Foxtrot

Phonetic alphabet letter F. In marine terminology, “Foxtrot” refers to the letter “F” in the NATO phonetic alphabet. This alphabet is used to communicate letters and numbers clearly over radio or telephone systems, especially in situations where background noise or interference may make it difficult to distinguish individual letters. The word “Foxtrot” itself is used to represent the letter “F” to avoid confusion with similar-sounding letters like “S” or “E.”

Disabled Vessel: When a vessel displays the Foxtrot flag, it indicates that it is not under command and is unable to manoeuvre as required by the navigational rules. This could be due to mechanical failure, loss of propulsion, or other disabling issues.

By using the Foxtrot flag, a disabled vessel can alert nearby ships to its condition, prompting them to exercise caution and potentially offer assistance, thus enhancing maritime safety and coordination.

Flag

Code Flag Foxtrot (F)

Nautical or signal flags are used at sea to convey messages over long distances. Only black, blue, red, white and yellow are used because these are the only colours readily distinguished at sea. Many different coding schemes have been used, but the International Code is the most common.