flag Meaning
spelling word,
As single flag As numeric complements
pronunciation

A
"I have a diver down; keep well clear at slow
Alfa Azimuth or bearing
speed."
[ˈal.fa]

"I am taking in or discharging or carrying

B
dangerous goods." (Originally used by
Bravo
the Royal Navy specifically for military
[ˈbrɑː.voʊ]
explosives.)

C
Course in degrees
Charlie "Affirmative."[a][b]
magnetic
[ˈtʃɑː.li]

D
"Keep clear of me; I am maneuvering with
Delta Date
difficulty."[b]
[ˈdɛl.tə]

E
Echo "I am altering my course to starboard."[b]
[ˈɛk.oʊ]

F
Foxtrot "I am disabled; communicate with me."
[ˈfɔks.trɔt]

"I require a pilot."

G Longitude (The first 2 or 3
Golf digits denote degrees; the
By fishing vessels near fishing grounds: "I
[gɔlf] last 2 denote minutes.)
am hauling nets."

H
Hotel "I have a pilot on board."[b]
[hoʊˈtɛl]
I
India "I am altering my course to port."[b]
[ˈɪn.dɪə]

"I am on fire and have dangerous cargo on

board: keep well clear of me."
J
Juliet
or
[ˈdʒuː.ljɛt]
"I am leaking dangerous cargo."

"I wish to communicate

with you by...":

1) Morse signaling by
hand-flags or arms;
K
Kilo "I wish to communicate with you."
2) Loud hailer
[ˈki.loʊ]
(megaphone);

3) Morse signaling lamp;

4) Sound signals.

L Latitude (The first 2 digits

Lima "You should stop your vessel instantly." denote degrees; the last 2
[ˈli.mə] denote minutes.)

M
"My vessel is stopped and making no way
Mike
through the water."[b]
[maɪk]

N
November "Negative."[a]
[noʊˈvɛm.bə]

"Man overboard."[b] (often attached to

O
the man overboard pole on boats).
Oscar
[ˈɔs.kə]
With a sinister hoist, the semaphore flag.
 The Blue Peter.

In harbour: All persons should report on

P
board as the vessel is about to proceed to sea.
Papa
[ˈpa.pə]
At sea: It may be used by fishing vessels to
mean: "My nets have come fast upon an
obstruction."

Q
"My vessel is 'healthy' and I request
Quebec
free pratique."
[kəˈbɛk]

R
Distance (range) in
Romeo (No ICS meaning as a single flag)
nautical miles.
[ˈroʊ.mjoʊ]

S
Sierra "I am operating astern propulsion."[b] Speed (velocity) in knots
[siˈɛrə]

T Local time. (The first 2

"Keep clear of me[b]; I am engaged in pair
Tango digits denote hours; the
trawling."
[ˈtaŋ.goʊ] last 2 denote minutes.)

U
Uniform "You are running into danger."
[ˈjuː.nɪ.fɔːm]

V
Speed in kilometres per
Victor "I require assistance."
hour.
[ˈvɪk.tə]

W
Whiskey "I require medical assistance."
[ˈwɪs.ki]
X
"Stop carrying out your intentions and watch
Xray
for my signals."
[ˈɛks.reɪ]

Y
Yankee "I am dragging my anchor."
[ˈjaŋ.ki]

"I require a tug."

Z Time (UTC). (The first 2
Zulu digits denote hours; the
By fishing vessels near fishing grounds: "I
[ˈzuː.luː] last 2 denote minutes.)
am shooting nets."[c]

Numerals

0
This and following used as numbers to
Nadazero
complement other signals.
[ˌna.daˈzɪə.roʊ]

1
Unaone
[ˌuː.nəˈwʌn]

2
Bissotwo
[ˌbɪs.oʊˈtuː]

3
NB the "th" is pronounced simply "t" for
Terrathree
clarity.
[ˌtɛr.əˈtri]

4
Kartefour
[ˌkɑː.təˈfɔː.wə]
5
Pantafive NB the "v" is pronounced "f" for clarity.
[ˌpan.təˈfaɪf]

6
Soxisix
[ˌsɔk.siˈsɪks]

7
Setteseven
[ˌsɛ.təˈsɛv.ən]

8
Oktoeight
[ˌɔk.toʊˈeɪt]

9
NB final schwa ("niner"), originally used to
Novenine
differentiate "nine" from "five" in previous
[ˌnoʊ.ve
English-only version.
ˈnaɪ.nə]

Various

Used to repeat the first flag of a hoist later

within the same hoist.
1st Substitute This and the other two substitutes allows any
four letter or number combination to be sent
using only one set of flags.

Used to repeat the second flag of a hoist later

2nd Substitute
within the same hoist.

Used to repeat the third flag of a hoist later

3rd Substitute
within the same hoist.
 At the dip (about half-way up the halyard):
Ready to receive message
Close up: Message has been received and
understood (the flag is then hauled back at
Code/Answer the dip to receive the next hoist)
Pennant Hauled down: Signals end of message.
With numerals: Decimal point
By a warship: When flown over a hoist,
indicates the message is to be read according
to the ICS.

Notes

1. ^ Jump up to:    N and C together (No and Yes) is used as

a b

a distress signal.
2. ^ Jump up to:                  Also signallable on a ship's whistle
a b c d e f g h i

using Morse code. See International Code of Signals.

3. ^ The Z flag was also famously hoisted by Adm. Heihachiro
Togo at the 1905 Battle of Tsushima as the Japanese fleet
prepared to engage the Russian fleet. In Japanese coding at
the time, the flag meant, "The Empire's fate depends on the
result of this battle, let every man do his utmost duty."

Examples of multiple-flag signals[edit]

Sample International Code of Signals messages

Flag
Code Meaning
Hoist

AC I am abandoning my vessel.

I am abandoning my vessel which has suffered a nuclear accident and is a possible

AD
source of radiation danger.
AN I need a doctor.

AN 1 I need a doctor; I have severe burns.

AN 2 I need a doctor; I have radiation casualties.

EL Repeat the distress position.

EL 1 What is the position of vessel in distress?

GM I cannot save my vessel.

GN You should take off persons.

GN 1 I wish some persons taken off. Skeleton crew will remain on board.

GN 2 I will take off persons.

GN 3 Can you take off persons?

IT I am on fire.
JA I require firefighting appliances.

JA 4 I require material for foam fire extinguishers.

MAA I request urgent medical advice.

MAB I request you to make rendezvous in position indicated.

MAC I request you to arrange hospital admission.

MAD I am . . . (indicate number) hours from the nearest port.

My vessel is a dangerous source of radiation; you may approach from my starboard

MS 1
side.

VG The coverage of low clouds is... (number of octants or eighths of sky covered).

US 4 Nothing can be done until weather moderates.

 NC I am in distress and require immediate assistance (Distress signal).

RY Keep clear and at slow speed.

AE I must abandon my vessel.

DX I am sinking.

See also[edit]

 Transport portal

 Flaghoist signalling
 List of international common standards
 Maritime flag signalling
 Naval flag signalling
 International maritime signal flags (Old version of
this article.)
 Spelling alphabet
 NATO phonetic alphabet
 Russian Navy Code of Signals
Notes[edit]
1. ^ ICS 1969, p. 2. Unless noted otherwise, all material is
sourced from this document.
2. ^ The Medical Signal Code is described in Chapter 3 of ICS
1969.
3. ^ Historical information from the Preface of ICS 1969.
4. ^ "The New Signal Code".  The Sydney Morning Herald. 13
February 1901. p.  8. Retrieved  1 June  2016  – via National
Library of Australia.
5. ^ "The International Code of Signals
(1916)".  earlyradiohistory.us.
6. ^ ICS 1931. Preface.
7. ^ Universal Electrical Communications Union (October 6,
1921). "Draft of Convention and Regulations, Washington,
D.C., December, 1920"  – via Google Books.
8. ^ "New Sea Language". The Mercury. Tasmania. 27
December 1933. p.  4. Retrieved  1 June  2016  – via National
Library of Australia.
9. ^ ICS 2005. See Foreword[permanent dead link].

Sources[edit]
 The International Code of Signals for the Use of All Nations , Board
of Trade [Great Britain], 1872
 The International Code of Signals for the Use of All Nations , U.S.
Navy Hydrographic Office, 1890
 The 1931 International Code of Signals, American Edition
(Reprinted 1937) Vol. I (H.O. 87), U.S. Navy Hydrographic Office,
1931
 International Code of Signals for Visual, Sound, and Radio
Communications, United States Edition, 1969 (Revised
2003)  (PDF), 1969
 International Code of Signals, 2005 ed. (IMO IA994E), IMO –
International Maritime Organization, 2005, ISBN 978-92-801-
4198-6
 Mead, H. P. (1934), "The History of the International Code",  U.S.
Naval Institute Proceedings,  60  (378): 1083–8

External links[edit]
Wikimedia Commons has
media related
to International Code of
Signals.

 Excerpt from Brown's Signalling (1916), showing

earlier versions of ICS flags.
  International Code of Signals for Visual, Sound, and
Radio Communications, United States Edition, 1969
(Revised 2003)
 International code of signals for the use of all
nations United States Hydrographic Office, 1882.
 Código internacional de señales, Edicion
2005 Spanish edition.
 Le code international des signaux French edition.
 Signalflaggor Swedish version, with three additional
flags (Åke, Ärlig, Östen) used in Swedish.
 Freeware program teaches & translates ICS Flags
 Maritime Signal Flags & Abbreviations
 Allships - Marine Self-testing for International Code
of Flag Signals.
show

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