Dressing overall consists of stringing

international maritime signal flags International maritime signal flags are various flags used to communicate with ships. The principal system of flags and associated codes is the International Code of Signals. Various navies have flag systems with additional flags and codes, and ...

on a ship from stemhead to

masthead Masthead may refer to: * Nameplate (publishing), the banner name on the front page of a newspaper or periodical (UK "masthead") * Masthead (American publishing), details of the owners, publisher, departments, officers, contributors and address d ...

, from masthead to masthead (if the vessel has more than one mast) and then down to the taffrail. It is a sign of celebration, and is done for celebratory occasions, anniversaries and events, whether national, local or personal. Practice varies from country to country as to the order in which the signal flags are placed on the "dressing lines": in some places a specific order is laid down, in others there is no such provision; either way, the intention is to produce a random succession of flags (i.e. not conveying any words or other messages), with the numerical and other pennants spaced equally and regularly along the line. Custom and regulations require that national or other flags not be mixed in with the signal flags when dressing a ship overall. When a ship is properly dressed overall in harbor,

ensign An ensign is the national flag flown on a vessel to indicate nationality. The ensign is the largest flag, generally flown at the stern (rear) of the ship while in port. The naval ensign (also known as war ensign), used on warships, may be diff ...

s (in addition to the one flown in the usual position at the stern) should fly at each masthead, unless displaced by another flag, e.g., that of a

flag officer A flag officer is a commissioned officer in a nation's armed forces senior enough to be entitled to fly a flag to mark the position from which the officer exercises command. The term is used differently in different countries: *In many countr ...

. A ship underway does not array herself with signal flags, but the masthead ensign(s) would still signify that she is dressed while underway.'Flags and Signals' by Cdr R.L. Hewitt, Royal Yachting Association 1969, 1984

References

External links

Gettysburg Flag Works
has additional information, including a recommended ordering of flags. *{{commons category inline, Ship dressing Maritime culture Maritime flags Flag practices