
Last modified: 2024-09-14 by ian macdonald
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 image by Zoltan Horvath, 28 August 2024
image by Zoltan Horvath, 28 August 2024
Mauritius has an unusual naval ensign of several unequal red, white and 
blue stripes. In the middle white panel is set a red anchor with a green 
cable and a five-pointed white star outlined in yellow on top. The anchor 
has two bars on the lower right side. If you cover the extensions on the 
bottom of the anchor, a key will appear. This is a reference to the motto 
found on Mauritius’ coat of arms: "Stella Clavisque Maris Indici" or 
"The star and the key of the Indian Ocean". 
Both the key and the star are also found in the coat of arms. 
Mauritius introduced the naval ensign in April 1974. It has the unusual 
proportions of 26:57. Source: “New Flags”, The Flag Bulletin 
[tfb] 123 (1987).
Jan Oskar Engene, 19 August 1996
This particular flag is called the "Coast Guard Ensign" by the 
Album [pay00], the "War Flag" 
by BR20 (Flags of All Nations) [
gra00] and as being for «vessels and units of the maritime section 
of the Mauritius police force» by the Flag Institute. 
Interestingly enough the construction details in the 
Album [pay00] add up to a ratio of 
19:42 and not the 26:57 quoted, however, since the difference is less than 
0.02% of flag width it can hardly be considered critical.
Christopher Southworth, 08 April 2004
The Album 2000 [pay00] says:
Coast Guard Ensign.Vertically divided in three fields, the first and last both include vertical stripes of red-white-red-white-blue at hoist, i.e. blue-white-red-white-red at fly, and the middle, white stripe contains a red anchor combined with a key, cable with green rope and topped with yellow five-pointed star. The ratio of stripes is 4+2+2+2+4+14+4+2+2+2+4. The colours used are those of the national flag.26:57
The National Coast Guard Act of 1988 of Mauritius is available online as a 
PDF file. 
It prescribes the CG ensgin, however, it does not describe or depict it.
Željko Heimer, 06 March 2010
National Coast Guard Act 1988 refers to coast guard ensign, but there is no 
any description or illustration:
https://mauritiuslii.org/akn/mu/act/1988/42/eng@2017-06-30 
Images of 
ensign:
https://shipshub.com 
https://shipshub.com
https://shipshub.com
https://pmo.govmu.org
 Zoltan Horvath, 10 July 2024
Shouldn’t the Coast Guard ensign be  instead of
 instead of 
 ?
?
António Martins, 08 April 2004
I suppose it depends on the legal status of the Mauritian coast guard. If 
it’s a military force (i.e., members subject to military discipline, 
like the US Coast Guard), then I’d say it 
should be  . But if it’s legally a civilian-manned force (even if in 
uniform, like Iceland’s, the 
UK’s, or 
Canada’s), then
. But if it’s legally a civilian-manned force (even if in 
uniform, like Iceland’s, the 
UK’s, or 
Canada’s), then  would seem correct.
 would seem correct.
Joe McMillan, 09 April 2004
I think that I have asked Armand (the author of the Album 2000 
[pay00]) about the same question back then, 
and he answered that the Goast Guard of Mauritius is not a military 
organization but a special state service, therefore it does not really get 
to have  even if that is probably a closest thing to it. The 
state-owned ships of other services (whatever they may be) would use the blue 
ensgn. I believe that the situation repeats in several other nations included 
in Album that do not really have a navy.
 even if that is probably a closest thing to it. The 
state-owned ships of other services (whatever they may be) would use the blue 
ensgn. I believe that the situation repeats in several other nations included 
in Album that do not really have a navy.
Željko Heimer, 08 April 2004
Mauritius Coast Guard operated three planes and use the national
flag as fin flash. The book [cos98]
shows the fin flash in square form, but a
photo
on line shows a regular flag.
Dov Gutterman, 20 June 2004
 
  
 images by Nozomi Kariyasu, 9 July 2024
images by Nozomi Kariyasu, 9 July 2024
 
  
 images by Nozomi Kariyasu, 9 July 2024
images by Nozomi Kariyasu, 9 July 2024
 image by Zoltan Horvath, 28 August 2024
image by Zoltan Horvath, 28 August 2024
Source: https://shipshub.com