On Merchant Navy Day, 3 September, the Red Ensign will be flown ashore to raise awareness of our dependence as an island nation on our past, present and future Merchant Navy seafarers.
The Red Ensign has since 1854 been the official flag of the British Merchant Navy, flown on ‘UK-flagged’ vessels of all sizes, from workboats and superyachts to container ships, fuel tankers and cruise liners. 3 September in 1939 marked the outbreak of the Second World War when the merchant ship SS Athenia was torpedoed and sunk, with the loss of 128 passengers and crew.
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