Blue Ensign

E43348

The Blue Ensign is a British maritime flag featuring a dark blue field with the Union Jack in the canton, traditionally used by certain government vessels, colonial administrations, and authorized organizations.


Statements (48)
Predicate Object
instanceOf British ensign
maritime flag
national flag variant
canton Union Jack
category British maritime flag
blue flag
government ensign
color dark blue
country United Kingdom
distinguishedFrom Red Ensign
White Ensign
civil ensign
naval ensign
fieldColor blue
flagType ensign
hasDesignElement Union Jack in the canton
dark blue field
historicalUse basis for flags of former British colonies
flag of many British colonies
influenced flag of Australia
flag of Fiji
flag of New Zealand
flag of Tuvalu
flag of several British Overseas Territories
legalStatus regulated by the United Kingdom government
use restricted to authorized users
partOf British ensign system
regulatingAuthority Admiralty (historical)
UK Department for Transport
UK Ministry of Defence
relatedTo Red Ensign
Union Jack
White Ensign
timePeriod in use since at least the 17th century
usedBy British Overseas Territories (defaced variants)
British colonial governments (historical)
British government departments at sea
Royal Fleet Auxiliary (defaced variant)
Royal Naval Reserve (historical and variants)
United Kingdom
certain yacht clubs under warrant
usedFor authorized organizations
civil shipping under warrant
colonial administrations
government vessels
maritime identification
naval auxiliary vessels
yachts with special warrants


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