Flag H (Hotel)
ICS · H code word: Hotel pronounced: HOH-TELL Morse: ····
In short: I have a pilot on board.
Single-letter meaning (Pub 102)
I have a pilot on board.
Morse sign
····
Dot = short sound, dash = long (three times longer). Hear it in the Morse translator.
In plain English
A white and red flag (vertical halves). It tells you a pilot has boarded and pilotage is in progress.
Where you will really see it
Hoisted after the pilot has been taken, for the fairway passage and port manoeuvres. Clear information for port services and other ships.
Common mix-up
Do not confuse with G: H means the pilot is already on board, G is only the request for one.
Careful with sound
Signal H 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.
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).