Question 1

Sailing abroad, the ship’s papers you can be asked for include…

Accepted Answer

Registration, insurance, VHF licence, evidence of VAT status, and the skipper’s certificate of competence — A folder by the chart table — registration (SSR or Part I), insurance (often translated), radio licence, ICC/competence evidence — ends most port checks in minutes.

Question 2

Flag etiquette afloat: the courtesy flag of the country you are visiting flies…

Accepted Answer

At the starboard spreader, with your own ensign at the stern — Ensign aft (your nationality), courtesy flag to starboard. Worn-out flags read as disrespect ashore in a way charts cannot teach.

Papers, flags and the foreign harbour

This lesson is part of a paid course