Nauticalia Courtesy Flag-Italy, 30x45cm

• Flag
• Courtesy Flag
• Maritime Flags
• Nauticalia

A courtesy flag (or courtesy ensign) is flown by a ship in foreign waters as a token of respect by a vessel that is visiting. It is often a small (i.e. smaller than the ship's own national ensign) national maritime flag of the host country, although there are countries (such as Malta) where the national, rather than the maritime flag is correct. The flag is customarily worn at the fore-masthead of multi-masted vessels, the starboard yardarm or crosstree of the mast of single-masted vessels, and from the bow staff of vessels without masts. They have a cord loop at the top and a tail at the bottom. Each one measures 12 x 18".