Page 51 - MustangEbook

Colours is a general term describing flags
which are flown to denote the nationality of a
ship. Examples of colours used in the RSN are
Jack and Ensigns, the State Flag and
Regimental colours respectively.

JACK Ensign

The RSN Ensign is white and the red canton
is from the national flag. The lower fly is
charged with a stylised 8-pointed cardinal
device (termed “Mariner’s Compass”), which
helps the sailors to navigate at sea.

There are two types of ensigns, the Harbour
and Sea Ensign. Both are identical except that
the Harbour Ensign is bigger than the Sea

Jack – State Flag of Republic of Singapore Ensign.
The Harbour Ensign will be flown from an
This is the name of the State Flag of the ensign staff located at the aft end of a ship’s
Republic of Singapore. It is flown at the flight deck, when in harbour, at anchor or
forward part of the RSN ships when they are when moored from 0800H to sunset.
at anchor or alongside in harbour.
The Sea Ensign will be flown throughout the
The Jack is to be worn from 0800H to sunset sailing when the ship is underway. The Sea
daily in harbour, at anchor or moored. Ensign will be flown at the guff when the ship
has exceeded the port limits. When the ship is
The Jack is to be flown continuously day and at yard, only the Sea Ensign is to be flown at
night by any of the RSN ships which are the gaff from 0800H to sunset.
underway and flying the President Flag or
escorting a vessel flying the President Flag. For small craft, the Sea Ensign will be flown
in accordance to the Standing Instruction by
Ships in yard are not to fly the Jack. the Commander. When underway, all RSN
small craft are to fly the Sea Ensign
ENSIGN throughout the sailing.

The practice of hoisting and lowering the
Singapore national flag and Harbour Ensign is
conducted in ceremonies known as morning
“Colours” or evening “Sunset”. These
ceremonies are conducted in commissioned
shore establishments, in ships alongside in