Dressing overall consists of stringing international maritime signal flags on a ship from stemhead to masthead, 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.
The order in which the signal flags are placed on the "dressing lines" varies from country to country: in some places a specific order is laid down,[1] 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, ensigns (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 ship underway does not array herself with signal flags, but the masthead ensign(s) would still signify that she is dressed while underway.[2]
References
- ^ For the U.S. Navy the order of the flags, and the details of how and when the flags are displayed, is prescribed in Naval Computer and Telecommunications Command (August 1986), NTP 13 (B): Flags, Pennants, & Customs (PDF).
- ^ Flags and Signals by Cdr R. L. Hewitt, Royal Yachting Association 1969, 1984
External links
Media related to Ship dressing at Wikimedia Commons- Gettysburg Flag Works has additional information, including a recommended ordering of flags.
