# Merchant Shipping (Registration, etc.) Act 1993 (repealed 1.1.1996), Paragraph 2

Extent: E+W+S+N.I.

(1) The flag which every British ship is entitled to fly is the red ensign (without any defacement or modification) and, subject to sub-paragraphs (2) and (3) below, no other colours.
(2) Sub-paragraph (1) above does not apply to Government ships within the meaning of section 80 of the Merchant Shipping Act 1906.
(3) The following are also proper national colours, that is to say—
(a) any colours allowed to be worn in pursuance of a warrant from Her Majesty or from the Secretary of State;
(b) in the case of British ships registered in a relevant British possession, any colours consisting of the red ensign defaced or modified whose adoption for ships registered in that possession is authorised or confirmed by Her Majesty by Order in Council.

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Source: https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1993/22/schedule/3/paragraph/2 (the official version)
Page: https://openlegislation.uk/merchant-shipping-registration-etc-act-1993-repealed-111996/schedule-3/paragraph-2
Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Source: legislation.gov.uk, The National Archives.