Is Flying Your Ensign a Requirement ?

[goboatingnow]

Originally Posted by ty.gregory

You don't understand why people from the USA would be a little hesitent to display the Stars and Stripes? The fact that our beautiful and prideful flag draws attention and most of the world hates us doesn't offer enough reason? The fact that it seems to ensinuate that the vessel is occupied by rich and spoiled Infidels doesn't register with you? I myself want to show courtesy, and well meaning, and be left alone after that as far as politics go, which means I DO see a few reasons not to go out of my way to establish myself other than as a sailor in a foreign country that has "Come in Peace" and with good intent.

Talk about paranoia !!!

Dave

[Unicorn Dreams]

Probably scared to go to Costco also, which is probably more dangerous.

[S/V Alchemy]

Originally Posted by Caribsailors

Thank you all for your quick replies.!! Being the good mariner, I believe I am and still being a guest, on a work permit. I feel it is prudent to fly a courtesy of the country I am transiting, be it days or years. I am still a foreign flagged vessel. I was just wanting to get some thoughts

Cheers

A foreign-flagged vessel is exactly that. The work status of her owner and skipper doesn't really affect that, so the usual customs and courtesies apply. I have dual British/Canadian citizenship, and yet I would no more think of flying the Red Duster off my stern on my Canadian-registered vessel than I would fly it under the starboard spreader...the Union flag is the courtesy flag for the UK, anyway!

One thing I have heard is that the smaller the country, the more they expect the "courtesy flag" will be shown. Frankly, if a U.S. boat doesn't fly a Canadian flag when visiting our boat club, I barely notice (although most seem to). If I was a tiny Caribbean country, maybe I would want to see that courtesy, particularly from a big, rich place.

[S/V Alchemy]

Originally Posted by Unicorn Dreams

Probably scared to go to Costco also, which is probably more dangerous.

Getting your toes flattened by a 400 pounder in an electric cart rushing to get at the bulk Cheesies is indeed a perilous prospect.

[Bash]

Originally Posted by S/V Alchemy

One thing I have heard is that the smaller the country, the more they expect the "courtesy flag" will be shown. Frankly, if a U.S. boat doesn't fly a Canadian flag when visiting our boat club, I barely notice (although most seem to). If I was a tiny Caribbean country, maybe I would want to see that courtesy, particularly from a big, rich place.

I know of a situation in Mexico where a port captain refused to process a cruiser's papers until that cruiser replaced his weather-beaten courtesy flag with a new one.

[Matt sachs]

Flag and Etiquette Committee I need to learn a little more about flags, is this a good place to start?

[Jesse]

Originally Posted by Matt sachs

Flag and Etiquette Committee I need to learn a little more about flags, is this a good place to start?

Exellent choice, there is a wealth of usable knowledge on that site

[goboatingnow]

.....the Union flag is the courtesy flag for the UK, anyway..

No it isn't. The courtesy flag of the UK is the Red defaced maritime ensign.

Very few vessels have the privilege of flying the Union flag.

Dave

[S/V Alchemy]

Originally Posted by Bash

I know of a situation in Mexico where a port captain refused to process a cruiser's papers until that cruiser replaced his weather-beaten courtesy flag with a new one.

I have heard similar tales and seen pictures of crew busily sewing up the more obscure national flags on Sailrites from scrap fabric. The effort is apparently appreciated. Hint: Carry bolts of blue and red and a load of little Union Jacks...half the Pacific has flags like this with complex little crests you might have to fudge...

[S/V Alchemy]

Originally Posted by goboatingnow

No it isn't. The courtesy flag of the UK is the Red defaced maritime ensign.

Very few vessels have the privilege of flying the Union flag.

Dave

Well, these are called "non defaced":


...so what badge or crest would constitute a "defaced" ensign, such as the Jersey flag



and how would a non-British person know this in the context of a courtesy flag?

I am aware that the Union flag's use at stern or bow is restricted, but I assume that on the starboard flag, it was considered a national flag.

[wolfenzee]

Originally Posted by Caribsailors

Ok Not meaning to take this topic sideways........But

In my years of cruise working through the Caribbean on work permits in different countries. I have been required to pay import duty on my vessel/home because I am no longer considered a transient vessel. No worries that's the price you have to pay......but my question.....Now that my vessel is a documented resident, by payment of import duty....am I still required to fly a courtesy flag? Oh and can those duty payments add to the value of the vessel? Two questions really.....thoughts?

If you are paying import duty that would indicate your vessel's country of registration is changed, you would move your courtesy flag to the transom. Example: In Canada if the boat is in Canadian waters for a year then you have to flag it Canadian, regardless of your status.

[barnakiel]

I am not quite sure what the OP thinks. In any case, we hoist our ensign as soon we enter territorial waters.

b.

[Jim Cate]

Originally Posted by wolfenzee

If you are paying import duty that would indicate your vessel's country of registration is changed, you would move your courtesy flag to the transom. Example: In Canada if the boat is in Canadian waters for a year then you have to flag it Canadian, regardless of your status.

Not so, Wolf. When we imported Insatiable I to Australia, she most definitely remained US registered. In fact, one may NOT register a vessel in Oz (and most other countries) unless you are a citizen of that country.

Don't know anything about Canada, but I rather doubt your statement. It is contrary to all other nations that we have visited.

Cheers,

Jim

[goboatingnow]

Originally Posted by S/V Alchemy

Well, these are called "non defaced":

...so what badge or crest would constitute a "defaced" ensign, such as the Jersey flag

and how would a non-British person know this in the context of a courtesy flag?

I am aware that the Union flag's use at stern or bow is restricted, but I assume that on the starboard flag, it was considered a national flag.

Correct I meant to do the non defaced.

The fact is that where a country has a specific maritime ensign ( for commercial and leisure) that's what used as a courtesy flag ( though there are exceptions)

Dave

[wolfenzee]

Originally Posted by Jim Cate

Not so, Wolf. When we imported Insatiable I to Australia, she most definitely remained US registered. In fact, one may NOT register a vessel in Oz (and most other countries) unless you are a citizen of that country.

Don't know anything about Canada, but I rather doubt your statement. It is contrary to all other nations that we have visited.


Cheers,

Jim

Thanks, maritime laws, customs laws, import laws all combine (and then different for different countries of some stuff can be quite confusing.
The easiest thing to do that will also cause the fewest problems is to fly the flag the vessel is registered also being the country to which the owner is citizen of.