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United Kingdom: regulations for blue ensigns

by Clay Moss

Regulations concerning the use of the Blue Ensign
Blue Ensigns used by yacht clubs

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Regulations concerning the use of the Blue Ensign

I have accumulated some information on this subject from the Public Record Office. Here is a summary:

In 1864 it was announced that a British merchant ship would be allowed to fly the plain Blue Ensign providing that the ship's master was an officer of the Royal Naval Reserve (RNR) and the crew contained a specified number of reservists. Ships were to carry two guns for drill purposes, but this requirement was modified in 1865, and abandoned in 1866. The necessary number of reservists in the crew was one quarter of the crew, increased to one third when guns were made optional and reduced to master plus ten in 1866. Permission to fly the Blue Ensign was in the form of a warrant, issued in the name of the ship by the Registrar General of Seamen, for one voyage only.

1884. The warrant was made personal to the master and effective for subsequent voyages providing that the crew requirements were fulfilled.

Masters who were on the Retired List of the Royal Navy became entitled to apply for the Blue Ensign, and reserve obligations were eased so that more seamen qualified as reservists. In the same year Admiralty subvented liners that could be fitted with guns for use as Armed Merchant Cruisers became entitled to fly the Blue Ensign with no conditions relating to the master or crew.

1903. Masters were allowed to retain their warrant if transferred to another ship in the same shipping company.

All Blue Ensign warrants were cancelled on 21 August 1914, and the system re-introduced, "with some reluctance" on 19 May 1919. The crew requirement was still master plus ten but subject to variation under the Quota System. This made the qualifying number of reservists in the crew proportional to the total number of reservists employed in foreign-going merchant ships, with a maximum of ten and a minimum of six.

"The system was not only a privilege, prized by shipping companies and masters, but also an inducement to men to join the reserves, as it helped them to obtain employment afloat. Eligible masters favoured a low quota number which made it easier for them to qualify for the warrant, while other officers and ratings wanted the number to be high, as it increased their value to the master, making it easier to obtain employment."
David Prothero, 31 August 2001

1916. When the Ministry of War Munitions requested a Blue Ensign in 1916 the Head of Naval Law Department wrote on the file that was raised.

'The Blue Ensign to be carried by all vessels employed in the service of any public office with the seal and badge of the office to which they belong' in the Order in Council of 9th July 1864, is considered to constitute a warrant from His Majesty within the meaning of Section 73(2) of the Merchant Shipping Act 1894, and to dispense with the need of a warrant from the Admiralty under the same section." 30th July 1916. [National Archive (PRO) ADM 1/8464/183]
David Prot