Flags of the World

National Flags for sale

Historically, flags were used to impart information at sea.

Today, flags remain an important communication device and serve as a symbol of national identity. Under the Law of the Sea Convention 1982, every ship must have a nationality and fly a national flag of a state. A courtesy flag is flown by a visiting ship in foreign waters as a token of respect. 

It is often smaller than the ship's national flag, the biggest flag on board.