Last modified: 2006-09-30 by phil nelson
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Please note, however, there are only two countries who prescribe a distinctive jack for general use by civilian vessels the UK (see pilot jack) and the Bahamas as illustrated below. Sweden, for example, specifies regional flags, whilst the flags of home ports are sometimes officially used and the regulations of some shipping lines call for a house or other flag with this, upon occasion, being expressly permitted under national legislation.
Government Jack of the UK (fotw)
Please note that in UK usage all the defaced blue ensigns used by Government service vessels are legally entitled to fly a blue jack with an appropriate badge in the fly, however, (as far as can be discovered) only the Royal Fleet Auxiliary as illustrated above and the Royal Maritime Auxiliary actually do so at present.
Please note also that in Germany and Austria, Government (as well as civilian) vessels often fly the flag of the relevant state/province.
Please note that this term appears to have been a 19th Century invention, and that there is no firm evidence of it being used during flags lifetime (1606 1801).
From left: Flag as described above (fotw) Flag of Blackbeard 17th C (fotw)
Please note, that vessels of the US navy often fly a Jolly Roger at the yardarm during line-crossing ceremonies (as the signal that King Neptune is aboard), and note also that no pirates are known to have actually flown this design (see also yardarm).