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United States Coast
Guard • Dress Ship
"Dressing ship"
with flags on occasions of ceremony is an ancient
nautical tradition dating from the age of sail, when it was
customary for ships to hoist on every mast all the
ensigns and flags in their signal lockers. Here the USCGC
Staten Island (WPB 1345), an "Island"
class patrol vessel assigned to Coast Guard Sector
North Carolina, shows how this custom is currently
observed. In addition to the National Ensign at the
stern, the Union Jack at the bow and the Coast Guard
Ensign and Coast Guard Commission Pennant at the
mast, she flies an additional large National Ensign
along with the state flag of North Carolina. Also visible
is the multicolored pennant denoting that the ship
has been awarded the Coast Guard Unit Commendation.
A full set of USN/USCG signal flags is displayed
from bow to stern. Weather and circumstances
permitting, Coast Guard cutters dress ship on
Independence Day, Coast Guard Day, for
commissioning, decommissioning and change-of
command-ceremonies, and for other occasions as directed.
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