International Code of Signals

The International Code of Signals (INTERCO) 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.

History
The International Code of Signals was preceded by a variety of How to say "Communicate with me!"
naval signals and private signals, most notably Marryat's Code, the in nine languages.
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.[1] 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.[2]

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
Commercial code flags until 1900
correspond to the more modern formats. [3]

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."[4] 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.[5] 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 1927 International Radiotelegraph Conference in Washington[6] 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.[7] 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 1947 International Radio Conference of the International Telecommunication
Union suggested in that the International Code of Signals should fall within the competence of the Inter-
Governmental Maritime Consultative Organization (IMCO), which became the IMO.[9] 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.[10] 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 2020) is available online through the National
Geospatial-Intelligence Agency (NGA, formerly the National Imagery and Mapping Agency) and can be
found here ([Link]

The International Code of Signals is currently maintained by the International Maritime Organization
(IMO), which published an edition in 2005.[11]

Standards
"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."[12] 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 benefit of using 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
solves the problems which may potentially
arise when the sender and the receiver(s) of
a message are fluent only in differing
languages; each language has a book with Standard chart of "International Flags and Pennants" of the
equivalent messages keyed to the same code. International Code of Signals (also known as "Pub. 102")
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 could yell, "Yuliet alfa vore", to a ship
which has come to offer aid, in order to communicate exactly what the distressed ship needs—in this
case, "material [foaming agent] for use in foam fire extinguishers". (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
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 most 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 A sailor on board a US Navy ship preparing a
avoid having to carry multiple sets of signal flags, the signal hoist
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

The Medical Signal Code[13] (incorporated in the International
A hoist of three flags
Code of Signals since 1930) is a means of providing assistance
when medical personnel are not present. Plain language is Flag
Code Meaning
hoist
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 I request urgent
MAA
recommended treatment. Even where there are no language medical advice.
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
The pennant at the bottom indicates
ships medicine chest carried by all merchant ships. The Medical a repeat of the second letter.
signals all begin with the letter "M" (Mike) followed by two more
letters, and sometimes with additional numerals or letters.
Single-flag signals

Letter, Meaning
spelling word, Flag
pronunciation As single flag With numeric complements

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

B "I am taking in or discharging or

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

C Course in degrees magnetic (Three

Charlie [a][b] digits denote degrees. Utilizes
"Affirmative." leading zeroes for values below
[ˈtʃɑː.li]
100.)
Date (The first 2 digits denote the
D day; the next 2 digits denote the
"Keep clear of me; I am maneuvering month; and 2 other digits to denote
Delta
[ˈdɛl.tə] with difficulty."[b] the last two digits of the year if
necessary. Utilizes leading zeroes
for single-digit values.)

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

F
Foxtrot "I am disabled; communicate with me."
[ˈfɔ[Link]ɔt]

G "I require a pilot." Longitude (The first 2 or 3 digits

Golf By fishing vessels near fishing grounds: denote degrees; the last 2 denote
[gɔlf] "I am hauling nets." minutes.)

H
Hotel "I have a pilot on board."[b]
[hoʊˈtɛl]

I
India "I am altering my course to port."[b]
[ˈɪn.dɪə]

J "I am on fire and have dangerous cargo

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

"I wish to communicate with you

by...":
K 1) Morse signaling by hand-flags or
Kilo "I wish to communicate with you." arms;
[ˈ[Link]ʊ] 2) Loud hailer (megaphone);
3) Morse signaling lamp;
4) Sound signals.

L
Lima Latitude (The first 2 digits denote
"You should stop your vessel instantly."
degrees; the last 2 denote minutes.)
[ˈli.mə]
M
"My vessel is stopped and making no
Mike
[maɪk] way through the water."[b]

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

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

Oscar the man overboard pole on boats).
[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
Papa to sea.
[ˈpa.pə] At sea: It may be used by fishing
vessels to mean: "My nets have come
fast upon an obstruction."

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

No ICS meaning as single flag.

R Prior to 1969: "The way is off my
Romeo ship; you may feel your way past Distance (range) in nautical miles.
[ˈroʊ.mjoʊ]
me."

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

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

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

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

W
Whiskey "I require medical assistance."
[ˈwɪ[Link]]

X
Xray "Stop carrying out your intentions and
watch for my signals."
[ˈɛ[Link]ɪ]

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

Z "I require a tug."

Zulu By fishing vessels near fishing grounds: (UTC). The first 2 digits denote
hours; the last 2 denote minutes.
[ˈzuː.luː] "I am shooting nets."[c]
 Numerals
0
Nadazero This and following used as numbers to
complement other signals.
[ˌ[Link]ˈzɪə.roʊ]

1
Unaone
[ˌuː.nəˈwʌn]

2
Bissotwo
[ˌbɪs.oʊˈtuː]

3 [d]
Terrathree
[ˌtɛr.əˈtri]

4
Kartefour
[ˌkɑː.təˈfɔː.wə]

5 [e]
Pantafive
[ˌpan.təˈfaɪf]

6
Soxisix
[ˌsɔ[Link]ˈsɪks]

7
Setteseven
[ˌsɛ.təˈsɛv.ən]

8
Oktoeight
[ˌɔ[Link]ʊˈeɪt]

9 [f]
Novenine
[ˌnoʊ.veˈnaɪ.nə]

Various

Used to repeat the first flag of a hoist

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

2nd Used to repeat the second flag of a

Substitute hoist later within the same hoist.

Used to repeat the third flag of a hoist

3rd Substitute
later within the same hoist.

Code/Answer At the dip (about half-way up the

Pennant halyard): Ready to receive message
Close up: Message has been received
and understood (the flag is then hauled
back at the dip to receive the next
hoist)
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. N and C together (No and Yes) is used as a distress signal.

2. Also signallable on a ship's whistle 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."
4. The "th" is pronounced simply "t" for clarity.
5. The "v" is pronounced "f" for clarity.
6. Final schwa ("niner"), originally used to differentiate "nine" from "five" in previous English-
only version.
Examples of multiple-flag signals
Sample International Code of Signals messages

Flag Code Meaning Note

AC I am abandoning my vessel.

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

AD
is a possible 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 the people.

GN 3 Can you take off people?

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. Number after.

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

MS 1
my starboard side.
 The coverage of low clouds is... (number of octants or eighths of sky Look up and add
VG
covered). number.

US 4 Nothing can be done until weather moderates.

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

RY Keep clear at slow speed.

AE I must abandon my vessel.

DX I am sinking.

See also

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
1. Historical information from the Preface of ICS 1969.
2. "The New Signal Code" ([Link] The Sydney Morning
Herald. 13 February 1901. p. 8. Retrieved 1 June 2016 – via National Library of Australia.
3. "The International Code of Signals (1916)" ([Link]
[Link].
4. ICS 1931. Preface.
5. Universal Electrical Communications Union (October 6, 1921). "Draft of Convention and
Regulations, Washington, D.C., December, 1920" ([Link]
NAAAAYAAJ) – via Google Books.
6. "International Radiotelegraph Conference (Washington, 1927)" ([Link]
020.1000/4.39). International Telecommunication Union. Retrieved 26 June 2021.
7. "International Radiotelegraph Conference (Madrid, 1932)" ([Link]
1000/4.41). International Telecommunication Union. Retrieved 26 June 2021.
8. "New Sea Language" ([Link] The Mercury. Tasmania.
27 December 1933. p. 4. Retrieved 1 June 2016 – via National Library of Australia.
9. "International Radio Conference (Atlantic City, 1947)" ([Link]
0/4.62). International Telecommunication Union. Retrieved 26 June 2021. -
Recommendation on International Code of Signals, page 10-E (page 357 of 476 of scanned
archive)
10. "Administrative Radio Conference (Geneva, 1959)" ([Link]
85). International Telecommunication Union. Retrieved 26 June 2021.
11. ICS 2005. See Foreword ([Link]
[Link]).
12. ICS 1969, p. 2. Unless noted otherwise, all material is sourced from this document.
13. The Medical Signal Code is described in Chapter 3 of ICS 1969.

Sources
The International Code of Signals for the Use of All Nations ([Link]
s?id=oGFHAAAAYAAJ), Board of Trade [Great Britain], 1872
The International Code of Signals for the Use of All Nations ([Link]
s?id=zfssAAAAYAAJ), 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) ([Link] (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
Excerpt from Brown's Signalling (1916) ([Link] showing
earlier versions of ICS flags.
International Code of Signals for Visual, Sound, and Radio Communications, United States
Edition, 1969 (Revised 2003) ([Link]
International code of signals for the use of all nations ([Link]
wsAAAAYAAJ) United States Hydrographic Office, 1882.
Código internacional de señales, Edicion 2005 ([Link]
7bOcC&q=codigo+internacional+señales+maritimas) Spanish edition.
Le code international des signaux ([Link]
_1.001_28112006.pdf) Archived ([Link]
[Link]/fr_page/fr_prod_ouvrage/og_num/32_1.001_28112006.pdf) 2011-06-12 at the
Wayback Machine French edition.
Signalflaggor ([Link] Swedish version,
with three additional flags (Åke, Ärlig, Östen) used in Swedish.
Freeware program teaches & translates ICS Flags ([Link]
Maritime Signal Flags & Abbreviations ([Link]
ags-and-maritime-abbreviations/) Archived ([Link]
tp://[Link]/wiki/maritime-signal-flags-and-maritime-abbreviations/) 2021-
04-18 at the Wayback Machine
Allships - Marine Self-testing for International Code of Flag Signals. ([Link]
[Link])

Retrieved from "[Link]