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Flags of Indian Port Authorities

Introduction

The special flags were probably flown only by vessels carrying members of the Boards of Conservators or Trustees, while the defaced ensigns were probably flown by working boats operated by the Boards.
David Prothero, 11 December 2004

Special Flag of the Trustees of the Port of Bombay

by Martin Grieve

19th August 1880. An Admiralty Letter authorised a special flag for the Trustees of the Port of Bombay. Blue St George's cross with a maritime scene in each quarter; in the first quarter, a lighthouse, in the second a screw-steamer with auxiliary sails, in the third a dhow, and in the fourth a signal station at the end of a harbour wall.
David Prothero, 11 December 2004

Special Flag of the Conservator of the Port of Bombay

by Martin Grieve, 2 February 2013

Admiralty Letter, of 19th August 1880 authorised a special flag for the Conservator of the Port of Bombay.
Red St George's cross on a white field with three narrower horizontal red stripes in each quarter and a large circular badge in centre. The flag was designed by Captain Sir Henry Morland, of the Royal Indian Marine. "The basis is what was evidently his conception of the Indian Jack, which proves again that the flag carried the St George's cross; the extra two red and white bars at the top and bottom cannot however be accepted, as there is abundant proof that it was composed of five red and four white bars."
[Naval and Maritime Flags of British India from 1600 by Captain A. Rowand, Royal Indian Marine]

The badge consisted of two oval shields, surmounted by a crown, within a red ring bearing the words Conservator of the Port of Bombay. The sinister shield has the four quarters of the flag of the Trustees without the blue St George's cross, while the dexter shield is from the 1877 arms of the City of Bombay; a red lion passant guardant, flanked on each side by an ostrich feather, (alluding to the visit of Edward VII when he was Prince of Wales), above three, three-masted dhows, known as pattimars. Bombay was the first city in the Empire, outside the British Isles, to which arms were granted.
[W.D. and H.O. Wills's cigarette cards, 'Arms of the British Empire' c1909]
David Prothero, 15 December 2004

Detail of Badge

by Martin Grieve, 2 February 2013

Blue Ensign of the Trustees of the Port of Bombay

by Martin Grieve

1880. A Blue Ensign for the Trustees of the Port of Bombay was sanctioned by the Admiralty. The badge in the fly consisted of a circular version of the Trustees Flag, without the blue cross, surrounded by a yellow ring bearing the words PORT TRUST BOMBAY in black. The slightly unusual crown is similar to the crown above the badge on the Red Ensign of the Commissioners of the Port of Rangoon. Rangoon at the time was administratively part of India, but I doubt there is any
connection. Possibly both badges were drawn by the same artist, who preferred this version.
David Prothero, 16 December 2004

Red Ensign of the Bombay Harbour Trust (Republic of India)

ensign by Željko Heimer, badge by Miles Li

This ensign is probably no longer in use.
Source: Flags of the World [Carr 1961].
Miles Li, 8 August 2005

Red Ensign of the Port of Cochin (Republic of India)

ensign by Željko Heimer, badge by Miles Li

This ensign is probably no longer in use.
Source: Flags of the World [Carr 1961].
Miles Li, 8 August 2005