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In British maritime law and custom, an ensign is the identifying flag flown to designate a British ship, either military or civilian. Such flags display the United Kingdom Union Flag in the canton (the upper corner next the staff), with either a red, white or blue field, dependent on whether the vessel is civilian, naval, or in a special category. These are known as the ''red'', ''white'', and ''blue'' ensigns respectively. Outside the nautical sphere, ensigns are used to designate many other military units, government departments and administrative divisions. These flags are modelled on the red, white, and blue naval ensigns, but may use different colours for the field, and be "defaced" by the addition of a badge or symbol, for example the sky blue with concentric red, white and blue circles of the Royal Air Force ensign. Today's white ensign, as used by Royal Navy ships, incorporates the St George's Cross (St George's Ensign). British yachts owned by members of the Royal Yacht Squadron are authorised to apply for a permit to wear this ensign. Defaced white ensigns include that of the British Antarctic Territory. The Union Flag (also known as the ''Union Jack'') should only be flown as a jack by Royal Navy ships when moored, at anchor, while underway and dressed with masthead ensigns or if the Monarch or an Admiral of the Fleet is on board. The Union Flag may also signal that a court martial is in progress. The use of the Union Flag as an ensign on a civilian craft is still illegal,〔(【引用サイトリンク】 title=Merchant Shipping Act 1995 )〕 ever since Charles I ordered it be restricted to His Majesty's ships "upon pain of Our high displeasure" in the 17th century, mainly due to its unauthorised use by merchant mariners to avoid paying harbour duties by passing themselves off as Royal vessels. ==Modern usage== British ensigns currently in use can be classified into five categories, in descending order of exclusivity: * the White Ensign * the Blue Ensign * the Blue Ensign defaced * the Red Ensign defaced * the Red Ensign The traditional order of seniority was red, white and blue, with the red as the senior ensign. Since the reorganisation of the Royal Navy in 1864, use of the White Ensign (a red St George's Cross on a white field with the Union Flag in the canton) has been restricted to ships, boats, submarines and on-shore establishments of the Royal Navy. The Royal Yacht Squadron also fly the white ensign by special dispensation. The Blue Ensign (dark blue field with the Union Flag in the canton) undefaced is worn by masters of vessels in possession of a warrant issued by the Director of Naval Reserves, and by the members of certain yacht clubs. Such warrants are issued to officers in the active or retired lists of the Royal Naval Reserve and the maritime reserve forces of other Commonwealth realms and territories. The master must be of the rank of lieutenant RN or above, and fishing vessels must be crewed by at least four other Royal Naval reservists or pensioners. The Ensign of the Sea Cadet Corps is a blue ensign defaced by the SCC badge. Under the terms of a Memorandum of Understanding with the Ministry of Defence,〔http://www.sccheadquarters.com/UserData/root/Files/Publications-Regulations/Memorandum%20of%20Understanding%20between%20MOD%20and%20MSSC.pdf〕 officers of the Sea Cadet Corps hold their ranks as (SCC) RNR on a 'nominal honorific' basis, and are included on the Navy List as a courtesy (though they are not commissioned, but 'appointed' within the Corps). File:British-Royal-Fleet-Auxiliary-Ensign.svg|Royal Fleet Auxiliary Ensign File:Government Service Ensign.svg|Government Service Ensign File:British Royal Maritime Auxiliary Ensign.svg|Ensign of the defunct Royal Maritime Auxiliary Service File:Royal Engineers Ensign.png|Royal Engineers Ensign File:British Army Ensign00.svg|Royal Logistic Corps Ensign for vessels commanded by a Commissioned Officer File:British Army Ensign01.svg|Royal Logistic Corps Ensign for vessels commanded by a Non-Commissioned Officer File:HM Customs Ensign vector.svg| HM Customs & Excise File:Ensign of the Sea Cadet Corps.svg| Ensign of the Sea Cadet Corps File:Ensign of the British Commissioners of Northern Lighthouses.svg|Ensign of the Northern Lighthouse Board British government departments use a variety of blue ensigns defaced in the fly with the department badge, and colonial governments use blue ensigns defaced with the colonial badge. Other defaced ensigns were used by vessels of the Mersey Docks and Harbour Board, the Humber Conservancy, Custom House, the Board of Trade, Lloyd's of London, the Post Office, cable laying ships, and other departments including War Office Ordnance. The flag of Australia and those of its states as well as the flag of New Zealand are defaced blue ensigns. Several yacht clubs are also entitled to fly blue ensigns defaced by their club badge. The Red Ensign (red field with the Union Flag in the canton) defaced by a badge is flown by Trinity House and various organisations and yacht clubs. Merchant ships and private vessels registered in British territories and dependencies, and in several Commonwealth realms, fly the Red Ensign defaced by the badge of their territory. The Red Ensign undefaced is for the use of all other British merchant navy ships and private craft. The Red Ensign is the correct flag to be worn as courtesy flag by foreign private vessels in United Kingdom waters. Merchant vessels from British overseas territories and Crown dependencies are entitled to red ensigns defaced with the badge of their territory. 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「British ensign」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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