Flag dipping

Dipping is a greeting action by brief low-and catching up a flag in the shipping industry on board a ship. This is to salute the crew of a passing ship.

The dipping the respective national flag (home flag) will be half hauled down and hoisted again. In small engine boats, in which the flag is attached only to a rod at the rear, the rod will be briefly withdrawn from the anchor and held horizontally with the flag. Then fix the rack again. Meeting a civilian and a warship to each other, so greets usually the first civilian.

The greeting is common both in the military and in civilian shipping. Dipping is particularly common in international shipping and is considered a part of the traditional sailor culture.

The Dipped flag and the house flag at the top of the mainmast