On Tue, 09 Dec 2003 08:05:21 -0800, Sven
wrote:

I think the international rules say that you fly the flag of the country
of registry (flag of convenience ?).

Yes, as long as the ship/boat IS registered You fly the flag for the
country in which it's registered, convenience or not.


Is it improper (illegal) to instead fly the flag of the owner's
nationality as long as a courtesy flag is flown under the spreader ?

Courtesy flags has no bearing on the nationality flag. The answer here
is:

a) If the vessel is registered it is not correct to fly another flag.

b)If the ship is NOT registered (as for example most swedish pleasure
crafts under 12x4 meters), You SHOULD fly the flag of the owners
nationality.

If the owner and/or captain has a different nationality than the
vessels registration, it is not uncommon to fly this flag under the
port spreader, similarly to the courtesy flag under the starboard
spreader. If the vessel has multiple flag halyards on the starboard
spreader, the captains/crews/owners national ensign is flown there,
inboard from the courtesy ensign.


For example, a french charter boat, with a swedish crew visiting
italy. Three flags.


/Marcus

--
Marcus AAkesson
Gothenburg Callsigns: SM6XFN & SB4779
Sweden
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