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First Dog Watch: 1600hrs–1800hrs

The two watches are split into two-hour
stretches — and there are good reasons for
that. Splitting the watch creates an odd
number of watches on board the ship. This
allows crewmembers to stand watch at
different times every day. Besides, this allows
those in the First and Last Dog Watches to
have their dinners. The crew keeping fit out at sea during the First Dog
Watch
Meanwhile, the First Dog Watch, from
1600hrs to 1800hrs, is when the rest of the
crew engages in physical training, from NAUTICAL FLAGS
visiting the well-equipped gym to hitting the Nautical flags are an international code
flight deck for a spot of running. system used for two ships to signal to each

other or for a ship to signal to shore. They are
Last Dog Watch: 1800hrs–2000hrs
also called signaling nautical flags. Using a
The Last Dog Watch is when dinner is served group of different colored flags, shaped flags
— although that is not the last meal. After and markings each one has a different
dinner, the naval chefs will prepare night meaning.
snacks for the crew, which may include
everything from brownies and cheesecakes to It was in 1857 that the International Code of
mee sua. To prepare for the nightly inspection Signals was officially published by the British
Board of Trade. The purpose of the code was
conducted by the XO and Coxswain during
the First Watch, the crew will be busy getting to establish a set of rules for maritime
communication
that
would
everyone
everything into ship shape.
understand. Originally the code included 18
Up on the bridge, the watchkeepers turn off signal flags that could be combined to signal
the lights and dim the brightness of the about 17,000 various messages.
screens as much as possible. This is to prevent
the watchkeepers from getting night Since then a few more flags have been added
blindness, so that they can better see the to accommodate French, Spanish, Russian
waters outside. Throughout the ship, lights are and Greek languages. Today, this flag system
also dimmed or switched to red light, which is of communication also is used to dress ships
called light discipline, observed on a nightly to more festive occasions and certain
basis for tactical purposes. ceremonies.

Nautical flags are made up of 26 square flags

(which represent the letters of the alphabet)
along with 10 numbered pendants; one
answering pendant and three substitutes or
repeaters. At sea, only a few flag colors are
easily recognized, these are: red, blue, yellow,
black, and white and they cannot be mixed
indiscriminately. For easy recognition