The captain of the port is an official who has different functions in the United Kingdom , the United States , and other countries.
60-459: To some extent the role of captain of the port is analogous to that of a harbourmaster . In the Royal Navy , the captain of the port was the officer, usually with the rank of captain , responsible for the day-to-day running of a Naval Dockyard under the authority of the admiral-superintendent . He usually also held the position of Queen's or King's harbourmaster and was directly responsible for
120-450: A common flag were drawn up following the union of the two Crowns in 1603, but were rarely, if ever, used. One version showed St George's cross with St Andrew's cross in the canton, and another version placed the two crosses side by side. A painted wooden ceiling boss from Linlithgow Palace , dated to about 1617, depicts the Scottish royal unicorn holding a flag where a blue Saltire surmounts
180-581: A deliberate insult. In the case of the Union Flag, the difference is subtle and is easily missed by the uninformed. It is often displayed upside down inadvertently—even on commercially-made hand waving flags. On 3 February 2009, the BBC reported that the flag had been inadvertently flown upside-down by the UK government at the signing of a trade agreement with Chinese premier Wen Jiabao . The error had been spotted by readers of
240-489: A generic form for a man in general. The two were combined in the Middle Dutch Janke , whence Middle French Jakke and Middle English Jack . Jack came to be used to identify all manner of particularly small objects or small versions of larger ones. The OED has definition 21 "Something insignificant, or smaller than the normal size" and gives examples from 1530 to 2014 of this usage. Further examples in
300-594: A government minister stated, in response to a parliamentary question, that "the Union Jack should be regarded as the National flag". Notwithstanding Their Lordships' circular of 1902, by 1913 the Admiralty described the "Union Flag" and added in a footnote that 'A Jack is a Flag to be flown only on the "Jack" Staff'. However, the authoritative A Complete Guide to Heraldry published in 1909 by Arthur Charles Fox-Davies uses
360-809: A harbormaster, as harbormasters in the United States (as elsewhere) are usually local government officials responsible for safety and security in a harbor. The directives of harbormasters are subject to the oversight of the Coast Guard. Union Flag The Union Jack or Union Flag is the de facto national flag of the United Kingdom . The Union Jack was also used as the official flag of several British colonies and dominions before they adopted their own national flags. The flag continues to have official status in Canada, by parliamentary resolution, where it
420-528: A harbourmaster may investigate include criminal acts, immigration, customs and excise, maritime and river safety and environmental and pollution issues. The police, customs, coastguard or immigration authorities will take over the handling of any offenders or incident once informed by the harbourmaster. Worldwide there are approximately 3,000 merchant ports and the work of the Harbour Master can vary widely from country to country and from port to port even within
480-467: A ratio of 1:2. In the United Kingdom, land flags are normally a ratio of 3:5; the Union Jack can also be made in this shape, but is 1:2 for most purposes. In 2008, MP Andrew Rosindell proposed a Ten Minute Rule bill to standardise the design of the flag at 3:5, but the bill did not proceed past the first reading. The three-component crosses that make up the Union Jack are sized as follows: The crosses and fimbriations retain their thickness relative to
540-534: A ratio of 3:5 as the suitable proportion for a Union Flag flown on land. The King's Harbour Master's flag, like the Pilot Jack, is a 1:2 flag that contains a white-bordered Union Flag that is longer than 1:2. The jacks of ships flying variants of the Blue Ensign are square and have a square Union Flag in the canton. The King's Colours of Army regiments are 36 by 43 inches (910 mm × 1,090 mm); on them,
600-527: A small jack became known as the "Union Jack" and this later term transferred to more general usage of the Union Flag. Also later a short flagpole was placed in the bows of a ship to fly the jack, this became known as the jackstaff . According to the Flag Institute , a membership-run vexillological charity, "the national flag of the United Kingdom, the Crown Dependencies and Overseas Territories
660-475: Is employed by a public or private port. In the United Kingdom and Canada, a person that is appointed to superintend a dockyard port and ensures the port is secure for civilian and military shipping is known as a King's Harbour Master (or Queen's Harbour Master during the reign of a queen). In Canada, the position is also called a capitaine de port de Sa Majesté in French ( lit. ' His Majesty's Captain of
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#1732894854927720-462: Is known as the Royal Union Flag . However, it is commonly referred to in Canada as the Union Jack. It is sometimes asserted that the term Union Jack properly refers only to naval usage, but this assertion was dismissed by the Flag Institute in 2013 after historical investigations. The origins of the earlier flag of Great Britain date from 1606. King James VI of Scotland had inherited
780-494: Is the Union Flag, which may also be called the Union Jack." The institute has also stated: it is often stated that the Union Flag should only be described as the Union Jack when flown in the bows of a warship, but this is a relatively recent idea. From early in its life the Admiralty itself frequently referred to the flag as the Union Jack, whatever its use, and in 1902 an Admiralty circular announced that Their Lordships had decided that either name could be used officially. In 1908,
840-470: The Almanac , neither the Union Flag nor the Union Jack are included pictorially or mentioned by name. For comparison with another anglophone country with a large navy, jack of the United States specifically refers to the flag flown from the jackstaff of a warship, auxiliary or other U.S. governmental entity. The Butcher's Apron is a pejorative term for the flag, common among Irish republicans , citing
900-403: The flag of Scotland , a white saltire (X-shaped cross, or St Andrew's Cross) on a blue background, would be joined, forming the flag of England and Scotland for maritime purposes. The present design of the flag dates from a royal proclamation following the union of Great Britain and Ireland in 1801. The flag combines aspects of three older national flags: the red cross of St George for
960-464: The proclamation of King James I in 1606, it became known simply as the "British flag" or the "flag of Britain". The royal proclamation gave no distinctive name to the new flag. At the funeral of King James in 1625 the flag was called the "Banner of the Union of the two Crosses of England and Scotland". The word jack was in use before 1600 to describe the maritime bow flag . By 1627 a small Union Jack
1020-607: The BBC News website who had contacted the BBC after seeing a photograph of the event. In 1603, James VI of Scotland inherited the Kingdom of England (and the newly created client state , the Kingdom of Ireland ) as James I, thereby uniting the crowns in a personal union . With Wales annexed into the Kingdom of England under the Laws in Wales Acts 1535 and 1542 , James now ruled over all of
1080-477: The English and Irish thrones in 1603 as James I, thereby uniting the crowns of England , Scotland , and Ireland in a personal union , although the three kingdoms remained separate states. On 12 April 1606, a new flag to represent this regal union between England and Scotland was specified in a royal decree, according to which the flag of England , a red cross on a white background, known as St George's Cross , and
1140-457: The English crown passed to the next available heir, her cousin James VI, King of Scotland . England and Scotland now shared the same monarch under what was known as a union of the crowns." Each kingdom had its own national flag for ships, but in 1606 James VI and I introduced a combined national flag. The UK Parliament website states "The result was the Union Jack, Jack being a shortening of Jacobus,
1200-558: The King: Whereas, some differences hath arisen between Our subjects of South and North Britaine travelling by Seas, about the bearing of their Flagges: For the avoiding of all contentions hereafter. We have, with the advice of our Council, ordered: That from henceforth all our Subjects of this Isle and Kingdome of Great Britaine, and all our members thereof, shall beare in their main-toppe the Red Crosse, commonly called St George's Crosse, and
1260-565: The Kingdom of England, the white saltire of St Andrew for the Kingdom of Scotland and the red saltire of St Patrick to represent Ireland . Although the Republic of Ireland is no longer part of the United Kingdom, Northern Ireland is. There are no symbols representing Wales in the flag, making Wales the only home nation with no direct representation, as at the time of the Laws in Wales Acts 1535 and 1542 (creating legal union with England)
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#17328948549271320-659: The Latin version of James". The etymology of jack in the context of flagstaffs reaches back to Middle German. The suffix -kin was used in Middle Dutch and Middle German as a diminutive . Examples occur in both Chaucer and Langland though the form is unknown in Old English. John is a common male forename (going back to the Bible), appearing in Dutch as Jan . Both languages use it as
1380-448: The Port ' ). Although legislation does not require it, most KHMs are officers from the naval service. King's Harbour Masters are entitled to fly their own flag. The flag flown by British KHMs is a white-bordered Union Flag with a white central disc bearing the initials "KHM" beneath a crown. Canadian KHMs fly a similar flag, a white-bordered flag of Canada with a white central disc bearing
1440-618: The Port Authorities" (PDF) . Proceedings . 75 (2). Marine Safety & Security Council. Fall 2018. Harbourmaster A harbourmaster (or harbormaster , see spelling differences ) is an official responsible for enforcing the regulations of a particular harbour or port , in order to ensure the safety of navigation, the security of the harbour and the correct operation of the port facilities. Harbourmasters are normally responsible for issuing local safety information sometimes known as notice to mariners . They may also oversee
1500-447: The Union Jack" nor any pendants or colours used by the King's ships. Reinforcing the distinction the King's proclamation of the same day concerning the arms and flag of the United Kingdom (not colours at sea) called the new flag "the Union Flag". The size and power of the Royal Navy internationally at the time could also explain why the flag was named the "Union Jack"; considering the navy
1560-478: The Union Jack, ..." and later: "8. The Jack – A small flag worn on a jackstaff on the stem of Naval Vessels. The Royal Navy wears the Union Flag ... This is the only occasion when it correct to describe the flag as the Union Jack". However, this assertion does not appear in any Reed's Nautical Almanac since 1993. In the 2016 Reed's Nautical Almanac , the only entry where this might appear, section 5.21, covering Flag Etiquette, does not include this statement. Within
1620-494: The Union Jack. Many of these flags are blue or red ensigns with the Union Jack in the canton and defaced with the distinguishing arms of the territory. The governors of British Overseas Territories and the Australian states, as well as the lieutenant governor of Nova Scotia also have personal standards that incorporate the Union Jack in their design. The terms Union Jack and Union Flag are both used historically for describing
1680-405: The United Kingdom on 1 January 1801, reads: the Union flag shall be azure, the crosses-saltires of St. Andrew and St. Patrick quartered per saltire counter changed argent and gules; the latter fimbriated of the second [viz., argent]; surmounted by the cross of St. George of the third [viz., gules], fimbriated as the saltire [viz., argent]. The Union Jack is normally twice as long as it is tall,
1740-636: The White Crosse, commonly called St Andrew's Crosse, joyned together according to the forme made by our heralds, and sent by Us to our Admerall to be published to our Subjects: and in their fore-toppe our Subjects of South Britaine shall weare the Red Crosse onely as they were wont, and our Subjects of North Britaine in their fore-toppe the White Crosse onely as they were accustomed. This royal flag was, at first, to be used only at sea on civil and military ships of both England and Scotland, whereas land forces continued to use their respective national banners. Flying
1800-637: The Wolfe Tones has a song entitled "The Butcher's Apron" which makes reference to the term. In the Chinese language , the flag has the nickname Rice-Character Flag ( 米字旗 ; Mandarin Pinyin : mǐzìqí , Cantonese Jyutping : mai5zi6kei4 ), since the pattern looks like the Chinese character for "rice" ( 米 ). The current flag's design has been in use since 1801. Its original blazon , as decreed by George III of
1860-666: The arms and flag of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland: And that the Union Flag shall be Azure, the Crosses Saltires of St. Andrew and St. Patrick Quarterly per Saltire, counterchanged Argent and Gules; the latter fimbriated of the Second, surmounted by the Cross of St. George of the Third, fimbriated as the Saltire ;: ... When the first flag representing Britain was introduced on
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1920-620: The bars of the cross and saltire are of equal width; so are their respective fimbriations, which are very narrow. In South Africa, the Union Jacks flown alongside the National Flag between 1928 and 1957 were 2:3 flags. Although the official design of the flag at the College of Arms does not specify colours beyond azure , argent and gules (blue, white and red, respectively), according to Graham Bartram (chief vexillologist of Flag Institute )
1980-682: The basis of durability.) In 2003 a committee of the Scottish Parliament recommended that the flag of Scotland use a lighter " royal " blue (Pantone 300) (the Office of the Lord Lyon does not detail specific shades of colour for use in heraldry). A thin white stripe, or fimbriation , separates the red cross from the blue field, in accordance with heraldry's rule of tincture where colours (like red and blue) must be separated from each other by metals (like white, i.e. argent or silver). The blazon for
2040-534: The blood-streaked appearance of the flag and referring to atrocities committed in Ireland and other countries under British colonial rule. In 2006, Sandra White , a Member of the Scottish Parliament , caused a furore when the term was used in a press release under her name. It was later blamed on the actions of a researcher, who resigned yet claimed that the comment had been approved by White. The Irish folk band
2100-421: The blue field used on land-based versions more closely resembled that of the blue of the flag of Scotland. Various shades of blue have been used in the saltire over the years. The ground of the current Union Flag is a deep " navy " blue ( Pantone 280), which can be traced to the colour used for the Blue Ensign of the Royal Navy 's historic "Blue Squadron". (Dark shades of colour were used on maritime flags on
2160-561: The captain of the port is usually the United States Coast Guard sector commander . Captain of the port duties involve enforcing within their respective areas port safety and security and marine environmental protection regulations, including regulations for the protection and security of vessels, harbors, and waterfront facilities; anchorages; security zones; safety zones; regulated navigation areas; deepwater ports; water pollution; and ports and waterways safety. "Captain of
2220-476: The captain's department, which among other things operated the yard craft . From the 1650s until the mid-nineteenth century the position was known as master attendant , and ranked immediately below that of Navy Commissioner. Occupants of the office were required to be "skilful in all affairs requisite in the looking after, equipping and setting out of State ships", for which they initially received an annual wage of between £90 and £100 plus accommodation. The office
2280-504: The colours blue, red, and white are: All HEX , CMYK and RGB specifications for the Pantone colours are taken from the official Pantone website on the webpages of the corresponding colours. Although these colour specifications are official, not all of the colours are completely congruent. This is due to different specifications for different types of media (for example, screen and print). The flag does not have reflection symmetry due to
2340-462: The compounds section at 2b illustrate this. The original maritime flag use of jack was "A ship's flag of a smaller size than the ensign, used at sea as a signal, or as an identifying device". The jack was flown in the bows or from the head of the spritsail mast to indicate the vessel's nationality: "You are alsoe for this present service to keepe in yo Jack at yo Boultspritt end and yo Pendant and yo Ordinance" The Union Flag when instantiated as
2400-474: The concept of national flags was in its infancy. The Welsh Dragon was, however, adopted as a supporter in the royal coat of arms of England used by the Tudor dynasty from 1485. The flags of British Overseas Territories , as well as certain sovereign states and regions that were previously British possessions , incorporate the Union Jack into their own flag designs or have official flags that are derived from
2460-553: The end of this letter was deliberately facetious, teasing her for going down-market, and in the accompanying letter he wrote, "Your title 'The Anglo Saxon' with its motto 'Blood is thicker than water' only needs the Union Jack & the Star Spangled Banner crossed on the cover to be suited to one of Harmsworth 's cheap Imperialist productions." More recently, Reed's Nautical Almanac (1990 edition) unambiguously stated: "The Union Flag, frequently but incorrectly referred to as
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2520-480: The flag was in a parallel proclamation on 1 January 1801, concerning civil naval ensigns, which drawing shows the red ensign (also to be used as a red jack by privateers ). As it appears in the London Gazette , the broad stripe is where expected for three of the four quarters, but the upper left quarter shows the broad stripe below. It is often stated that a flag upside down is a form of distress signal or even
2580-412: The flag's height whether they are shown with a ratio of 3:5 or 1:2. Height here is the distance from top to bottom which in vexillology is termed width or breadth . The Admiralty in 1864 settled all official flags at proportions of 1:2, but the relative widths of the crosses remained unspecified, with the above conventions becoming standardised in the 20th century. In the 19th century, the Union flag
2640-429: The hoist is on the observer's left. To fly the flag correctly, the white of St Andrew is above the red of St Patrick in the upper hoist canton (the quarter at the top nearest to the flag-pole). This is expressed by the phrases wide white top and broadside up . An upside-down flag must be turned over to be flown correctly; rotating it 180 degrees will still result in an upside-down flag. The first drawn pattern for
2700-586: The initials "K.H.M." above the crown and "C.P.S.M. below it. In the United States , the Captain of the Port , a United States Coast Guard officer, is responsible for these duties in a pre-defined Captain of the Port zone which usually includes multiple ports and waterways leading to those ports, usually in federal waters. A US Captain of the Port, unlike the Canadian capitaine de port , is not normally considered to be
2760-568: The island of Great Britain , which he frequently described as a unified kingdom (though the parliaments of the Kingdom of England and the Kingdom of Scotland did not actually unify until the Kingdom of Great Britain was formed in 1707). In the wake of the 1603 personal union, several designs for a new flag were drawn up, juxtaposing the Saint George's Cross and the St Andrew's Saltire , but none were acceptable to James: Various other designs for
2820-476: The jack flag, after three centuries, it is now sanctioned by use and has appeared in official use, confirmed as the national flag by Parliament and remains the popular term. Winston Churchill , British Prime Minister from 1940 to 1945, referred to the flag of the United Kingdom as the Union Jack. In March 1899, Churchill wrote to his mother from India about her plans to produce a new trans-Atlantic magazine, to be called The Anglo-Saxon Review . The drawing at
2880-525: The maintenance and provision of navigational aids within the port, co-ordinate responses to emergencies, inspect vessels and oversee pilotage services. The harbourmaster may have legal power to detain, caution or even arrest persons committing an offence within the port or tidal range of the port's responsibilities. An example of this is the team of harbourmasters employed by the Port of London Authority who are empowered to undertake an enforcement role. Actions that
2940-608: The national flag at the mainmast had signified the Admiral of the Narrow Seas (the English Channel ) and confusion arose. In 1634, King Charles I restricted its use to Royal Navy ships. After the Acts of Union 1707 , the flag gained a regularised status as "the ensign armorial of the Kingdom of Great Britain ", the newly created state. It was then adopted by land forces as well, although
3000-528: The national flag of the United Kingdom. According to the website of the Parliament of the United Kingdom : "Until the early 17th century England and Scotland were two entirely independent kingdoms (Wales had been annexed into the Kingdom of England under the Laws in Wales Acts 1535 and 1542 .). This changed dramatically in 1603 on the death of Elizabeth I of England . Because the Queen died unmarried and childless,
3060-470: The old union flag, to be compared with the current flag, is azure, the cross saltire of St Andrew argent surmounted by the Cross of St George gules, fimbriated of the second. The Kingdom of Ireland , which had existed as a personal union with England since 1541, was unrepresented in the original versions of the Union Jack. However, the flag of the Protectorate from 1658 to 1660 was inescutcheoned with
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#17328948549273120-450: The red cross of St. George. On 12 April 1606, a new flag to represent the regal union between England and Scotland was specified in a royal decree, according to which the flag of England (a red cross on a white background, known as St George's Cross), and the flag of Scotland (a white saltire on a blue background, known as the saltire or St Andrew's Cross), would be joined together, forming the flag of Great Britain and first union flag: By
3180-515: The saltires should lie; they were simply "counterchanged" and the red saltire fimbriated. Nevertheless, a convention was soon established which accords most closely with the description. The flag was deliberately designed with the Irish saltire slightly depressed at the hoist end to reflect the earlier union with Scotland, giving as it were seniority to the Saint Andrew's cross. When statically displayed,
3240-399: The same country. A harbourmaster may either be a civilian or a commissioned naval officer of any rank. Historically all harbourmasters were naval officers; even today they must possess prior seafaring knowledge and experience through serving with either a merchant navy or armed navy. The terms naval and civilian are used here to distinguish who is employed by a military force and who
3300-488: The slight pinwheeling of the St Patrick's and St Andrew's crosses, technically the counterchange of saltires . Thus, there is a correct side up. It is one of two national flags with two-fold rotational symmetry , symmetry group C 2 , the other being the flag of Trinidad and Tobago . The original specification of the Union Flag in the royal proclamation of 1 January 1801 did not contain a drawn pattern or express which way
3360-744: The term "Union Jack". The term "Union Flag" is used in King Charles I's 1634 proclamation: ... none of Our Subjects, of any of Our Nations and Kingdoms shall from henceforth presume to carry the Union Flag in the Main top, or other part of any of their Ships (that is) St Georges cross and St Andrew's Cross joined together upon pain of Our high displeasure, but that the same Union Flag be still reserved as an ornament proper for Our own Ships and Ships in our immediate Service and Pay, and none other." and in King George III 's proclamation of 1 January 1801 concerning
3420-581: Was commonly flown in this position. One theory goes that for some years it would have been called just the "Jack", or "Jack flag", or the "King's Jack", but by 1674, while formally referred to as "His Majesty's Jack", it was commonly called the "Union Jack", and this was officially acknowledged. A proclamation issued by King George III at the time of the Union of 1801 concerned flags at sea and repeatedly referred to "Ensigns, Flags, Jacks, and Pendants" and forbade merchant vessels from wearing "Our Jack, commonly called
3480-431: Was defined by the same blazon but could vary in its geometrical proportions. Although the most common ratio is 1:2, other ratios exist. The Royal Navy's flag code book, BR20 Flags of All Nations , states that both 1:2 and 3:5 versions are official. In the 3:5 version, the innermost points of the lower left and upper right diagonals of the St Patrick's cross are cut off or truncated. The Garter King of Arms also suggests
3540-406: Was often combined with that of harbourmaster, and existed until the second half of the 19th century, when occupants (in common with Royal Naval masters ) began to be commissioned with the rank of staff captain. From the early twentieth century the equivalent appointment became staff captain (dockyard) , then captain of the dockyard , and finally captain of the port from 1969. In the United States,
3600-434: Was so widely utilised and renowned by the United Kingdom and colonies , it is possible that the term jack occurred because of its regular use on all British ships using the jackstaff (a flag pole attached to the bow of a ship). The name may alternatively come from the 'jack-et' of the English or Scottish soldiers, or from the name of James I who originated the first union in 1603. Even if the term Union Jack does derive from
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