Engine: Beta 43 with Aquadrive & Hospital silencer
Batteries: 6 - 1 x 110 starter, 4 x 165 domestic and 1 x110 bowthruster
QISMA's AUTHORITY TO FLY THE BLUE ENSIGN
PERMIT No 07118
By virtue of the warrant from the Secretary of State for Defence dated 8 February 1985 who in pursuance of the authority vested in him under the provisions of section 2 of the Merchant Shipping Act 1995 has deemed it expedient to authorise vessels belonging to members of the ROYAL NAVAL SAILING ASSOCIATION to wear the undefaced Blue Ensign, the Flag Officers and Committee do hereby authorise the said ensign to be worn on board
Narrow boat QISMA SSR 142033
owned by ALISTAIR SWATRIDGE a member of the aforesaid Association. signed on behalf of the Flag Officer and Committee dated 5 March 2010
In 1627 the English Fleet (as it was then) was divided into three squadrons, the Red, Blue and White, in that order or seniority, and each had an English ensign in the appropriate colour with St George's Cross in the top corner. By 1653 the order of seniority had been changed to Red, White and Blue and in 1702 a large red cross was placed on the White Ensign to differentiate it from the French ensign, which at the time was plain white. In 1707, following the political union of England and Scotland, the three ensigns came to bear the Union Flag in the top corner as they do this day. In 1801 the additional red diagonal of St Patrick's Cross was added to the Union Flag and the three ensigns then took their modern form.
Nelson was the Vice Admiral of the White Squadron, so Trafalgar was fought under the White Ensign in 1805 rather than the Red or Blue one. In 1864 the squadron system was abandoned and the entire Royal Navy adopted the White Ensign, meanwhile the Merchant Navy was allocated the Red Ensign, and the Blue Ensign was reserved for non-military government ships. During the years since then a large number of special ensigns have been created for many organisations (including yacht clubs and government departments) whose badges have been placed onto a blue or red ensign to create a new and distinctive flag.
British ensigns currently in use can be classified into five categories, in descending order of seniority:
the White Ensign the Blue Ensign the Blue Ensign defaced the Red Ensign defaced the Red Ensign
Since the reorganisation of the Royal Navy in 1864, the White Ensign has been restricted to ships of the Royal Navy and their boats. The Royal Yacht Squadron also fly the white ensign by special dispensation.
The Blue Ensign undefaced is worn 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 Naval Service or maritime reserve forces of other Commonwealth Realms and territories.
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.
