Flag D (Delta)
ICS · D code word: Delta pronounced: DELL-TAH Morse: −··
In short: Keep clear of me; I am maneuvering with difficulty.
Single-letter meaning (Pub 102)
Keep clear of me; I am maneuvering with difficulty.
Morse sign
−··
Dot = short sound, dash = long (three times longer). Hear it in the Morse translator.
In plain English
A warning: this ship has trouble manoeuvring and will not get out of your way smartly. Give her room.
Where you will really see it
A ship with a steering failure, restricted in her ability to manoeuvre, or carrying out a hard manoeuvre in tight waters warns the others not to stand into her way.
Careful with sound
Signal D belongs to the group marked with an asterisk in the code: when made by SOUND it may only be made in compliance with the collision regulations (COLREGs). By flag or light there is no such restriction.
Related flags
Keep going
- All signal flags: the search box and the full grid.
- Interactive mast: build your own hoist.
- Single-letter signals cheat sheet A to Z on one page.
The single-letter meanings are quoted 1:1 from Pub 102 International Code of Signals (NGA, public domain); the plain-English explanations are our own. Flag graphics: signal-flag-images (Unlicense).