House Flag

A flag identifying the shipping company, yacht owner or organisation associated with a vessel.

Commercial shipping companies traditionally use a house flag bearing their colours or emblem, while a private yacht may fly an owner’s personal house flag. It is an identifying flag rather than a national ensign or an International Code of Signals message.

Its recognised position and occasions for display depend on the vessel, organisation and applicable flag etiquette. A yacht-club burgee is a distinct type of identifying flag and should not automatically be described as a house flag.