Games and Fact Sheets

Ships and Ports

People in the shipping industry use an entire language of special words, signals and symbols to communicate. Ships at sea use the International Code of Signals to communicate all kinds of messages to each other on flags. Each flag has a special meaning that is understood by other ships all around the world. Ships have used signals and symbols to communicate with each other since the 1600s. There are also many special words used in the industry, relating to cargo, ports and ships. Look in the glossary and activity below to discover the meanings of these words and flags.

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